started my motorcycling journey in 2001 with a single-cylinder 180cc motorcycle that made a healthy 15 horsepower. In 2017, I went around Australia on a near-270 bhp Ninja H2. And today, I have these two motorcycles here; that very Ninja H2 and the new Yamaha R7. This has made me think about a very important question. Both of these motorcycles are poles apart in some regards and quite similar in others but regardless, where does this need for power end? How much power do you really need?
The differences between these bikes are quite obvious; engine, power, design purpose, and so on. The similarities lie in the emotion both of these motorcycles evoke- that of riding a motorcycle and feeling the wind in your face. Another similarity is how polarizing they both have been. The Ninja H2 drove people nuts. A motorcycle with a supercharger was outrageous. But that was exactly what the Ninja H2 was going for; the absolute limit!
Coming to the Yamaha R7, it was the same deal. With its design language that is in line with other R-machines, people thought that they’d get their hands on an inline-4 that’d scream to 15,000 rpm- just like the R6 did. Instead, they got a motorcycle powered by the same engine as the MT-07. A crossplane inline-twin engine that makes 72 bhp. People were baffled and they let it show on the internet. So many comments, so many opinions and whatnot. Here I am, having ridden both of these motorcycles, thinking about what the hoopla is all about.
This story is from the August - September 2022 edition of xBhp.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August - September 2022 edition of xBhp.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
UNVEILING THE HONDA CBR1000RR FIREBLADE: CELEBRATION OF POWER AND PASSION
Adding another gem to the crown that XBhp Garage has become, we unveil our latest addition to the collection; Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
THE MUCH-AWAITED HOME RUN
The hotly anticipated Speed 400 is here as the first from the Triumph-Bajaj alliance and here are our thoughts after the first ride.
TAKING MOTORSPORTS TO THE GRASSROOTS
With the launch of Atom GP1, CRA Motorsports takes a giant step forward in putting India on the world motorsports map.
AMERICAN MUSCLE ON TWO WHEELS
A memoir of our time with the new Indian FTR 1200 in Australia as we bid adieu to ours in India.
TVS EUROGRIP GOES 'SUPER'
TVS Eurogrip has just come out with their brand new ADV and superbike tyres and we went to see what's what!
CONQUERING THE BLADES OF FIRE
Detailing our Epic Journey from Kochi to Delhi exploring the beauty of a machine that is the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
XBHP POWER TOUR 2023
When we started with the idea of the xBhp PowerTour, it was aimed at trying our hands at some of the most powerful machines ever- two wheels and four.
THE X FACTOR TIMES 707
We drive the mental Super SUV, the Aston Martin DBX 707 in two very different countries; India and Japan
CAMOUFLAGED!
Our MINI Cooper is a canvas of colours already and we take it somewhere it’d feel right at home!
EXPLORING MAREDUMILLI FOREST WITH JK TYRE
Our Smart Rider Kishore heads out to explore Maredumilli Forest aboard his Royal Enfield Classic 350 testing Tyres from JK Tyre in the process.