How to Reduce Power [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

OLD MAN BJ

27th January 2006, 16:46

Hi Guys and Gals

Now I know this may sound strange ( as most people want to go the other way) but I have a tech question for you clever buffs.
As I have been away from biking for quite a while and now want to return, I would like to buy a good retro style tourer or sports tourer. Ones I have looked at include, Honda CB 1300F, Suzi Bandit 1200, Kwaka ZXR1200R or even ZZR1200. I want a big bike for the torque they offer, but Hey, I dont need or want massive horse power. Of all the above bikes I really liked the Kwaka ZZR1200 with full fairing, but the 160 odd HP is way over the top for me. So my question is, is it possible to put some form of restrictor on a bike to reduce the HP ? I mean maybe a different chip or just a mechanical device to restrict throttle movement? All these bikes make huge torque from about 1500 revs so I wouldnt be loosing anything much of the torque, but I dont trust an old git like me with mega HP.
Anyway, your thoughts appreciated. John

Ixion

27th January 2006, 16:56

Speakingas a (probably) older git, I don't understand your concern. Just don't wring the neck off the donk as much. Keep the revs down. change up earlier. I guess if you really wanted you could put a wee pin in the twistgrip that would stop it opening fully, but it seems a bit pointless. Just don't twist the grip as far round, and change up early. I reckon you can never have too much power, so long as you have enough self control.

Edbear

27th January 2006, 16:56

Hey, old man! I was somewhat timid myself when returning to biking as one of those "middle-aged returning bikers" you hear about and the bike I wound up buying was not my first, (or thirty-first!) choice! But A mate offered me a price I just couldn't say "No" to, and I bought the GSX. Found that the old adage, "You are only as fast as your right hand lets you be", was true and after 14mths with the 600 I doubt I could be satisfied with a lesser bike in either handling or power. If you need a big bike but want relaxed power and torque for comfy, sedate cruising, the GSX1400 would be an ideal machine. Gobs of torque, but a relaxed delivery that makes riding it a breeze, though if you do want to turn it on, it will boogie! The lack of fairing will help you initially to keep the speed down. Just try riding a few models and I'm sure you'll be fine!

Blackbird

27th January 2006, 16:59

Hi John and welcome.

I'm 58 and happily run a Blackbird. No point in restricting them as most big bikes are as docile as you want them to be thanks to big torque spread. Worry about big horsepower is more imagined than real. I'm a bit careful giving it a handful in the lower gears in slippery conditions but it's not a big deal. Go try some and enjoy the experience!

Cheers

Geoff

Buster

27th January 2006, 17:09

Dont worry about the amount of power the bigger bikes have, its how they deliver it. If you just want to potter around the ones you have named will do it quite happily and you will have the extra grunt if you need it. Welcome back to bikes by the way:sherlock:

terbang

27th January 2006, 18:04

What will do a lot will also do a little..Its all between your ears.. Enjoy your return to motorcycles.
Bruce

WINJA

27th January 2006, 18:08

buy something with "honda" on the tank , thatll take care of your power concerns

Buster

27th January 2006, 18:19

I hate to say it but yeah, go for a honda. User friendly :argh:

bladez

27th January 2006, 18:22

yes i would say Honda as they are real easy to ride and dont worrie about the power as it comes down to how far you twist the throtle or how hard you go :2thumbsup

beyond

27th January 2006, 18:49

I'm with Edbear.

I'm knocking on fifty and bought myself a GSX1400 and have never looked back. Easy to ride but hell, can it get down and boogie when you want it to.

The fuel injection is so smooth and it's a great all around bike. I have never looked back and have done 17,000kms in a year on it already, just riding for fun. It's super comfortable for rider and pillion. I did 900kms in one day and never got sore.

It's got heaps of torque, where you need it and if you don't like too much power, don't feed it too much gas and change up earlier. It pulls 90NM at 2000 RPM and hits 126NM at 5500 rpm. You never have to ride to the redline.

Scouse

27th January 2006, 18:51

Ya sound like a sensible sort of bloke after all you mention liking the ZRX1200R this is a bike with lotsa Torque make sure ya get the green Edde Lawson replica like every one else on the thread has said dont wind the right hand around so much thats the best power restrictor out.

enigma51

27th January 2006, 18:52

buy something with "honda" on the tank , thatll take care of your power concerns
ass winja said just ask boomer! :Pokey:

Drew

27th January 2006, 19:00

The guys are on the sprocket here. Turn throttle=accelerate, turn throttle lots=accelerate faster. So dont do it. If you are concerned, give things a wind up when you test ride em. If it scares you, dont buy it. Easy. Welcome back to biking, and have fun.
ps. A six hundred bandit makes real good torque, costs squat, and will pull past two hundred ks if you want it to.

MacD

27th January 2006, 19:07

Don't worry about the horsepower figures with the bikes you've listed. Horsepower is dependent on RPM so if you ride in the lower rev range you can still take advantage of the torque for rideability (and have lots of HP in reserve for "passing" maneuvers)

This link (http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcsuz/01b12.html) goes to a review of the Bandit 1200S which you might find useful. At the bottom of the article is a dyno chart which I've attached to this post. Note that the torque curve is flat between about 4000-7000 rpm which is where you'll be riding most of the time on these sort of bikes and so the power delivery is very manageable.

ducatilover

27th January 2006, 19:20

:ar15: :ar15: :ar15: :ar15: :ar15:
buy something with "honda" on the tank , thatll take care of your power concerns

Buster

27th January 2006, 19:42

Old Man BJ. Just go to a few local dealerships and start testing. Im sure if you have a good attitude they will let you try anything at all. Dont worry, its just like riding a bike.. :2thumbsup

Motu

27th January 2006, 19:46

I wonder if you can somehow adapt one of the old half turn twist grips,if you are on old turkey you must remember when we had to take two bites on the twistgrip to get full throttle!

I guess I'm getting into the older rider category now....so I just have a little bike,only a 225 cc...heh,heh,heh....

Jackrat

27th January 2006, 20:03

If you buy a bigger bike like say the Suzuki 1400 but really want to restrict it because your like me an have no self control,just open the twist grip an put a small spacer in as a stop on throttle travel.Would take ten minites and then another ten minites to remove again when you realised what a dumb idea it was to restrict it in the first place.
If you get the 1400 can I have a ride??:doh:

iwilde

28th January 2006, 06:31

The best limiter of all is the wife or GF on the back belting on the back of your helmet everytime you use over 1/4 throttle!

Marmoot

28th January 2006, 06:55

buy something with "honda" on the tank , thatll take care of your power concerns

yeah, smooth power delivery and total control

SPman

28th January 2006, 07:53

I'm 57 and ride a GSXR 1000. Its all about throttle control.
It is perfectly capable of being ridden at reasonable speeds if you have some sort of control- just short shift everywhere. Unfortunately, I haven't!
You could try what I did and get an old Bonneville or something. That'll keep the speed down......and the fun factor goes up as well - for a slow bike.........

WINJA

28th January 2006, 08:34

yeah, smooth power delivery and total control:stupid: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

DEATH_INC.

28th January 2006, 09:45

How serious are you?
Get the cams reground to a milder profile and retimed,and you'll pick up more low end torque as well,longer smaller headers for the same,and smaller throttle bodies likewise.Get a power commander 3r or similar and retard the timing,that'll mellow it out too, and is easily reversible.You can even rpm limit it with one of these with a bit of knowledge.
But try before you worry, most new bikes are big pussycats.

loosebruce

28th January 2006, 12:59

Dropping a couple of valves do the trcik too, sorted the TL's power out nicely.

OLD MAN BJ

28th January 2006, 14:00

Hey Guys,

Thanks soooo much for all your feedback. ( made me remember the comradship you feel when being a bikie ).It sounds like I might be worrying too much. I had visions that one of these new big bikes would be either all or nothing , but it seems they are really gentle and can be ridden by an old git.
Although I dont think I listed it , I had also thought of a Suzi GSX1400 to get more info on. A couple of small questions? The bikes I am shortlisting have either no fairing or a small fairing, so if I decided to go for instance for a naked bike, do you think a Givi small fairing would be as good as the OEM ones for touring purposes?
Also, unlike when I was last riding, some bikes now are fuel injected and some are still carbies. Any thoughts on pros and cons. I personally dont care if a bike is air or liquid cooled. Ive seen air cooled bikes with 100,000 ks on them.
However I was SHOCKED to find some new bikes without a centre stand. Hell, how are you supposed to lube a chain even.

Thanks again , really appreciated. John

Blackbird

28th January 2006, 14:19

Lots of naked bikes around with after market small screens John and they work well and are unobtrusive. Most big bike engines last virtually forever now as they are so understressed and with semi-synthetic oils changed regularly, wear is extremely low. I know people in the UK who have Blackbirds with well over 200000 km with no significant problems.

Just a thought.... when you get back into bikes and become relatively comfortable with whatever you eventually buy, why don't you do an advanced road riding course? I've been riding again since 1987 but just after I bought the Blackbird, I did a half day 1 on 1 advanced training course in Hamilton with Ward Fischer, ex-MOT Chief Instructor. It was quite humbling in many ways as I'd picked up some less than desirable habits and some things he taught, I'd never known in the first place. It's certainly made me a better rider. I did a write-up on the course if you're ever interested.

cheers

Geoff

Jackrat

28th January 2006, 14:22

Only because I do most of my own maintainance,but carbs over injection.
If I had a shop do my services then I'd go for injection.
Givi and others make a lot of different styles and sizes of screen,there would almost certainly be something to suit.
No main stand,,,a bit silly that,But you can get universal paddock or garage stands that will fit dang near anything.
Just don't fit in your back pocket huh.

Marmoot

28th January 2006, 14:30

:stupid: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

yea.....go ahead, mock me.
That is becoz you think bike can't have smooth power?
Buy a modern Honda and think outside the square you live in.

My C100 was absolutely smooth in power delivery and felt confident in all road surface. :headbang:

WINJA

28th January 2006, 15:11

yea.....go ahead, mock me.
That is becoz you think bike can't have smooth power?
Buy a modern Honda and think outside the square you live in.

My C100 was absolutely smooth in power delivery and felt confident in all road surface. :headbang:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

DEATH_INC.

28th January 2006, 20:39

Efi nowadays is idiotproof, it's the way to go....no adjustment or even any sort of maintenence really, though having said that I've got nothing against carbs either....

mstriumph

29th January 2006, 02:40

i was a bit bothered about the fazer too, after having ridden only classic bikes before but, honestly, although she CAN get down and boogie, as long as my right wrist is under control so is she ...........she's a lamb .............

good luck with it, whatever way you decide to go :ride:

Highlander

29th January 2006, 02:51

When I was looking for a bike after 12 years away, I too was worried about the extra sting that technology advances had enabled in the mean time. Like has been stated here a number of times you don't have to give it the full whack.
There is no shame in easing the throttle until your confidence / ability has built back up after years away.

Enjoy.

Korea

29th January 2006, 03:51

How serious are you?
Get the cams reground to a milder profile and retimed,and you'll pick up more low end torque as well,longer smaller headers for the same,and smaller throttle bodies likewise.

Yeep! Sounds like spending a lot of dolleros to have your bike raped.
I'm with the rest of the crowd by suggesting you stick with the cheapest solution: Use the built-in power/torque controller ~ you'll find it in your right hand (it is dual-pupose in that it also regulates the height of wheel-stands) :msn-wink:

imdying

29th January 2006, 17:42

Rode a GSXR1000 the other day, and it was a big pussy cat to ride. Unless of course you wrapped the throttle open, and the poor cat got a hot poker up its bum :D

Seriously though, you'll be fine. Get yourself something injected, then you can treat it like a car, jump on a take off. If you don't want big power, just short shift and ride the torque :)

Lubing your chain is no problem. Paddock stands are cheap and readily available, although I myself just lube, push it half a metre, lube, repeat till done. Sure a a centre stand would be easier, but modern tyres make centre stands get in the way of the ground :D

XTC

29th January 2006, 18:08

chain lube? Get a scottoiler or similar. will pay for itself with longer chain sprocket life.

ducatilover

29th January 2006, 21:37

chain lube? Get a scottoiler or similar. will pay for itself with longer chain sprocket life.
yup i can vouch for that. :woohoo:

Zapf

31st January 2006, 23:44

Hi,
I recently just bought a Honda CB900 Hornet... and have done around 4'000k's touring the SI in the last 10 days. I do have one of the small Givi screens fitted and they do work. Just have to keep the head down. But it'll never work as well as the factory screens on the likes of VFR800's or ST1300's.

About lubing the chain, you can get a scott oiler or with the help of another person you can lift the back of the bike and balance on the side stand while you spray lube and turn the wheel. Or you can get a bike stand that lifts it up via the swing arm.

With reducing power... you can put some sort of restriction in the airbox... that will limit the amount of air flow and as a result limit your max HP.

FROSTY

1st February 2006, 00:47

Guys I think this chaps concerns are valid.
A modern big bike can get you in a power of shit really fast -even only using half throttle.
I know the throttle works both ways -but this man is going to be a novice rider for a few months till he remembers whats what.

My suggestion is quite simply--dont do it.
Bikes have made huge leaps forwards in the last 10-20 years.
any 250 race replica could give my old xj900 a bloody good run for its money.
Traffic conditions have changed a lot too.
I'd suggest you thing of yaself not as a returning rider -more as a NEW rider.
My suggestion to you is start out with a smaller bike.
SV400 gpz500 ,gs500, sv650,z550. cb600 hornet
theres a fairly long list I could rattle out.
What I'd do is talk a deal with your local bike shop. Get yourself a good midsized bike and ride it for 6 months--then trade it in for the bikes you're discussing. I bet if ya talk the deal up front the small bike will end up costing ya next to nothing.

Pixie

1st February 2006, 11:03