It occurred to me that when I think of "riding a slow bike fast" I think I really mean to what extent of the bike's potential am I taxing it?
If it is an R1 on the street (or track for that matter!) I am not coming anywhere close to riding it near its potential. (Side note - I'd wager that the majority of owners would fall into the same category. At differing levels, but in the same category.)
The smaller the displacement and the less of a specialized tool, the more I find myself able to push it. Take traction control out of the equation and I'd kill myself whacking the throttle wide open exiting turn in 2nd gear on an R1, CBR1000RR, etc.
But put me on my Versys and it becomes the standard practice when ride hard/sporty.
So in that light, I'm riding a "slow" bike fast. Perhaps more accurately, I am pushing the "slow" bike much harder, and having a lot more fun than I would be able to on a bike with 2X or more HP/torque.
In years gone by, there were times, late at night or soon after midnight, when a number of unnamed individuals would ride 50cc - 125cc dirtbikes, pitbikes, etc. all decked out with street tires and battery powered LED headlights, on a certain road on the Tenn/NC border.
These were, by most any standard, "slow" bikes. But an XR50 with an 80CC big bore kit and sticky race tires was an shocking example of a slow bike ridden fast. Top speed, maybe 50 mph. But what occurred within the confines of that 50 mph top speed..... well, it would make your butthole pucker.