Was insulted today !

[rboe]

I wonder if the fattening of Americans has anything to do with the crazy attitude on horsepower requirements. My old Kawasaki 550 put out about 50hp and it put me in the hospital several times (OK, the last time it was the gal turning left in front of me......).

The W looks great (we have a 650 that comes to the Grotto, in green and crème, easily the prettiest bike there) and if I had to trade the CB in, the W800 would be at the top of the list of bikes to move to. I think it would be behind an Indian or Guzzi California......

My green Griso SE gets more attention than the CB, mostly because flat green is so unusual for a bike - or a car. It grabs your eye. Both are good looking, but I think the CB is prettier and the Griso is just very handsome.

Now if someone did a remake of the light green 1954 Sunbeam S7........

[emptysea]

We just like more horsepower. For as long as we've had the internal combustion engine, Americans, generally, have craved and tried to develop more horsepower from it. I don't think it has anything to do with the fattening of America nor do I think it's a particularly crazy attitude. Please note, though, that my previous bike was a CBR250r and I was perfectly happy with it until I got a look at the CB1100, so there are still fat Americans who like smaller and relatively slower motorcycles.

[Elipten_imp]

That explains my weight gain from youth! I've been compensating for increasing horsepower of my bike! And here it thought it was stress, travel and lack of exercise!


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[Wisedrum]

The gain for more horsepower is a an understandable desire of mankind.
Also practically not often useable, the driver feels pretty good to know, I could, if I have to or want to, let all the horses run free.
Nevertheless in the risk of loosing his driving license, because most of the official roads are limited speedwise worldwide.
There are some exceptions from the rule, mainly in Germany, but there are very few, even over here.

So, 50 PS are quite a lot in daily driving, not in racing.

The W 800 has 48PS for the sake of making it more interesting for bikestarters at
the age of 18. They are allowed to drive bikes up to this horsepower in Europe.
Kawasaki, let's say, downsized the W, to catch these drivers. Although most of the young beginners are not really interested in it,
too expensive, too old looking, despite from the ones, who are young, but be born at a wrong time. Their hearts beat in the past.

What was enough power in the 1960s, may not be suitable for today.
I don't think so. The power of the CB is more than I usually use, but I enjoy it.
The engine of the W still fits my notions and needs. But I have to mention, that I mostly ride alone. The leafe will turn with a
passenger on board and may turn even stronger with some luggage in addition to that. The accelaration will suffer. Not so much on the CB but the W.

Both bikes wear the art of slow movement in their making. One a little stronger than the other. They are build for relaxation, not for hesitation.

Wisedrum

[flynrider]

I got my first bike in 1980, at the height of what was called the Horsepower Wars. With UJMs being somewhat universal, manufacturers tried to get a a step ahead of the competition by offering the most powerful UJM. It struck me that, in squeezing the most HP per CC, the highly touted power tended to concentrate near the the top of the powerband, where ironically, most riders didn't venture anyway. The result tended to be bikes with impressive power at high rpms and not so much in rpm regions normally used on the street. It didn't seem to matter to the buyers, they were buying the numbers.

By contrast, bikes like the CB11 and the Triumph twins (and my late model CB750) use a more logical approach. Though the peak HP number is not as impressive, power is delivered evenly throughout the rpm range, making for much better responsiveness in normal street riding. Often an engine that is designed like this is referred to as "de-tuned". I tend to feel that they are "properly tuned".

With some cam and intake changes, the CB11 engine could easily put out over 110 peak horsepower, but that would ruin it's wonderfully linear power delivery. If you're not racing, why wouldn't you want the power delivered where you can use it? If you haven't guessed yet, I've never been a fan of peak HP numbers as the measure of a bike.

[Wisedrum]

You wrote a nice description of what is an example for a
linear power development. I prefer bikes, that have this kind
of engine. To some this may be boring, without massive peaks,
but in normal riding situations they are very handsome to use.

Literally written you can drive in the highest gear all day long.
Of course, if you want to. Somehow a substitute for an automatic
shift system.

Wisedrum

[ClassicVW_imp]

A couple years ago I had a very comfortable touring machine that only put out 60HP. Some riders would hear that and go "Really? Don't you wish you had more?" The answer was no. It had plenty of power even when loaded. Had great torque. You can get yourself in trouble plenty easy with less HP.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

That explains my weight gain from youth! I've been compensating for increasing horsepower of my bike! And here it thought it was stress, travel and lack of exercise!


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Haha! Brilliant.

A couple years ago I had a very comfortable touring machine that only put out 60HP. Some riders would hear that and go "Really? Don't you wish you had more?" The answer was no. It had plenty of power even when loaded. Had great torque. You can get yourself in trouble plenty easy with less HP.

Amen.

[rboe]

This is one pretty bike, one of the regulars at The Grotto.

[ClassicVW_imp]

Man, between this and the Bonneville thread I'm thinking of a Bonnie again..... And I know I've said they are very similar bikes, but man, they are beautiful!