2018 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 vs. Yamaha XSR700 Drag Race

Modern café racer middleweights head to head at the strip.

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.

QUICK SPECS

2018 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701

PRICE AS TESTED $11,999
DISPLACEMENT 693cc
MEASURED WEIGHT 362 lb. wet (164kg)
FUEL CAPACITY 3.2 gal. (12L)
SEAT HEIGHT 32.7 in. (830mm)
MEASURED HORSEPOWER 71.0 @ 8200 rpm
MEASURED TORQUE 51.0 lb.-ft. @ 6750 rpm

Yamaha XSR700

PRICE AS TESTED $8,499
DISPLACEMENT 689cc
CLAIMED WEIGHT 410 lb. wet (186kg)
FUEL CAPACITY 3.7 gal. (14L)
SEAT HEIGHT 32.9 in. (835mm)
MEASURED HORSEPOWER 67.9 @ 8790 rpm
MEASURED TORQUE 47.5 lb.-ft. @ 6490 rpm