When is it to much horsepower ?

[Dragonknee]

Not to that point yet... although it does get with the program when needed and a smooth hand is needed at all times.... the oh shite syndrome is alive and well at sometimes......

[chesthing]

I'm perfectly content with sub-100 hp numbers when dragging a knee through a curve and passing liter bikes, so I'd be the wrong guy to ask about too much horsepower.  

+1. For me it's not a question of how much power is too much, rather how much is required to take curves at the maximum controllable speed? 100 hp is more than enough. I suggest moving to a mountainous area, canyon carving is a way bigger rush than straight line accellaration.

[kevin_stevens]

+1. For me it's not a question of how much power is too much, rather how much is required to take curves at the maximum controllable speed? 100 hp is more than enough. I suggest moving to a mountainous area, canyon carving is a way bigger rush than straight line accellaration.

So, like 20HP?  Because you're not using more than that during max cornering, and it'll get you to 80mph or more.

KeS

[boattrash]

Here is another thought for those who live in a land infested with big rats....


This slowed me a tad, fortunately bambi was a yearling, and I was only going about 55 (I think). 6 months off work, plate on collar bone, bone graft you get the picture. Could have been doing 80 tho. After fact forensic calculated less. Dont remember any as suffered concussion. Thank god for the gear....

[chesthing]

So, like 20HP?  Because you're not using more than that during max cornering, and it'll get you to 80mph or more.

KeS

Well, 20 hp would be sufficient for hairpin switchbacks - curves do range in size, shape even. Do you live in Kansas?

[kevin_stevens]

Well, 20 hp would be sufficient for hairpin switchbacks - curves do range in size, shape even. Do you live in Kansas?

No, i live in San Diego - near Palomar mountain where I enjoy riding my ZX-14 regularly.

KeS

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=palomar+aerial+view&ndsp=21&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=palomar+aerial+view&ndsp=21&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il

[helodoc]

Everytime a person rides a motorcycle they make a decision...

An over used motorcycling catch phrase used to rationalize behavior. Of course it requires a decision. Otherwise, you'd still be sitting on the couch. What a bunch of crap!

[Uncle Bob]

I got two bikes in my garage right now.  A 59hp DRZ and a 250hp rat bike.  The rat bike is a blast to ride, but it does get tiring constantly lighting up the rear tire every time I want to "play".  Its also heavier and less agile.

Its a lot of fun to take out and blast around for a day.  But for my every day grins, the DRZ is a blast

I think the main point is....you can never have too many options.  They are all fun in their own way.

[dbduchene]

OK as to the a 650 is all that you can need it depends on a lot of things. I have a SV 650 and I can say that 7% Grade at 6000 Feet above sea level trying to pass cars in short passing area's it is not enough for me and if I have my 11 or 15 year old son on the back it falls even shorter. At 8000 feet my Modded FJ is not enough. If you are in Denver and take the mountain pass over I think it is loveland then you are at 12000 feet and 4 to 6% Grade A non FI bike is only making I think 25% of its total HP so My FJ is one about 30 HP and with bags and me is approaching 800 Lbs At 6000 feet I am making 60 HP so there is a lot more to this question. For me I do not look at HP I look at Torque. There are 2 guys that are building FJ engines that eat Busa's and that crowd alive. HP is under 170 to the rear tire. BUT 115 to 117 Ft Lbs of Torque. I am thinking very seriously about getting one of these for mine next winter. (thinking as in If I find the coin I well have it) That said I have up graded the brakes forks Rear shock, wheels and all first. Before I do the Hercules motor I well upgrade these even further. I am happy with anything over 100 HP but I can not say where I well be as to torque I am looking for 115 to 125 2 up in the the high elevations I think that is going to be very sweet. As some one esle said I like being to come out of the conners at 3 and 4K RPM and just role into the gas for a nice smooth ride. I tend to not use the HP that I have now but can not wait to have more low end torque. Makes for a much easer days riding much more relaxed. Yes when I find work again I well have a BIG Bore motor well probably never see over 100 but well give many days of very nice smooth ridding.
Denis D

[Dragonknee]

An over used motorcycling catch phrase used to rationalize behavior. Of course it requires a decision. Otherwise, you'd still be sitting on the couch. What a bunch of crap!

I love the friendly banter. so you disagree with how I present my thoughts . to bad. For me I leave behind 3 kids an 2 ex wifes and a family that loves me. I have told all of them that I love them and do so on a regular basis. I make the rational or irrational decision to go out and ride, cuz rational thought would say that riding in the open surrounded by cars is a very irrational thing to do. doing things at a higher rate of speed such as corners and such..rational or irrational... your guess is as good as mine yet its still a decision. even if I'm on my 36 hp KLR or my 185 hp ZX, I have made the decision to ride. Like the photo above shows... even if your just doing the speed limit and not doing anything wrong in the eyes of the law, boom a deer or whatever jumps out and down you go. could be the end of it all. good or bad its a decision that you made regardless of the consistences to ride or not to ride.
 You could have stayed home and been fine but you made the decision to go out and do what you love because you love it. I don't care that you don't agree and feel that it is over used. It is what it is and I think about everything I do before I do it. cuz it makes it sense to me. If I have a bad feeling about riding that day. I don't. call it what you will I call making a decision.  
 Personally I don't think that its a bunch of crap to call it what it is. you jump out of the plane or you stay in the plane. its a normal thing to decide what to do. What would you call it. self preservation or just plain stupidity.  

[boattrash]

Another analogy, for what it is worth. The wind is free, until you try to catch some. HP is relative as well. What do you want to pay for. The xx is great fun but when the hp comes into play mileage goes in the toilet, tires turn to dust. The initial cost can be pretty low for performance but maintaining it through expendables can add up fast. Not sure where I am going with this except I find it amusing that folks tune xx's, busas and the like for more power.... god that bass banshee howl with the note of cracking 2x4's is like nuttin else....

[Breadman]

how many periods is too many periods....will two be sufficient this time..that might be too many altogether......cannot help myself...I just keep reading this thread....now I'm not feeling too well..........

[Dragonknee]

how many periods is too many periods....will two be sufficient this time..that might be too many altogether......cannot help myself...I just keep reading this thread....now I'm not feeling too well..........

Grading people on the internet is so nice and polite. LOL. Thanks for the tip and in the future I will be reminded of your sarcastic wit and way with things and I will not use periods cuz you hurt my feelings and now I may cry. Gosh its so good to be back in school. Those were the good old days.


 

Gee and all this time I thought that this was about horsepower and bikes.................................. ....................................... ..............Silly me.........

[Breadman]

  Okay, okay.  That was obnoxious of me.  

  I think your Ninja is a great looking motorcycle.  I have an FJR with about 145 HP at the crankshaft.  I am very happy with its power, but would love to ride a bike with more (just for grins).  I know that my FJR is a motorcycle I will not ride to 100% of its potential/capability, but I wanted one nonetheless.  I think you're not abnormal for wanting more HP.  I just question, why?  

  I do some highway travelling, including a few 500 mile days each year.  However, the most enjoyment I get riding occurs in the twisties.  This happens to be one of the areas in which an FJR isn't the best, due to its heft.  HP increases alone will get me through the tight twisties no faster than my current pace (agonizingly slow).  A weight loss, coupled with suspension upgrades, would help me in the aforementioned department.  I'd spend my money on the suspension first, if it's not top shelf already.

  I've seen some very good riders on pretty average motorcycles here in WI.  It has been a pleasure riding with them all!  I watch them carve up the turns and realize that they can ride so much closer to the limits of their macines than I am able to ride.  I look forward to becoming a better rider in an effort to "narrow the gap" that lies between my skills and my FJR.  It seems you may only be increasing your "gap" and making a less civilized ride for yourself.  If more HP is your passion, I say go for it!    

[FetterRuck]

When the bike can reach MACH .99  then that's enough HP.

Talk to the guys at NAE...  I think 55,000 HP should just about do it.  

[Dragonknee]

  Okay, okay.  That was obnoxious of me.  

  I think your Ninja is a great looking motorcycle.  I have an FJR with about 145 HP at the crankshaft.  I am very happy with its power, but would love to ride a bike with more (just for grins).  I know that my FJR is a motorcycle I will not ride to 100% of its potential/capability, but I wanted one nonetheless.  I think you're not abnormal for wanting more HP.  I just question, why?  

  I do some highway travelling, including a few 500 mile days each year.  However, the most enjoyment I get riding occurs in the twisties.  This happens to be one of the areas in which an FJR isn't the best, due to its heft.  HP increases alone will get me through the tight twisties no faster than my current pace (agonizingly slow).  A weight loss, coupled with suspension upgrades, would help me in the aforementioned department.  I'd spend my money on the suspension first, if it's not top shelf already.

  I've seen some very good riders on pretty average motorcycles here in WI.  It has been a pleasure riding with them all!  I watch them carve up the turns and realize that they can ride so much closer to the limits of their macines than I am able to ride.  I look forward to becoming a better rider in an effort to "narrow the gap" that lies between my skills and my FJR.  It seems you may only be increasing your "gap" and making a less civilized ride for yourself.  If more HP is your passion, I say go for it!    

Its all good.   I just asked the question to get others feed back. Its all in what you want. I know that I want hp, and enjoy riding bikes with it. I have had lots of bikes thru my riding career and have enjoyed them all. I just always wanted more.
 I do believe that I will not put the big bore kit on and work on suspension and such first.  

[murphyslaw1978]

From a green/efficiency perspective, too much horsepower would be anything over what is really needed to get you down the road at a reasonable speed.  To run down the highway at 70mph generally takes less than 20hp.  Therefore, anything more than that would be considered wastefull in the eyes of efficiency.

[FetterRuck]

From a green/efficiency perspective, too much horsepower would be anything over what is really needed to get you down the road at a reasonable speed.  To run down the highway at 70mph generally takes less than 20hp.  Therefore, anything more than that would be considered wasteful in the eyes of efficiency.

There, I repaired your spelling.  Using too man 'L's is also wasteful.

[motoguy128]

What I enjoyed most switching frm a 600cc to 900cc sportbike wasn't so much that I had more top end power, but rather a more flexible motor.  Crusing down the road in 6th gear, passing on the F4i meant a downshift to at least 3rd gear. To match the same accelration, I only needed a downshift to maybe 5th or none at all on the ZX9R.  I had more power on tap when I needed at at all times.  

Ultimately it depends on what you need the bike to do.  I like a balanced package.  For street use I think my R1200RT boxer motor fits that well.  First gear is a little tall, but otherwise the torquey motor muscles the bike ahead, doesn't need to be wound out and doesn't care if I add a passenger and luggage.  My F4i became a total dog wth a passenger.  The ZX9R less so.  The rear suspension was just overloaded then.

[Baz]

From a green/efficiency perspective, too much horsepower would be anything over what is really needed to get you down the road at a reasonable speed.  To run down the highway at 70mph generally takes less than 20hp.  Therefore, anything more than that would be considered wastefull in the eyes of efficiency.

Now if I see H.D. playing the environmentally friendly thingy, I am going to sneeze coffee through my nose!