GSX1400 Owners .org

General => Bike Chat => Topic started by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 06:39 AM

Title: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 06:39 AM
Interesting read
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/blog/how-much-horsepower-does-my-bike-use
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: steve porter on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 07:02 AM
Funny about that, I was chasing a guy I know up a mountain road a few years back on my 851 which makes 105 RWHP and he was on the then latest 1198 Panigale with 170 Hp. Coming out of the corners the Panigale was not pulling away at all, we discussed this at the top and he said he was nailing it, which I knew he would have been and we put it down to the traction control limiting the power to all that was usable , for shits and giggles I got him to follow me and nail that sucker past when the road opened up and holy shit it was like mine was broken when the electronics allowed full power.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 08:41 AM
An excellent read there Dave, thanks.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 11:45 AM
Steve....couple of years ago was at a track day and one of those 1198's was in our group. First full lap and it was sleeping in the middle of the track. Looked like he spun it out. Can you turn the electronic aids off on those things ?
Maybe just cold tyres.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: steve porter on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 03:51 PM
not really sure to be honest, I think you can dial more or less but don`t know if you can turn it off altogether
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: T 24 on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 08:54 PM
I don't really need more or less than 106 hp.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: Batkwaka on Thursday, 09 April 2020, 09:55 PM
I'm just going to go with, "Enough to get me into trouble and enough to get me out"!
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: Eric GSX1400K3 on Friday, 10 April 2020, 12:34 AM
Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, Sundance all only had one hp and are legends.

So its not how many  but how you use them....
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: DP1400 on Friday, 10 April 2020, 06:28 AM
A brilliant read.

Makes me feel somewhat embarrassed that those families of 5 all riding on an old Honda 50 in Indria (plus shopping) are probably using more horsepower pro-rata, than I do on my `14, FFS! :rofl2:
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: Hooli on Saturday, 11 April 2020, 08:23 PM
The answer is 'depends'.

I've got about half the HP in my Bonnie as my 14, the Bonnie is more fun too. I wouldn't want a half power 14 though, as they are a big fat lump to shift about.

My car needs more though, one day I'll tweak it for 400bhp as that's a nice number. Doesn't take much either, mostly a bigger bottom pulley.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: numbskull on Saturday, 11 April 2020, 09:00 PM
Quote from: Hooli on Saturday, 11 April  2020, 08:23 PM

My car needs more though, one day I'll tweak it for 400bhp as that's a nice number. Doesn't take much either, mostly a bigger bottom pulley.

You in a hurry to get to the next traffic jam   :laugh:
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: Mick_J on Saturday, 11 April 2020, 09:09 PM
This might well explain why I prefer my 955 speed triple to the 1050 version.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: T 24 on Sunday, 12 April 2020, 06:14 AM
At first, I had 106 hp. Then I made my turbo conversion.... I had 212.. and 243.. and more peak hp...
Until I understood that the wide torq band is all you need..
Now I have over 150 nm (I dont know how much, it doesn't matter) between 3000-9000 rpm..
106 hp is enough..
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: Hooli on Sunday, 12 April 2020, 07:03 AM
Quote from: numbskull on Saturday, 11 April  2020, 09:00 PM
Quote from: Hooli on Saturday, 11 April  2020, 08:23 PM

My car needs more though, one day I'll tweak it for 400bhp as that's a nice number. Doesn't take much either, mostly a bigger bottom pulley.

You in a hurry to get to the next traffic jam   :laugh:

:clapping: :clapping:

You'd be surprised how many cars queuing for no reason it makes it possible to pass.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: VladTepes on Sunday, 12 April 2020, 12:40 PM
How much horsepower do we need?

All of it, of course.
Title: Re: How much horsepower do you REALLY need?
Post by: GSXKING on Sunday, 12 April 2020, 01:33 PM
The key with this thread is to know where your bike produces most torque/horsepower and try to ride in that rev range. Anywhere else other than the track you will need to call 000 as you'll be in the bushes before you even realise it. R.I.P. or jail  :sinbin: :sinbin:

Just my two cents worth  :whatever: :whatever: