Replies to post #1101 on Cars, etc. (GEARHEAD)

[Bob Zumbrunnen]

Bikes these days typically make at or over 1 HP per 10cc's. A 500cc bike could very well be cranking out 50 horses. If the bike weighs 300 lbs and you weight 200, that's 10 pounds per horse.

A 5.0 Mustang makes 215 horses and weighs right around 3700 lbs with a driver and fuel. A little over 17 pounds per horse.

I think the Valk's about 700 lbs. Call it 120 horses, although I'm sure it's a bunch more. 900 lbs of bike and rider and 120 horses=7.5 pounds per horse. Extreme stuff.

For comparison's sake, my 99 KLR650 is something like 337 lbs and makes 41 horses. Granted, it's got a lot more torque than horsepower being a single-cylinder engine, but geared as tall as it is, it can still wheelie in 3rd gear. About 13 pounds per horse and it can still seriously get away from you.

[Tatari Gami]

Puhleeez!

I am just about your height, and a little heavier, and I can tell you that a Honda CB550 will suit every one of your needs except the suicidal ones.

Plus, it is one of the few Japanese bikes that even Harley riders like to look at (even if they won't admit it).

Take a look at some of these:
http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/brochures/cb550/550f-4.jpg
http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/brochures/cb500/cb500p-2.jpg
http://www.vjmw.org/yourbike/honda/july2_01_joe_cb550.htm

[Ruellit]

Thats a nice bike, but I like this one better!



http://www.nyhonda.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?sid=06157801X1K11K2003J9I27I59JAMQ445R0&veh=6054

One thing I didn't like about the CB360 I drove for about four years was it was severly underpowered and I always had to brake out of trouble to get out of it. With the Valkyrie at least you would have two ways to get out of trouble.