Tyre technology these days is petty mad. The tyres I run on my bikes are the Metzeler Racetec Interact`s and they come in 3 different compound. All have hardly any tread on them at all and are as near to slicks as you can get for the road. I think they are standard on a lot of bikes like the BMW 1000R etc..
Anyway, the long standing bike vs car argument will go on forever I think. The Guy Martin speed documentary the other year where he pitched his motorbike up against a formula one car was interesting. The bike was quicker on the acceleration, but as expected around a race track the formula one car cornered much faster.
On the roads I find I am much quicker on my Yamaha R1 than I am in a car. I find its acceleration, braking and cornering all are so much quicker. I can switch lines mid corner, overtake on small straights where id never be able to in the car and all feel so much more in control & safer. I was expecting my 997 turbo to give it a good run for its money, but after 3000 miles, whilst im still getting used to the 997, the bike is definitely quicker on my local roads. Sure, if I change the tyres out on the 997, have the geometry checked & set, plus adjust the suspension and spend weeks practicing I might be able to give the bike a bit more of a run for its money. But thats a lot of time/effort when I can just wheel my R1 out of the garage and do it all on a stock bike which is now worth about £50k less than the 997 turbo.
oh i agree you can go faster on a bike for less money in that term i can go even faster by plane for even less money going per trip.
but i think its very naive of people to blank statement that bikes are faster than cars as its not the case. there is to many variables
If you took your R1 and 997 out in anything but a completely dry day i imagine the 997 would be faster
also car will always have the head start as you hop in a car and go, dont have to spend 10 minutes getting the power ranger suits on