2018 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 vs. Yamaha XSR700 Drag Race

Numbers are one thing, actual performance is another. Power and weight have a lot to do with how fast a motorcycle can make the quarter-mile sprint—but just as crucial can be clutch feel, wheelbase, weight bias, transmission action, and throttle response. We thought since we take a lot of bikes to the strip to see how fast they go, we’d show you what it looks like when they face off.

Even numbers on paper can be a little hard to imagine. What does the difference of 0.2 second look like at 110 mph? This video, and others like it, will give you a visual idea of what it’s like to launch these bikes down the dragstrip (not to mention the sound!). Keep in mind the numbers we’re showing are recorded via GPS tracking with one rider—the video is just to show you what it looks like.