best/fastest cornering street legal bike

[SWATcltch]

In the short time I've really been riding my Buell and getting serious about it I've learned they are the quickest by no means. But I've also learned they are some of the best handling bikes out there. I would like to know what is the BEST cornering bike available for street use?

p.s. You may be fast at the drag strip but everyone has to turn sometime.

 

[Zeroflat24]

its by no means the best cornering bike, but my old 06 sv650 held is own in the corners

 

[Sidewinder]

It's kind of subjective as one person's "BEST" might be different than another person's. Generally a bike with a steep rake and short wheelbase will handle better than one with a shallow rake and long wheelbase.

You also have to factor in suspension dampening, rebound, and preload. As well as fork length, and race sag(which is adjusted by preload). All of this changes the dynamics of the bike. For instance a higher race sag distance will give you a steeper rake increasing turn in.

Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is every bike handles differently and there can't really be a "best".

 

[upthemaiden]

A short wheelbase will obviously make it turn quickly but thats definitely not everything. a supermoto will be about 5-7inches longer, have a much higher center of gravity and a front end thats no where near as steep, but itll still outrun a bike with 2-3 times the power on tight roads because of the weight and suspension. Just for the record, Bike magazine DID label the firebolt as the best handling bike on the road a few years ago.

 

[Stevenc150]

Too subjective of a question since 80% (IMO) of a good corner ride is the riders Correct input. Aside from that....a Buell.

 

[SWATcltch]

Those last 2 posts from Stevenc150 and upthemaiden are exactly what I'm looking for. I went to a sort of 'meet' and rode a 300meter stretch of two lane road with 10-12 highly embanked hairpins. Against a couple Hayabusas, a Shadow and pack of GSX-R 600's I was passing people on my almost stock Blast(Kerker Pipe is the only mod). One of my GSX-R buddies asked why I didn't start in the front of the pack each run and leave everyone. I said it was because I liked keeping my pegs the stock length. More then 3 times I was scrapping a peg. Just something I've been thinking about since Saturday. I need a bike that handles to the best capabilities in the industry. Thank you.[up]

 

[GOduc]

If you're talking the best money can buy and ride on the street the aprilia rsv4 or ducat 1198. Something more affordable then the sv650s actually dominate the lightweight twin class

 

[upthemaiden]

Smaller bikes like the blast are known for making good riders because you can't slam on the brakes going into a turn, and just power your way out, you need to learn how to keep up your speed and corner properly. If you're looking for something bigger and faster go for an xb9/12. If you're just looking to abuse twisty roads all day and just want a nicer bike with a better suspension then a supermoto is definitely a great option.

 

[RT Performance]

I would say the xb9sx with the tall bars is as good as it gets without going to a supermoto "Tard"

 

[firefighter1c57]

no doubt about it, you want the best cornering bike out I'd say a KTM motard.

 

[ducrider]

Personal choices for best handling would be the early Ducati Superbikes.748R,998R or the 999R.Just a personal choice.

I have owned a Ducati 748 and riding with all my buddies not many wanted to try to hang with me in a corner.

 

[d_adams]

I'd snag an 1190RS if I had $40k to spare.

 

[SWATcltch]

I looked into Ducati and love the 1198 and the 848EVO but price is also a concern. I want to end up with a $15-20K bike not have a stock bike that I paid twenty thousand bones for. I want it to best a best all arounder. With a high emphasis on cornering and styling. Something that'll make Gixxer rider's jaws drop when parked, Hayabusa rider's faces light up from the glare of the taillight when on a straight road and Ducati rider's rear ends fly out from under them in a corner because they leaned their bike over too far trying to keep pace. I'm thinking I can do it for 20 grand. Better yet I'll challenge myself to do it for less then 10.

 

[Buell_Cru]

There really is no "BEST". It really depends on the rider's style, throttle control, suspension setup, tires, tire pressure, road temperature, etc.

Ultimately the fastest/best cornering bike is any bike that has been ridden properly on the track where all cornering technique was dialed in including all of the above.

 

[CowboyKS]

My '08 XB12S is the best cornering bike on the planet. If you don't think so, you haven't ridden my bike. Don't know about you rich cats, but low side or heaven forbid high siding a $20,000 bike would really really suck.

 

[myronman3]

i had a firebolt and now a lightning....the firebolt ate the corners up like no one's business. dont get me wrong, the lightning is no slouch, but the firebolt definately hit the corners harder for some reason. that being said, i prefer the lightning. the blast that i had bought for my second ex wife went through corners pretty damn good too, i might add....

 

[BikerTrash]

Bike Magazine cornering article.

 

[Nuage420b]

myronman3. . . was it just the riding position? obviously the 12S and 12R are identical. like mine has the crossroads and is super easy to corner, now they have crossroads that oi have yet to try out but have a feeling will turn a bit quicker than my crossroads.

 

[Stevenc150]

...the 12S and 12R are identical.

Actually the R has a Little more "aggressive" seating position than the S, believe the rear set is back a little further.

 

[Nuage420b]

hmmm, so an S frame and an R frame are different? or the rear sets are different? (i'm not being a smartass either, just never heard of this and am curious to know) i thought the pegs not being dropped was the only difference.