This should be read in conjunction the "electronic trickery" thread. How many of us use a fraction of that power every time we ride? I'm not talking about a quick full throttle 270 klicks and then slow down to save the licence,i mean sustained red mist specials for ten minutes or so,not many you think? so could we be riding simpler more user friendly exciting motorcycles? What would you like to see and how much would they cost? ps when sitiing upright on my gt1000 130 feels like 260 pps even drag racing your mates on ex postie bikes is as much fun sometimes,have we all forgotten that?
GT1000? Ducati? 1000DS motor isn't it? Amazed if its more than a 100 if thats HP not MPH I use a fair amount, but in the multi no so much. 848 used to get used a lot more up in the higher range
I would much rather the factories gave us lighter motorcycles than festoon them with unnecessary electronic gubbins. 160kg and maybe 110bhp would make for a very exciting bike to ride. Perhaps once a year when I'm abroad I'll open the bike up, the rest of the year back in Blighty the risks are too high. My license is in tatters as it is, one more big nicking and I'll be picking up the soap for Big Bubba... It's no coincidence that since the unification of bike testing throughout Europe, and manufacturers bringing out more and more A2-friendly bikes, that motorcycle test applications have increased fourfold. The simple fact is these 200bhp superbikes scare the crap out of potential bikers. They're too much for most. Fact is I'm having far more fun wrestling my 70bhp Guzzi than I am tucking in on the 150bhp Blackbird.
Yeah the 1000ds,about 80bhp at the rear wheel.All speeds in kilometers over here,anything over 200 is 'do not pass go' and maybe your bike thru the crusher or sold for you by concerned gummint officials.
A2 is one of the new motorcycle licence categories, really aimed at 19-20 year olds: part of the latest round of EU inflicted driving licence rule changes. According to the DirectGov website: "Sub-category A2 (standard motorcycle) Sub-category A2 motorcycles used for tests must: be a solo motorcycle be at least 395cc be between 20kW and 35kW engine power have a power to weight ratio no more than 0.2kW/kg If the engine power of the motorcycle has been restricted to fit sub-category A2, the normal unrestricted power can’t be more than double its new restricted power." Having passed a test for an A2 licence, you're restricted for 2 years to bikes with a limit of 35kW/47bhp and a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2kW/0.26bhp per kg (maximum 47bhp, minimum weight 175kg), and again, if you go for a restricted bike, the normal unrestricted version can't be more than twice as powerful as the restricted version, it makes a practical limit of 94bhp. A Visordown website article said that A2 permissable bikes include: Honda NC700, Kawasaki Z800e, BMW G650GS.
A2 is a license. When you pass your test these days you're restricted to a certain power to weight ratio for a while. This is called the A2 license, and now the testing system has been unified across Europe the manufacturers have started offering bikes to fit within that licensing category - bikes like the Kawasaki 300 Ninja, Honda CB500 variants, KTM 390 Duke, etc. Mid-range bikes were non-existent a couple of years ago, and motorcycle sales were plummeting into the abyss. But now these mid-range bikes are back on the menu more and more people are being tempted onto two wheels. Japan Inc really should be kicking themselves for ignoring this sector for so long.
Thanks for the info,because i'm a foreigner i was thinking a2 maybe that's a special 'A' road you can let the looneys loose on,i wish.Over here we have had the lams (learner approved motorcycles) system for years,a good thing.In 1969 in new zealand you got your licence at 15,it was legal to buy any bike you like and the bike would regularly throw you in the bushes to teach you a thing or two.
I liked the idea of having the biggest and best bhp, but there's no way I even used half their potential. The 899 is supposed to have 148bhp and I won't get anywhere near that either.
I suppose there is no correct answer to this question. On the road I doubt many people will get anywhere near using a modern superbike to it's potential. On the track it can be that way as well however after 4 days on Almeria I was seriously beginning to think I had an engine problem as the bike felt slow, i.e. give me more power, there wasn't I was just getting used to it. That said a 600 was lapping 15sec a lap faster than me which has a lot less power (Tito Rabat) So I guess the answer for me is, it's better to have it and not use it than not to have it in the 1st place.
Yamaha have kindly provided a wimp indicator on the R1 (shows your throttle position), and for me its rarely more than 50% open on the roads I use. That means I probably need no more than 80 bhp
There was an article several years ago in Dire (Ride) Magazine looking at how much horsepower the average rider uses on the street. I cannot remember the number exactly but memory tells me it was no more than 40-50bhp averaged across the test riders they used.
I really rated the 848, imo it was one of the best 'real world' sports bikes money could buy. I need to have a go on an 899 though.
A 47 bhp 650 cc single or twin makes for a cheap, relaxed ride, ideal for commuting, shopping, social visits and a little light touring. Unlike a small scooter, it can keep up with motorway traffic too. Millions of people could find it attractive. A 180 bhp super-rocket not so much, will always be niche.
