mini thumper in action

[Andy M]

As the wife seems to have poisoned herself (mixed up the plates no doubt), I was told to go play out and leave her to die in peace. She's still here BTW just goes a funny colour if you offer her a bit of your pie and pickled onion\black pudding combo. She never did like brown sauce.

Playing out was a decent run on the B12xx's round Selby-york-Harrogate etc. Coming out of Sherburn
I was following a chap on a 125. He was making really decent progress past trucks and OAP 40-lists. He then hit a bit of a snag. Mrs 2-litre Mondeo can't deal with any bend or hazard in anything faster than 2nd gear but faced with 200 yards of straight road can break the limit. I can't be bothered but our 125 rider won't give up. He finally gets by by forcing a truck coming the other way to brake and give him the extra quarter mile he needs for  1 mph difference overtake.

As some one with an unused 60-Odd HP on tap thinking of going smaller this got me thinking. Just how low can the power to weight ratio drop before you do have go ride like you're towing a caravan? I'm thinking about 30 HP in your typical naked bike frame (which is the exact spec you can't buy anymore).

Andy

[trophydave]

I think I know the road that you mean.How low can you go?Would I be right in thinking you were once a 2 smoke mzedder?When I had mine 20bhp in a light bike was O.K. for bimbling about but was a pain on long runs.I went to the Dragon on it twice,each time there was a stiff headwind going and I ended up riding like a 17 year old,head on the clocks,feet on the rear footrests,just to keep going at a reasonable speed.I ran an Africa Twin for a few years 50bhp but with aerodynamics of the side of a house.That was enough power until I tried a Triumph triple again and then I wanted more.
It depends a bit on what you want to use it for.30bhp would probably be enough,although personally I would prefer nearer 50.I never carry a pillion and try to keep the luggage to a minimum if I go away but I prefer a lazy engine to one that I have to cane just to get around.

[Andy M]

I was a posh zedder. 23 HP of screaming 291cc in the same frame. Definitely sufficient for all purposes with enough thought and preparation. Two up camping required hotel breaks every time all our underwear was in need of a wash or we got wet for example while the 60 HP and heavier Bonneville would have kept up with a Goldwing touring club for weeks if not months because you can carry a bit extra. 48 HP F650's were in between. I only ever ride alone when camping now, or do day trips two up hence my thought that MZ performance is indeed enough.

Andy

[Propellor]

Well I've recently bought a 250 RS on the strength of twenty something hp being enough, especially in a light bike. I don't believe big horsepower is necessary for big fun.

I'm on a mission to get it down to as close to 100kg as possible and before anyone chips in (pun), I'm also on a mission to loose the odd 5 or 6 lbs body weight before spring has sprung. (Metric for bike, imperial for body. Strange!). The nut holding the handlebars definitely screws up the power to weight ratio.

My Beemer kicks out 70 hp and my fzr1000 around 150 hp, so I guess I'm catered for across the hp spectrum!

[themoudie]

The 15HP of Morini the Minx can be a bit asthmatic above 55 - 60, but the rasp of the exhaust is magic and thrumming along unclassified and B roads is just grand. Longer journeys (100+ miles can get tedious on A roads). My old AJS 18S would have fitted in this category, but was used for commuting between Hertfordshire and Cumbria up the M1 and M6. It was fine at a steady 60 - 65mph, but your mind had to be in neutral and the 280miles took a wee while! 

Wee Duke 250, 350 are just good fun, as is the Honda Bros 400. All have a top wack around the 'ton' an put out 25 - 35 HP depending upon what you have and done to it. Wee Dukes are nice and light, but get kicked about on rough roads or 'drift' sideways in the wind. The Bros at 180 odd kg is more planted, but the suspension is 'limited'.

SRX 600, F650 and Duke 450 all have that extra bit of grunt and are plenty for me. I suppose 45 - 55 bhp.

However, who will break the mould with an Indian built 390KTM? That I suspect could be a lot of fun.

Guy Martin tonight on Channel4, first of a wee series, so will see what he gets up to.

All the best, Bill.

[Ian]

My "tenpennorth" for what it is worth, is that I really enjoy riding the SRX400 (a total of an alleged 33bhp at the crank/ 147kg  4.45kg/bhp ratio) and I find it adequate for most purposes, but then it does depend a lot on the rider 
I have ridden to work on it before now (total of 133 ish miles round trip) without any ill effects and ridden along varying roads including motorway.

If I need more power then the Bonnie comes into play (a massive 68 PS, but 220 kg in weight. 3.23 kg/bhp ratio)

Ian

[squirrelciv]

Been thinking about this myself. I'm planning to use my Z400 (when I've finished building it!) as my daily ride. It's around 170kg and produces 36HP. I'm sure it will be a world different from the vstrom (at 220kg and 66HP), but hopefully enough for plodding about.

[guest564]

I've considered getting a small bike for commuting but I can still, just about, remember when I was forced to ride mopeds and 125s and the problems with cars forcing their way past me. I need something that can cruise at 60-80mph on a fast B road to keep up with traffic.

[J.Y.Kelly]

I was faced with the same dilemma when illness forced me to look at something smaller. I've found the XBR500 to be the perfect compromise, although some might find the slightly tucked up riding position uncomfortable. I don't.
It's plenty fast enough for my style of riding, and being 27 years old, it provides plenty of tinkering opportunities.
This is now my only bike, having sold the heavy 900cc I had been using, which was still under warranty, so no tinkering.

[Andy M]

I've considered getting a small bike for commuting but I can still, just about, remember when I was forced to ride mopeds and 125s and the problems with cars forcing their way past me. I need something that can cruise at 60-80mph on a fast B road to keep up with traffic.

I've had GPS since the late 90's and recorded the average speed. 23HP MZ's and 90 HP BMW's all turn in 40 MPH over a day on the roads I like. Only the 18 HP Enfield was slower mostly because I always felt I had to nurse it even when faced with the clear bits. I can switch into slow bike mode and not worry that I am slowing down the loons. Bit of a frame of mind thing almost?

Andy