TOP SPEED
A chance to ride as fast as you like down a 1.5-mile runway. Bumps, nerves and physical effort make it a challenge. Each rider gets one chance to see what proves to be the limit
790 DUKE 142.11mph
Maxing out the KTM recalls those youthful moments on local bypasses. Once it’s got to 120mph you need to tuck in and fold yourself around the bike, just like I did on my 1981 Yamaha RS100 when I was 17. Except this time instead I’m trying to get the speedo a fair bit higher than 65mph. I manage to hang on to the revs until 150mph is briefly displayed on the speedo — really impressive for a compact, middleweight parallel twin. BD
F850GS 126.47mph
This was never going to play to the GS’S strengths but it was still a lot of fun. The punchy twin-cylinder engine drags us up to an indicated 130mph, with a fat old man clinging on tightly. The front felt extremely light and vague as the bike got over 100mph, its high bars and long forks making things that bit worse. Tucking in behind the screen was a must, and I wouldn’t want to try to take any bends at this speed, especially over any bumps. GA
TRACER 900 130.37mph
At first the Tracer sears through its gears but then not much faster in fifth… and nothing more in sixth. The speedo won’t budge past 139mph, or 9000rpm in top. It’s not aerodynamics – it’s an electronic limiter, there to preserve stability. The purist in me feels let down. “An admission of failure,” agrees Bruce. MFG
CB1000R+ 131.72mph
I wasn’t sure how long I could hold the CB1000R+ open for. With the scenery blurring, I played it safe at an indicated 139mph. I know it had more to give as it was still accelerating hard, but I wasn’t ready for it. Now I want to have another go and let it show off its Fireblade-inspired engine. CB