How to Reduce Power

**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

**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

**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

**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

Originally Posted by WINJA

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

ass winja said just ask boomer!

**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 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.