Making sense out of motorcycle specifications.... Basic Terms Explained Clearly

[DavidLSI]

This is from about.com...

I was reading found several things explained and cleared up some things I was saying but not quite getting right.

Things like explainig what torque is,

http://motorcycles.about.com/od/roadtestsreviews/a/motospecterms.htm

Hope this is useful...

SeeYa
DavidLSI

[Kootenanny]

Not bad, but not great.  My initial scan found several mistakes (a Boss Hoss has a V6?!?), and some things were mentioned but not explained.

[Blrfl]

a Boss Hoss has a V6?!?

They offered a model with a GM 4L V6 in the late '90s, although if you're going that route, why skimp on cylinders?

--Mark

[Montyburns]

I was hoping for a better definition of horsepower.  I've heard it said that torque = acceleration and horsepower = speed.  Is that accurate?  

[DavidLSI]

I was hoping for a better definition of horsepower.  I've heard it said that torque = acceleration and horsepower = speed.  Is that accurate?  

horse·pow·er      /ˈhɔrsˌpaʊər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hawrs-pou-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. a foot-pound-second unit of power, equivalent to 550 foot-pounds per second, or 745.7 watts.  
2. Informal. the capacity to achieve or produce; strength or talent: The university's history faculty is noted for its intellectual horsepower.  

or more than you will want to know at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower

SeeYa
DavidLSI

[Montyburns]

horse·pow·er      /ˈhɔrsˌpaʊər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hawrs-pou-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. a foot-pound-second unit of power, equivalent to 550 foot-pounds per second, or 745.7 watts.  
2. Informal. the capacity to achieve or produce; strength or talent: The university's history faculty is noted for its intellectual horsepower.  

or more than you will want to know at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower

SeeYa
DavidLSI

Oh, thanks . . . that really cleared things up.  

[mtrider16]

I was thinking it was torque X RPM = HP

[county]

Torque/Horsepower is much like Art....I know it when I feel it

[ridingfar]

I was thinking it was torque X RPM = HP

Nope - it's torque x RPM divided by 5252 = HP

[ridingfar]

Think of torque as the power resulting from the explosions going on in the cylinders – the “oomph” you feel when you open the throttle.

Think of HP as the combination of torque AND the momentum of all those reciprocating and spinning parts. HP builds as RPM increases because things in the motor are moving faster AND there are more explosions per second/minute. Torque on the other hand is frequently flat over a large RPM range.