What is it with the more displacement is better mentality?

[JulesMaximus]

It's just a matter of opinion really. I like bigger motors myself. 600cc just take a little too long to get to the power. The new 600's will surprise you once you get them past 10k rpm. Some people like ultra high revving motors though. I think my favorite motor so far was my 99 zx9r. It would haul ass and had plenty of torque. Oh many a fun times with that motor... The zx14 I had was just too much motor. A flick of the wrist and you were well into going to jail speeds. If I get another bike it's gonna be a dual sport probably or a transcontinental tourer. I'm getting a little old (30) to be bent over the tank and my wife sitting on the passenger pillion the size of a slice of bread. Don't get me wrong. I love nothing more than the sound of an inline four screaming past 10,000rpm and being tucked tight behind the windscreen.

It's funny, because I rode to work this morning and as I was taking my helmet off a guy pulls up next to me and we strike up a conversation. He complimented me on my bike, said he had one and loved it, thought it was one of the best all around bikes he ever owned. He noticed my mods too and commented on how much he liked the way my bike looks. He was riding a Yamaha FJR and he has a Ducati Multistrada 1000 he rides sometimes as well.

I don't have a problem with large displacement bikes. I have a problem with idiots who think that the bike makes the rider. Funny thing is, most riders know this. It's the squids and wannabe squids who don't know this.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

So first, the ability to do 55 mph in first gear is impressive, then the ability to do 80 mph at 2000 RPM is impressive... are you simply just impressed by gear ratios?

Hold onto your seat and then start Googling big turbo diesel engines and 18 speed transmissions... you'll soil yourself.

Thats amazingly funny. I like that my V8 has the capiblity to have a 1st gear that tops out at 55mph because of the tourqe it produces. More torque = power. It can also reach that speed faster than most cars. It makes it drivable because at 80 I can be at 2000rpm and pass most cars. Diesles cant do that because there gears are very short and have very low RPM limits. They also fall out of power very easy, they arn't made for racing. Not only can I take it from 80mph at 2000rpm but I can floor it and get to 100+ very quickly. Now that is impressive. Now diesiels can make lots of power, yes they can. But 18 gears are made for hauling, there racing use has limits. Diesiels can beat cars on the street if they are made for it. Audi has made great strides in this use in racing. And they probably can do 55 in first too .

 

[KIAman]

Screw all your displacement snobs.

I'm gonna be an engine configuration snob.

BMW K1600GT anyone? 1650 cc of inline6 goodness.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Screw all your displacement snobs.

I'm gonna be an engine configuration snob.

BMW K1600GT anyone? 1650 cc of inline6 goodness.

Sounds smooth.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Screw all your displacement snobs.

I'm gonna be an engine configuration snob.

BMW K1600GT anyone? 1650 cc of inline6 goodness.

:thumbsup: That's cool with me.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

:thumbsup: That's cool with me.

Same here.

 

[Zenmervolt]

More torque = power.

No. More power = power.

If you want to accelerate fastest, you need to make torque at high RPM, not at low RPM, because you can take advantage of gearing.

Low-RPM torque makes the engine more "relaxed" and the car feels more "flexible", but a 9,000 RPM screamer with all its power at high RPM is still going to be faster if the gearing is right.

http://www.vettenet.org/torquehp.html

ZV

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

No. More power = power.

If you want to accelerate fastest, you need to make torque at high RPM, not at low RPM, because you can take advantage of gearing.

Low-RPM torque makes the engine more "relaxed" and the car feels more "flexible", but a 9,000 RPM screamer with all its power at high RPM is still going to be faster if the gearing is right.

http://www.vettenet.org/torquehp.html

ZV

True, but torque at low RPM is conducive to being drivable. Also, bigger engines tend to make more of both at all RPM ranges.

 

[Zargon]

Screw all your displacement snobs.

I'm gonna be an engine configuration snob.

BMW K1600GT anyone? 1650 cc of inline6 goodness.

unless it has chain drive cams its fail

 

[Zenmervolt]

True, but torque at low RPM is conducive to being drivable.

Only if the gearing is set up horribly wrong. Honda S2000s do just fine because their gearing is optimized for the engine's torque curve.

If you want to argue preferences and people not wanting to cruise at 65 mph at 3,000 RPM, then that's a different matter than "drivability".

Also, bigger engines tend to make more of both at all RPM ranges.

All else being equal, yes. But all else is seldom equal.

ZV

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Only if the gearing is set up horribly wrong. Honda S2000s do just fine because their gearing is optimized for the engine's torque curve.

If you want to argue preferences and people not wanting to cruise at 65 mph at 3,000 RPM, then that's a different matter than "drivability".



All else being equal, yes. But all else is seldom equal.

ZV

Another point, tourque can equal power. Nobody denies being able to tow an 18 wheeler isn't powerful. Its just put to a different use in a diesiel truck as compared to a 5.7L Camaro.

 

[Jeff7181]

Another point, tourque can equal power. Nobody denies being able to tow an 18 wheeler isn't powerful. Its just put to a different use in a diesiel truck as compared to a 5.7L Camaro.

You're right in the sense that if you make more torque you'll be making more power, all else being equal, but you appear to be using a subjective definition of power (talking in terms of what is "powerful"). The rest of us are talking about actual measurements of power... horsepower... (torque x RPM)/5252

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

You're right in the sense that if you make more torque you'll be making more power, all else being equal, but you appear to be using a subjective definition of power (talking in terms of what is "powerful"). The rest of us are talking about actual measurements of power... horsepower... (torque x RPM)/5252

It can mean both. Torque = Power (Towing) and in the sense where theres smoke theres fire, if youve got torque you've got horsepower. Depending on the application of course.

 

[exdeath]

I need bigger displacement for mad torques to tow my huge ween around town.

 

[BurnItDwn]

650 is plenty fast. Hell, I'm sure with a tuned 250 you could get a ton of speed. 35 years ago, a 440cc 2 stroke snowmobiles made around 35-40 HP.

I'd think a modernish 650, even 4 stroke, will turn out at least 60 or 70 HP, which for a bike that weighs less than 750 pounds, is a hell of a power to weight ratio....

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

I need bigger displacement for mad torques to tow my huge ween around town.

Oscer Myer weiner car?
weinermobile

 

[ShawnD1]

I don't have a problem with large displacement bikes. I have a problem with idiots who think that the bike makes the rider. Funny thing is, most riders know this. It's the squids and wannabe squids who don't know this.

So it's just like a car then?


GOTS ME A NEW CORVETTE
*crashes into telephone pole*

 

[Fenixgoon]

650 is plenty fast. Hell, I'm sure with a tuned 250 you could get a ton of speed. 35 years ago, a 440cc 2 stroke snowmobiles made around 35-40 HP.

I'd think a modernish 650, even 4 stroke, will turn out at least 60 or 70 HP, which for a bike that weighs less than 750 pounds, is a hell of a power to weight ratio....

600cc race bikes are ~100+ hp. my detuned 600 makes ~75hp.

 

[Vic Vega]

My bike is 1200CC and has 172 HP. Is it the fastest bike in the world? Nope. Do I really care? Nope. It goes fast and is a blast to ride. That's all I really care about. The truth is I don't really care about the size of the engine, I care about what it's capable of.

From my experience it's typically the smaller displacement bikes I see doing stupid things... typically they are younger riders (younger in years riding, so, a guy who is 40 but only riding three-four years). They seem to have something to prove. I often get guys in smaller CC bikes trying to "mess around" in traffic. It's the same thing in my Mustang with ricers. Just a bunch of ricers.

 

[Doppel]

My bike is 1200CC and has 172 HP. Is it the fastest bike in the world? Nope. Do I really care? Nope. It goes fast and is a blast to ride. That's all I really care about. The truth is I don't really care about the size of the engine, I care about what it's capable of.

From my experience it's typically the smaller displacement bikes I see doing stupid things... typically they are younger riders (younger in years riding, so, a guy who is 40 but only riding three-four years). They seem to have something to prove. I often get guys in smaller CC bikes trying to "mess around" in traffic. It's the same thing in my Mustang with ricers. Just a bunch of ricers.

There are no old guys on sport bikes doing that because they already earned their wheel chair and/or killed themselves along the way, kind of like how you never see really obese 80 year olds.

 

[BoberFett]

Sounds smooth.

The Honda opposed 6 on the Valkyrie and Goldwing is silky smooth and makes a lot of power.

 

[JulesMaximus]

There are no old guys on sport bikes doing that because they already earned their wheel chair and/or killed themselves along the way, kind of like how you never see really obese 80 year olds.

Well, I haven't killed myself yet. I'm sure it's only a matter of time though.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

There are no old guys on sport bikes doing that because they already earned their wheel chair and/or killed themselves along the way, kind of like how you never see really obese 80 year olds.

My dad was lucky. Once when he was 18 he was doing wheelies on his motorcycle and fell off on the highway. The doctors had to scrape the asphalt out of his flesh with a brush without any pain medication to keep him from going into shock.

 

[alkemyst]

This makes no sense, but to rationalize incorrectly. If you are keeping up with a ZX10 with a mere SV650 either you are a pro or the other rider sucks/not pushing it.

Probably like the guy in a civic on my ass at 100mph on I95 is thinking he is 'keeping up' too.

 

[Greenman]

I don't have a problem with large displacement bikes. I have a problem with idiots who think that the bike makes the rider. Funny thing is, most riders know this. It's the squids and wannabe squids who don't know this.

That right there is the Gods honest truth. The best bike on earth isn't going to do shit with an average rider. I've never in my life met someone who owned an SS that could run it anywhere near it's limits, not once.

The SV650 is a very respectable bike. It has enough of everything, torque, horsepower, handling and looks. I don't doubt that a competent rider could easily keep up with an SS on public roads, because it's the rider that decides what the top speed will be, not the bike.
Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want a race bike for street use, it seems like foolish decision to me, but I'm old and ride a big slow pig of a bike so my opinion doesn't count.