200hp V-4 Norton...

Yea, the Fireblade (or whatever they call it) is going on something like 9 years without any major changes.

 

Don't be so sure. The power to size/displacement ratio of the Wankel Rotary engine is phenomenal. There's no other roadgoing engine platform I can think of that even comes close. Too, let us not forget that the "Gentleman's Agreement" between Japan's major auto manufacturers that limited power output to roughly 255 bhp in the 1990s (the last time the Rx-7 was produced) is out the window. Nissan GT-R anyone??? God help those Krauts if Mazda decides to toss in a 3-rotor 20B. The 1.3 liter TT is a beast, but a turbo 2 liter rotary is a force of nature. I'll take the fuel economy jab in stride; you're probably right on that particular count. Rotary fuel economy is measured in smiles per mile, not miles per gallon. A required additional $40k for a car that isn't a Porsche, but will ouperform one? That's a bit "rich" huh?

Also, the FD RX-7 comprehensively and unarguably thrashed all other major manufacturers INCLUDING Porsche, that'd be your 911, 4 times in the Eastern Creek and Bathurst 12 Hour Endurance races when the car was in production in the mid 90s.

 

While I think that RX7s were good cars, I think rotaries have too many inherent problems to be made again in a production car, at least by a company like Mazda. Show me a car that performs as well as a 911 that costs less than $120k. They don't make em. Over and over again, year after year magazines hail the 911 as the yardstick by which all other sports cars are measured. And yes, there were a number of races where the RX7 beat the 911, but that was a racecar that basically shared nothing with the street model. Still, the notion that the RX7 has better racing history than the 911 is laughable.

 

I think we may have a Porsche fan in the house. Since the "new" Wankels ain't
out yet once could quote Porsche lore for hours as to HP, top end ect. and have nada to compare it to a car that does not exist.



If one wanted to go there in real time. A harleydood forum and speak Porsche to them about the Vrod engines.. "INCOMING!!!"


A bit of Porsche trivia.. A 1955 Speedster POE LA was MSRP at $2,995. This was in USD before CA went over to the 12oz LB and the Peso standard. Another was a MB 300SL @ POE LA for $7,200. $5,900 POE NYC. Matching luggage was extra..

Love those acronyms, they make life easy on the fingers and keep the spelling police at arms length.

RSVP

 

What is POE? I'm so confused by BadBillys post ><

 

Just in time from Motorcyclist this month:

 

"Port Of Entry"

Officially listed $ amount when shipped into the USA from overseas

 

There's also Poe's Law that deals with satire on fundamentalism, politics, harleydoods and farkles. I added the last two because when God invented the net, he said it was OK.

 

Not exactly gorgeous, were they? Still, I wouldn't mind having one for the occasional jaunt. Maybe even break the housing apart and mill it for 3mm apex seals then a gnarly bridgeport. There's an exhaust note that'll turn heads haha. The price tag on a passable example is a bit ridiculous though.

 

Eh, $4000-6000 is what you pay for a nice CB750 where I live, this bike seems to fall into the same category but is certainly more rare.