Horsepower ratings?

**Stylo** · 23rd January 2012, 18:32

Why don't the HP/ PS /KW figure at all in any review on a new Bike in the Dirt Bike mags , all you get is rhetoric which means nothing ie " It's got plenty of power up top and the midrange is good " etc and blah blah ...Boring and wank wank.

I want to know how much power/torque it makes !

Road Bike Mags/reviews always detail HP ( KW ) specs as do in all write-ups as do cars and etc .....why not the Dirt Bike mags too ?

**Motu** · 23rd January 2012, 18:45

When they decided that 2 strokes were not good for the universe and they started to push 4 strokes as the New Hope, the HP figures look so damn puny compared to 2 strokes,they just stopped giving them out to the public. Why would you buy a 4 stroke if it only put out half the HP of a 2 stroke ? Selective information.

**Stylo** · 23rd January 2012, 20:15

Originally Posted by Motu

When they decided that 2 strokes were not good for the universe and they started to push 4 strokes as the New Hope, the HP figures look so damn puny compared to 2 strokes,they just stopped giving them out to the public. Why would you buy a 4 stroke if it only put out half the HP of a 2 stroke ? Selective information.

I must have hit a nerve Motu , ha ha ...nice repy

**p.dath** · 23rd January 2012, 20:33

Unless how they say how it is being measured its difficult to use for comparitive purposes anyway.

It sounds like you'd prefer they publish torque/power curves anyway than the peak figure.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 23rd January 2012, 20:44

Because nobody could figure out why 450 four strokes were faster than 500cc two strokes if they listed the HP and torque figures.

**andy 101** · 23rd January 2012, 20:44

As above. you guys never know what ya talking about.

**CRF119** · 24th January 2012, 06:32

Its a bit of a pain to get it done. If you use the factory Specs from each brand then its still not fair because the dyno Honda used may be different to the dyno Yamaha used. For testing them here in NZ for bike mag reviews it gets even harder because you would need all the bikes on the same day all with motard tires and same gear ratios or the figures would be wrong. All the bikes would have to be similar in hours of use, plus same weight rear wheel setup and same chain.

**honda_power** · 24th January 2012, 11:44

why? motard tyres yeah, but chain, gear ratios etc should be straight from the factory, say if suzuki for example runs a chain that saps 2hp then so be it?

**Pierce** · 24th January 2012, 12:09

Originally Posted by p.dath

Unless how they say how it is being measured its difficult to use for comparitive purposes anyway.

It sounds like you'd prefer they publish torque/power curves anyway than the peak figure.

I agree here, I think peak power doesn't really mean THAT much when it comes to dirt bikes. You've gotta be able to get that power to the ground and the whole CR500 vs CRF450 test proves that power doesn't really mean that much if you can't get it to the ground.

**Stylo** · 24th January 2012, 17:56

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Because nobody could figure out why 450 four strokes were faster than 500cc two strokes if they listed the HP and torque figures.

You missed the point Crasher , they used to always publish HP figures in the DB mags so it all made more sense when you were looking at buying a new bike. Even new Chainsaws publish their power figures , as does my new Hedgetrimmer.

My bloody vacuum cleaner has a sticker on it telling how powerful it is .

So...If I were thinking about buying , say , a new 450 ...I want to know it's HP's so I can compare with what's on offer elsewhere ...

And I'm thinking about a 450 but, keeping the 500 ...of course

**Jay GTI** · 26th January 2012, 07:41

Some of the American dirt bike mags still do put the bikes on a dyno as part of their 450/250 MX/Enduro what-ever shootouts. Makes for interesting reading if you're a stats kind of guy (which I am to a point), but doesn't mean much in the real world to most people.

Due to a well-developed lack of talent, most bikes currently on the market make way more power than I can effectively use, 99% of the time. So if the '12 RMZ450 makes slightly less peak power than the '12 KX450F, it really isn't going to make any difference to me. However, if the article says the RMZ is buttery smooth in it's power delivery and the KXF is an arm-stretching animal, then I take note, as I know I'll be able to ride the yellow bike much harder and will probably be scared of the green one.

If you feel knowing the HP rating is necessary to be able to make a purchase, then you can still find out, but will it really make that much difference to your riding pleasure when you've made your decision?

**CRF119** · 26th January 2012, 08:22

why? motard tyres yeah, but chain, gear ratios etc should be straight from the factory, say if suzuki for example runs a chain that saps 2hp then so be it?

Because we are trying to compare HP from the stock engine not other parts on the bike so it all has to be even. Gear ratios affect overal torque and power output but can be compensated for on most dynos. Motard wheel for grip

**Crasherfromwayback** · 26th January 2012, 09:05

Originally Posted by CRF119

. Motard wheel for grip

Or just use our dyno as we take the back wheel out and drive a hydraulic pump.

**F5 Dave** · 26th January 2012, 10:21

Stick to ya tarmac roadies, and stay there.

Originally Posted by andy 101

As above. you guys never know what ya talking about.

Yeah I'm with this intelligent response.

although bear in mind more boost bottles, oversized powervalve covers, fuel additives, carb dividers, crazy reed setups, sticker sets & lurid clothing have been sold into this market than even the Live to Ride, Drive to Work belt buckle & T shirt market.

Most of us here will have dirtbikes & some will have road ones as well.

Getting several test bikes dyno'd is a logistical exercise & a hassle & expense for a magazine, which is why the bigger better funded ones only seem to do it.

Further the numbers & curves don't look particularly impressive even if they are effective in the dirt. Heck at the other end of the scale, my Trials bike which is only a 200 drags me up silly places & feels like it has a good bit of go for the type of riding we do. Apparently it puts out ~10hp. Won't be popping that figure out in the pub to try & impress. We Dyno'd a 250 Beta & got 12hp.