Dropping down in power

[Irezumi]

Anyone changed bikes intentionally for a lower powered one, or even unintentionally?

I’m looking to from 110hp to about 75hp, sports to naked. Am I going to miss that much overtaking power or not really notice it fir normal riding? Is it a good or bad idea?

[MarJay]

You might notice for the first couple of rides, but after a while your brain will adjust. I found that I ride like more of a nutter on my Street Triple as my GSX-S because when I get on it I feel it's lower powered so I thrash it.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Having dropped from 160 to 130 bhp, nope didn't notice in the slightest.

What I did notice was the fact that my elbows and shoulders work properly now because of the stress from the geometry has gone.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Polarbear]

I drop[ped from a gen1 Busa to a STR, the old 675 version. So something like 170 to 110BHP. Of course I noticed a drop but the bikes were so fundamentally different it never felt underpowered, just different.

If I had dropped to something similar, then I'm sure it would have been more of an issue.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[xX-Alex-Xx]

Current bike is a GSR750, had a 929 before that and a Gixxer thou before that. Definitely notice the power drop, but it's the torque of the thousands that I miss the most on the GSR.
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DILLIGAF

[chickenstrip]

You probably will miss the overtaking power, but if the bike you switch to is good enough in other respects, it won't matter that much.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[jeffyjeff]

I did indeed downgrade from a VFR800Fi (5th gen) to a BMW R1150R. 110 hp > 85 hp. To be frank, the BMW is a bit of a pig, but it handles motorways really well and will cruise up to 100 mph easily without running out of wind. Do I miss that extra 25 hp... not really. An SV650 or an MT07 would probably be a better choice. Personally, I think I would be very happy with a lighter weight naked like the SV.
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[Blah blah]

If you find the right 75hp then you won't miss the power and they will be more than enough in the real world

I have a modified 748 (853cc) and an S2r 800 Monster and they make those sort of figures

The Monster has more than enough power to get me past stuff or into triple figures and will keep up with most stuff down the back lanes - the 748 demands to be ridden everywhere much faster before it works and I'm quickly into license losing speeds. I've said it before on here that the 748 is too much for the roads (and got laughed at) but where can you actually go WOT for more than 3 gears?

[P.]

I literally just went 600 sports 100hp+ to 600 semi naked 76hp.

Yes I noticed. Instantly but the comfort and position was also miles better. I don't regret it and I'm actually looking forward to going for a ride.

[Pete.]

Of course you'd notice but apart from the thrill of stupid accelleration and top speed what use is the extra. I've has all types of bike from singles to big-power turbocharged but the 95hp 100lbs/ft BMW i ride nowadays beates them all on my commute. The only way I'll stop using it is if they make it non-ULEZ compliant or someone produces a half decent electric bike, or I'm dead.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[DrSnoosnoo]

I went from 140 ish to 110 with some mad gearing that only allowed 125 mph max.

It just means you ride differently. With that gearing and power I could ride aggressively and use revs and it was a hoot to ride.

If I rode like that on the current 170 ish bhp now I'd be dead because no way could I handle that.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[ThunderGuts]

Anything over 50bhp is going to be adequate punch to do most overtakes. A naked will probably "feel" faster because you'll get the full windblast. As all the above really, yes you'll notice it, you'll soon get used to it, you *might* miss it occasionally, but motorbikes excel in corners not straights and you won't miss it when banked over.
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TG.

[woo]

I went from an R1 to a Honda Grom 125cc
Still on the Grom might jump to a Honda CB300R
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[blurredman]

Dropped from 33 at the wheel to 20ish.

Yes I have noticed.



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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (bored to 295cc) - 38k, 1990 MZ ETZ251 - 49k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k.

[Easy-X]

What sort of bikes are we talking about? Going from an old litre bike to a new naked, e.g. carb'd to EFI, you might actually find the smaller bike feel quicker if it's got some nice torque-to-weight ratio.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[ThunderGuts]

[P.]

[Zen Dog]

For me, anything 75hp+ is fine. If it's on the lower end you just change gear a bit more and wring it's neck a bit more.

I tried a mate's 160hp Ducati Diavel the other day. I reckon I was at full throttle for about 0.2% of the trip. On my VFR for the same journey I reckon I'd have used full throttle for about 0.5% of it.
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Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Irezumi]

Thanks for all the input. Found the drop in power was ok but the particular bike not quite for me.

[Jayy]

Every time I get off the V4R (235bhp) to the 690 SMC-R (70bhp). There's a fair bit of difference there but both uniquely fun.

[Old Git Racing]

Jumping off the gixxer 1000 onto the street twin I certainly notice it but not in a bad way. Horses for courses. Even though the Triumph is only 64bhp its not slow and can be more enjoyable as you use more of it.

The gixxer is totally mental and uncomfortable, only take it for short blasts and probably use the street twin more but hell it makes me grin!

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[SpiritMr89]

Surely it is more gearing than top end.

Right ratio's you'll still top a ton. But get there as quick. Plus have the pull to whip past.

Probably wrong here (correct me if so).

The R6 was faster than R1, because the shorter gears and weight?
It could boot round and out of corners when the R1was still slowwing down.

Reason I love V twin's. Plenty of torque to power out.
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Hello

[stinkwheel]

Just back from a tour of Northern Spain. I took my enfield bullet, not my VFR.

But it's all horses for courses, on the way down to the ferry, I think we'd all have swapped for my mates Blackbird. Once there and on the twisties, everyone wanted a go of the G310R rental bike Mrs stinkwheel had... Nobody wished they were on a 1200GS, despite almost literally every other bike we saw being one.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bhud]

[stinkwheel]