BMW In low HP shock ?

[greatmoorred]

I was talking to my old bike instructor last night and he reckons that a BMWF650 only has around 40hp ??
Is this true ?
I always thought it might be a fun bike, but not if its as wet as that.

[G]

Sounds about right.

Big singles rarely have that much go - even tuned ones, we're probably only talking around 60hp for a not too ridiculous tune.

An instructor riding a Supermono couldn't keep up with me on my 64hp SV at Snetterton - and I'm pretty sure he should have been able to hold at least as good corner speed as me.

[NSR Mick]

48bhp I'm led to belive, dont know whether thats at crank or at back wheel.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[stinkwheel]

I believe the Germans usually measure it at the rear wheel. It doesn't stop them cracking the ton though.

Well handled, I see no reason why one shouldn't be able to keep up with an SV650 on anything other than a dead straight road.

[Finglonga]

[G]

Because the same rider that only uses 60hp of thier 120hp, will probably only use 24hp of thier 48hp available?

I don't mind some big singles, but would definitely prefer a snappier revvier power delivery for fun.

Definitely heard some not so great things from people going from a sportsbike then riding this BMW.


Oh and I do pretty much always use all the power a bike has, even if it is only on the straights!

[Finglonga]

[Itchy]

and? ,

I bet most people here don;t rebuild their engines regularly cept maybe Stink , petrol engines loose HP every mile they go , a well run in bike like 50K probably only has 80% of the advertised power if that,



while diesel engines get more HP the more miles you put on them.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[colin1]

[stinkwheel]

A friend of mine rides classic racers. He has an Aermacchi 350 which produces an optimistic 30bhp. Still managed to lap the Isle of Man with an average speed in excess of 90mph on it.

It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it.

[colin1]

not sure id want to ride something at 90mph with ancient brakes
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[G]

[Zimbo]

Actually, the brakes are probably better than your sportsbikes. Ancient they may be, doesn't mean they're crap! And if he's averaging 90, he's probably getting up near 120 in many places! You try following a classic racer around a circuit, they may be 50 years old and have 50bhp and skinny tyres, but they'll outbrake and outcorner you, everytime!

Going back to horsepower, most big singles put out fairly similar power, most supermotards are in the 40 - 60bhp range. You don't hear KTM riders moaning about the crap power delivery, because they're wheelie machines with savage torque delivery. BHP is way, way overrated and I don't believe any more than 100 is ever necessary on the public road, under any circumstances.

[G]

[lilredmachine]

One of the problems with Supermotos is the power source. You have impossibly sweet handling in an amazingly light bike, supersoft tyres and then an old tech thumping single in the middle, or in aprilias case a v-twin. With maybe a max of 60-75 horsepower in rebuild-it-every-hour tune. Maybe a 400cc inline 4 supermoto would be interesting to pursue?

Though if i remembered correctly, Valvers husqy supermoto was geared to run to 132 mph, and was well capable of doing that without losing a lot of acceleration.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[G]

I wouldnt say supermoto handling is that amazing, personally - if it was, you'd see Rossi with a 250hp traily .
In some cases the longer travel suspension does make more sense for the road, as can a foot out riding style when trying to push it on poor surfaces.

I believe a 400cc 4 engine would weigh a fair bit more for the same power and a peakier power delivery.
Have seen it done in th past though.

[Slickfish]

I had a F650 as my first large bike, and they are good fun, you learn alot that you can transfer onto other bike syou may have.
THey are a goos stepping stone, and mine just never seemed to rust no matter how long I left road salt on it.

[lilredmachine]

[G]

[colin1]

[TheShaggyDA]

[greatmoorred]

so, if i were to step off my fiesty little 400 bandit (beats golf gti's from the lights )
And buy a F650, which i think look really nice. Would i be a bit disappointed, when i get stripped at the lights by a mondeo.

[RI_HA]

[stinkwheel]

Well I saw a 'parade' (read 'race') on the short circuit at the Highland showground one year with 500cc road racers (proper ones, on slicks). One of the guys bike had broken down so he borrowed a bog standard KTM Duke of one of the stands and stuffed the lot of them on it.

[Raffles_Gentleman Thug]