Re: 2004 Road Star-Horsepower

"David" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "Nemesis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Planning to buy a new (2004) bike this spring. Roadstar Black Silverado
in
> > first place as choice. Have done a lot of research, but cannot find a
> > horsepower figure anywhere. Formula using torque/rpm yields 96.8 but
this
> > seems high. Anybody know for sure what it is?
> >
> >
> Not sure about the 2004 but the 2002's put out about 70HP.  I always look
at
> HP to weight.  If this HP rating still stands for the 2004 (the Road Star
> weighes 700lbs+ wet)  that makes for 10 pounds per horse.  Add your own
> weight, say 200lbs for example and you are @ 12.9 lbs per horse.  What
this
> allows you to do is a meaningful bike to bike comparison.
>
> Personally I don't look at these numbers because I want a fast machine but
> because I have usually found that a machine that works too hard on the
> highway is probably not that comfortable a ride.
>
> I've found a Hp:weight ratio greater than 15 lbs per horse equals a bike
> that has to work pretty hard @ true highway speeds (70 Mph +).  Incidently
> many Harleys for example are around 14 to 15 lbs per horse (incl 200lb
> rider).  I've noticed you don't see many Harley's cruising long distances
> above 60 mph.  However you'll often see Honda Goldwings (GL1800) 800 lbs
and
> 101 Hp cruising at 75 + all day long, 10lbs per horse with 200 lb rider.
>
> Bottom line the Road Star has the correct balance for long distance
cruising
> (assuming that is what you are looking for).  On the other side of the
coin
> if the bike is for around town cruising this bike is heavy but then so is
> the Gold Wing.
>
> Of course this is just on factor in making a buying decision, looks, feel
> and sound are other factors.  The great thing about buying a bike is you
get
> to decide what is important.  i.e I certainly didn't buy my bimmers for
> their sound or looks for that matter.  But that was my choice.
>
> Dave
> 97 BMW R1100GS
> 75 BMW R75/6
> 87 Yamaha XT350
>
> Thank you. Making horsepower/weight ratios and torque/weight ratios for
comparing  several bikes under consideration is exactly what I was doing.
And thanks also for giving me the 15 hp standard.