Now I'm not normally a HD fan, but....

[Crasherfromwayback]

That's a good point. I wonder if HD management are taking aim at Buell. It's been a good relationship for both, but sooner or later HD must figure "why have another company do what we could do ourselves"

HD own Buell now Ixion. Hence the build quality of Buells has risen to much better levels.

[nudemetalz]

Well, it's hard to describe, but 90bhp outta one feels really good, and they're such a lazy power delivery that they can be ridden surprisingly quickly.

Doesn't the Yamaha MT01 have only 90hp out of 1670cc motor?
I reckon HD have done well there.
As CWB says, it will probably have torque everywhere and with those twin pipes a decent sound.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Doesn't the Yamaha MT01 have only 90hp out of 1670cc motor?
I reckon HD have done well there.
As CWB says, it will probably have torque everywhere and with those twin pipes a decent sound.

Something like that. Most of us can ride quicker with more torque....easier to harness than outright HP. When I used to race 883's, we spent a lot of time with the bike on our dyno chasing torque, not HP. Better drive out of corners equals greater speed down the straights!

[scumdog]

Doesn't the Yamaha MT01 have only 90hp out of 1670cc motor?
I reckon HD have done well there.
As CWB says, it will probably have torque everywhere and with those twin pipes a decent sound.

Some people have a focus on horsepower and speed, it's like they want to terminate the journey asap instead of enjoying the cruise getting there.

[nudemetalz]

Some people have a focus on horsepower and speed, it's like they want to terminate the journey asap instead of enjoying the cruise getting there.

Totally true. Reckon the XR1200 will be jack-of all-trades machine.
Wonder how long it will be before they're released.
Nothing on the HD website about them.

[onearmedbandit]

That's why I have the thou. I can't harness all the power on the street (not without losing my license) but the torque it makes, pure bliss riding the crest of it out of turns (when I'm not overstepping my ability and highsiding it, that is).

[nudemetalz]

That's why I have the thou. I can't harness all the power on the street (not without losing my license) but the torque it makes, pure bliss riding the crest of it out of turns (when I'm not overstepping my ability and highsiding it, that is).

Oh yes, that was a great video, well for us to watch. Reminds me of when I highsided my RS-125 onto the straight at Ruapuna also...not much fun.

I liked riding my ZX-10 for that reason also, lots of torque, no need to rev, instant overtaking ability without downchanging.

[Motu]

I reckon an Yammie XTZ750 would be good basis.
Apparently the 10V twin engine is a gem too.

The XLV750 would be even better - it was used to homogulate the RS750 flattracker engine.For years I've been tempted to get a frame a mate has lying around - an oil in frame Triumph modified to take an XS650 engine.The Triumph frame is almost identical to a Trackmaster frame,they were used as the model for the production frame.A lot of parts to find,modify,adapt and build....I'd love to do it,but need to put myself into a better position time wise.

[Motu]

but the torque it makes, pure bliss riding the crest of it out of turns (when I'm not overstepping my ability and highsiding it, that is).

You need a V twin with a falling torque curve,then you could ride that out.You should be able to play with the wheelspin,not have it lash out and spit you off. (talking about ability I only have on the internet)

[nudemetalz]

What about something like this, Motu
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-72779342.htm

XS650 project.

[Big Dave]

That's why I have the thou. I can't harness all the power on the street (not without losing my license) but the torque it makes, pure bliss riding the crest of it out of turns (when I'm not overstepping my ability and highsiding it, that is).

Yebbut - the torque of a multi is........ahhh whatever.

[Ixion]

So the HD has the same torque as the litre 4 cylinder. Just not as much top end power. Which everyone says they can't use on the road anyway. So why bag HD for 90hp? If what's really wanted is torque not power?

Serious question. Can anyone say they use more than 70hp on the road? More than 100hp? . I'm not talking about wanting a bike with > 100hp for the sake of low end torque (as OAB was). I'm asking if anyone actually uses > 100hp on the road., ie a > 100hp engine and wringing its nuts off, keeping the revs right up at the red line all the time, like someone on a 250 does? Remembering that a 150hp bike doesn't produce that figure unl;ess it's pretty near the red line.

Cos if people don't actually use the top end power of the 100hp+ jobs, then the HD actually seems a lot more sensible. Same torque, which IS used, less top end horsepower, which isn't.

[nudemetalz]

The other thing to take into consideration is that HD have to make it a reasonable weight too, to take advantage of the torque and make it handle decently, like Buell has.

[onearmedbandit]

While I can't use all the power all the time, I love it when I can. Hence why the thou holds more appeal to me than a 90hp bike with the same torque.

[Motu]

What about something like this, Motu
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-72779342.htm

XS650 project.

Nearly perfect,but a bit of a mismatch with the wheels.I'm a dab hand at picking up other people projects and finishing them off.But it's not even worth half the starting price,let alone whatever the reserve is.

How much hp do we need? I suspect if we had on board data for ''the fight club'' for example doing their thing....they might be very surprised with what they see.Probably pulling hp figures for a 250.

I've found I like certain hp figures for different sized bikes...60hp is good for a bigger bike,and 40hp for a smaller one.Exactly what the XLV750 and DT230 are,and both have the same power to weight ratio - it's power I can use nearly all of,but still enough to get me into trouble.Actualy the DT230 is agressive at lower speeds and I have to treat it with more respect than I did the XLV750 on the same roads.So 40hp is too much for me...