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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Ideal HP for a single rider. /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1347156732 Message started by gerald.hughes on 09/08/12 at 19:12:12 |
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Title: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by gerald.hughes on 09/08/12 at 19:12:12 I have always thought that 50 HP was about the ideal for a single rider. For me, it it enough for around town, and the freeway. I was wondering what others on the site felt. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by SALB on 09/08/12 at 20:35:22 Too many variables. Weight of the bike (power to weight ratio), weight of the rider, gearing, torque and horsepower curves all play into the equation. :) That said, the weight and torque of my S40 works for me! |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by Serowbot on 09/08/12 at 21:07:49 42,... Didn't you see the Hitchhikers guide?.... :-?... |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by Paraquat on 09/08/12 at 21:08:09 "More". I need "more". It would be ideal if I had "more". --Steve |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by Boofer on 09/08/12 at 21:54:21 Gerald, I could start another "oil war" by telling you how little it takes to move a train on level track, but I won't. A coal train here in the South weighs about 15-17,000 tons iirc. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern commonly use three engines with 4,000-4,400 hp each. However one engine with 13,000 hp couldn't pull the train because of the traction needed. I've been a railfan many years, so I'm going mostly from memory, but it doesn't take as much as you would think. Remember horsepower is force and movement. As the saying goes "going fast costs money"--which means horsepower. Just sayin'. :) |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by Boofer on 09/08/12 at 21:57:02 Oh, what was the question again? The most horsepower I ever had was 74 in 1973 on a 1972 Kawa 750 H2...and it wasn't enough. But it would be plenty now. ;) |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by ToesNose on 09/09/12 at 04:45:39 At 152lbs. loving the twisty roads and mainly being an around town or two lane country rider the LS650 completely suits my needs. If I was on the interstates regularly I'd want something more substantial. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by Pine on 09/09/12 at 17:59:51 I cant reckon a figure... The LS650 has a power curve I really like. Increasing the power on it would not make any sense.. as basically I find the weight/suspension doesnt like 70mph on Mississippi interstates .. so going faster would not be for this bike. Bigger heavier bike.. I would need want more motor... PS: down here we get not only pot holes, but plain ole "bumps" which seem to come in clusters. When you hit a series of say 3 of them, the bike seems to "loose its footing", your more airborn than not. Puts me in pucker power overdrive .. right quick! |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by mojohand40 on 09/10/12 at 09:06:51 2C2F2C382E26284D0 wrote:
+1. got to agree. Too many variables. I've had a few bikes and always prefer smaller weight bikes and always ride solo. (my wife has her own bike). It depends on what you want to do. At one time I had a 600 Katana which is about an 70 hp bike (rear wheel HP). The thing about Katana's though, is they are heavy and big for a sport bike, which made it GREAT for a highway/interstate ride (IMO). Very smooooth. ...BUT....I hated having to turn it around in my driveway or putting it in and out of my shed, etc. It was tall , heavy and really more power then I needed for around town. on the other end, I also once had a GZ250, which is about 20hp...but small and light...sooooo...it was great for around town and I commuted to work, mainly taking 50-55 mph parkways and such, and it was just fine. The small size and weight (and low power) made the bike scary on major highways and no interstate travel on it. BUT...for most one up riding the 20hp was enough. My Shadow Spirit 750 stock is 35.4hp (Mine's rejetted, open air box, etc, maybe 38 rear wheel hp, don't know, and a smaller rear sprocket). In my mind it's the best for just an all around bike. The sprocket change made it highway worthy, the low end torque and size makes it a blast around town. Anyway, it just depends on how you ride etc. The Savage seems perfect for an around town backroad bike to me. It's not the lack of HP that makes me think it's not a good highway bike, but the low weight, brakes and suspension. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by ToesNose on 09/10/12 at 10:49:02 Quote:
Well put MoJo ;) Plain, simple and straight to the point. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by LANCER on 09/10/12 at 11:14:06 I have to disagree a bit guys. The LS650 is not perfect of course since it was designed and built to be a low price entry level bike, but it is a good base platform from which to build. If you have a bike that begins to feel unstable at 70 mph then you have some thing/s wrong. A stock bike in good condition will go up to 100 mph and be stable. Check your suspension, tires,wheel alignment, etc, if yours is not stable. Improvements to upgrade include fork springs, heavier weight fork oil, fork brace, replacing rear shocks, quality tires, brake pads/shoes, all of which will add to the stability & handling across the board. Then there are the performance upgrades which will boost or magnify the best qualities of this big single. Do you like the torque characteristics of it ? It will increase. Do you like the ease of handling and maneuverability of it ? It will improve. Do you like the feel of this kind of power ? It will increase. This bike in stock form is only half the bike it is capable of being. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by LANCER on 09/10/12 at 11:28:33 I have LS650's and a 1200C sporty. It is twice the weight and has twice the power and because of the weight is more stable on the highway. I keep it for two up riding, otherwise I ride the LS's. For around town commuting, back road easy cruising and mountain road blasting it is really hard to beat ... besides the ease of maintenance, dependability and low initial cost & upkeep. It is the best all around bike I've ever owned. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by rfw2003 on 09/10/12 at 11:30:25 :-[quote author=212C232E283F7F7A4D0 link=1347156732/0#10 date=1347300846] I have to disagree a bit guys. The LS650 is not perfect of course since it was designed and built to be a low price entry level bike, but it is a good base platform from which to build. If you have a bike that begins to feel unstable at 70 mph then you have some thing/s wrong. A stock bike in good condition will go up to 100 mph and is stable. Check your suspension, tires,wheel alignment, etc, if yours is not stable. Improvements to upgrade include fork springs, heavier weight fork oil, fork brace, replacing rear shocks, quality tires, brake pads/shoes, all of which will add to the stability & handling across the board. Then there are the performance upgrades which will boost or magnify the best qualities of this big single. Do you like the torque characteristics of it ? It will increase. Do you like the ease of handling and maneuverability of it ? It will improve. Do you like the feel of this kind of power ? It will increase. This bike in stock form is only half the bike it is capable of being. [/quote] Didn't know there were upgraded fork springs available. Where might I find those? R.F. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by LANCER on 09/10/12 at 11:32:57 RYCA had Progressive build them and are available from RYCA. Not sure about direct from Progressive yet. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by rfw2003 on 09/10/12 at 11:36:41 59545B5650470702350 wrote:
Thanks man, will definitely have to look into them. These stock fork springs suck on the Texas back roads. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by LANCER on 09/11/12 at 10:55:04 6E7A6B2E2C2C2F1C0 wrote:
Thanks man, will definitely have to look into them. These stock fork springs suck on the Texas back roads. [/quote] Have you tried 20 wt fork oil in the tubes yet ? After picking my new bike up from the dealership and riding for a year I was very disappointed in the performance of the forks. I decided it was time to check the fork oil for volume/cleanliness and discovered the dealership had not even checked them during dealer prep prior to my picking it up the year before ... literally about 2-3 tablespoons of oil came out. I was not a happy camper. I put in the recommended oil and it was certainly better but still not what I wanted to feel when riding, so I drained it and replaced it with 20 wt. That change was more to my liking. It was more stable and handled the bumps & holes much better. Give that a try as well and see what you think of it. I would still get the springs though too. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by arteacher on 09/12/12 at 17:37:42 The stock springs are already progressive. Play around with the fork oil first. Go up on weight to 15 or 20, or go up on quantity 5 ml at a time. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by bill67 on 09/12/12 at 17:41:58 424949404C434258592D0 wrote:
+1 you can also put in a longer spacer if you want more preload. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by LANCER on 09/13/12 at 02:01:58 0D06060F030C0D1716620 wrote:
Yes they are, but I wonder if the quality of the spring steel used by Progressive is of higher quality, and thereby does its job better, than the material used by Suzuki on this "Low cost everything" used on the LS650. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by Gyrobob on 09/14/12 at 04:16:07 68656A6761763633040 wrote:
I got those springs for my RYCA. There's good news and bad news. They increase the responsiveness, and make the thing feel more planted in turns. On the other hand, you feel every tiny pebble and crack in the pavement,.. and if you see a bump coming up, you'd better get the weight off your arms or you'll get whiplash. They'd be perfect on a rigid-rear bobber,... then both ends would feel the same. I was thinking of trying a lighter oil, but after some research, it appears the ATF I used is somewhere between 8w and 12w,... pretty light already. I might try some 5w fork oil (ten times the cost of ATF!!!) and see if it makes any diff. |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by Gyrobob on 09/14/12 at 04:46:15 5564776474706471050 wrote:
I think you might not be a real American if you are ever fully satisfied with the amount of HP you have in your current bike. ;) The thing I like about the really powerful jap bikes is that the horsepower is so controllable. You can putter around town, do some shopping, get a burger, etc., and the thing is smooth, quiet, and camry-like. Drop off the old lady and groceries, head up to the hills, and the same bike is a snarling rocketship. 8-) |
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Title: Re: Ideal HP for a single rider. Post by LANCER on 09/16/12 at 03:31:37 4678736E636E63010 wrote:
I think you might not be a real American if you are ever fully satisfied with the amount of HP you have in your current bike. ;) The thing I like about the really powerful jap bikes is that the horsepower is so controllable. You can putter around town, do some shopping, get a burger, etc., and the thing is smooth, quiet, and camry-like. Drop off the old lady and groceries, head up to the hills, and the same bike is a snarling rocketship. 8-) [/quote] ARRGGGHHHH ... POWER !!!!!!!!! 8-) |
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