Comparing our bike with other motorized things

[idcrewdawg]

So when I bought my bike, the salesman said a couple times "It's got a horsepower to weight ratio that is comparable to a Porsche 911." I thought to myself at the time "wow that's a lot!" but it wasn't what sold me on the bike. Since that time I've seen a few other people make posts about how many cc's or cu or hp their particular bike or car has. I've tried looking up HP to weight ratios to compare the Valk with other things, but haven't been successful. It most often requires more math than I'm really wanting to engage in to make the comparison.

What were you told about the bike before you bought it, and have you made any power comparisons with other bikes or cars?

[bzane]

A Valk makes about 100 hp, and weighs about 800 lbs, so is about 1:8.
A typical Porsche 911 is about 1:10.

Of course, a GSXR is less than 1:3, if you can keep the front wheel down.

[Jess from VA]

Only seat of the pants.  No salesman was ever involved, just the previous owners.  And my own research.

I do remember very clearly riding around on my first bike (70' BSA Lightning) and being pretty happy that I could beat or match most any bike I came across.  Until one day I rolled up to a light beside the first Honda 750-4 I had ever seen.  But I was confident (and still 17).  No one was around and we looked at each other and smiled and it was on.  The light changed, and I got smoked worse than ever before or since on any kind of machine (like 6 seconds and only a fading tail light).  I don't know the power to weight ratio of any of them, but I had to wait a few years until I got my own 750-4.

Of course, like the comment on the Gixxer wheelie, whether car or bike, (high) power to (low) weight can quickly translate to real difficulty in getting the machine to hook up and take off, and hopefully in a straight line.  

I later beat a 440 6-pac Cuda (pretty light car) with my stock Yamaha DT360 (2stroke dirt bike) about 1/8 mile (OE dual purpose tires).  Twice.  While he burned rubber (humongous rear tires), I was gone.  He was catching me at the end each time, and would have had me in a 1/4.   That was one awesome car.  He was not very happy about it. 

[Robert]

Salesman really didn't say to much as I remember there were 2 questions. How can I help you and how would you like to pay for that. 

As for power sometimes gearing has alot to do with it also.


Under $100,000 – pounds per horsepower
 pounds per horsepower
    2017 Dodge Viper SRT ($87,895) – 5.24
    2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 ($79,450) – 5.42
    2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ($61,140) – 5.97
    2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat ($62,495) – 6.29
    2017 Cadillac CTS-V ($85,595) – 6.47
    2017 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat ($65,945) – 6.57
    2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 ($60,450) – 7.17
    2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio ($72,000) – 7.53
    2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 ($65,200) – 7.59
    2017 Lotus Evora 400 ($89,900) – 7.88
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/02/best-car-power-to-weight-ratios-feature/


Super car power to weight ratios
http://jalopnik.com/the-ten-production-cars-with-the-craziest-power-to-weig-1641624397

[hungryeye]

Before I became an old timer an old timer once told me "its more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow" same principle applies to cars, except we drive them as opposed to riding them.

I have a Smart car Brabus and it is a blast to drive 

[kcole683]

The Valk is a great bike unless you want to go fast all the time.  Damn speed limiter! Lol
Needs just a little more gearing and no electronic limiter.

[Kidd]

The Valk is a great bike unless you want to go fast all the time.  Damn speed limiter! Lol
Needs just a little more gearing and no electronic limiter.

Yeah , precisely what I  need  , no device making me slow down , because I am immune to speeding tickets , like 2 weeks ago I got 2 in Scottsdale Az  by way of speed camera ,  no ticket in the  mail .

I am a "speed god "  , no one can touch me 

[idcrewdawg]

The Valk is a great bike unless you want to go fast all the time.  Damn speed limiter! Lol
Needs just a little more gearing and no electronic limiter.

Yea, I'd add a 6th gear if I were to redesign anything about the bike, and being able to get past 115 would be nice.

[kcole683]

No problem getting past 115. It definitely  starts to back off acceleration at 124..... then cuts it off at 126 or so so think. My runway was getting short at 124.
124 only was 121 according to GPS speedometer though.

[Robert]

If you get the ecu reflashed it removes the limiter and gives it some more juice.

[idcrewdawg]

No problem getting past 115. It definitely  starts to back off acceleration at 124..... then cuts it off at 126 or so so think. My runway was getting short at 124.
124 only was 121 according to GPS speedometer though.

When calibrating your speed, do it over a known distance against a clock. The GPS is a calculation based on estimated distance within its accuracy error against time so accuracy of speed on a GPS isn't the best way to measure accuracy of your speedometer.

[kcole683]

[/quote]
When calibrating your speed, do it over a known distance against a clock. The GPS is a calculation based on estimated distance within its accuracy error against time so accuracy of speed on a GPS isn't the best way to measure accuracy of your speedometer.
[/quote]
I know how to calculate speed.
This method isn't realistic while riding a motorcycle at high speed though. Jeeze

I'm certain the GPS on a reasonably flat road is more accurate than the typical optimistic speedometer on a the bike.

[kcole683]

If you get the ecu reflashed it removes the limiter and gives it some more juice.

From what info I've seen the Guhl reflash may not have eliminated the speed limiter.........Yet

[dinosnake]

The Valk is a great bike unless you want to go fast all the time.  Damn speed limiter! Lol
Needs just a little more gearing and no electronic limiter.

Yeah , precisely what I  need  , no device making me slow down , because I am immune to speeding tickets , like 2 weeks ago I got 2 in Scottsdale Az  by way of speed camera ,  no ticket in the  mail .

I am a "speed god "  , no one can touch me 

And here I was, reminding myself "It might be nice to remove that limiter now that I / we have real tires".

And then you said that.  I'll think keeping my limiter on is a good idea now.

[idcrewdawg]

I know how to calculate speed.
This method isn't realistic while riding a motorcycle at high speed though. Jeeze

I'm certain the GPS on a reasonably flat road is more accurate than the typical optimistic speedometer on a the bike.

Like I said, they aren't exact. If you want exact, don't use GPS.

GPS speed calculations are more accurate than a vehicle’s speedometer since it is not affected by the same inaccuracies, including the vehicle’s wheel size or drive ratios. It is dependent however on GPS satellite signal quality but with the use of moving average calculations any errors are minimal.

http://gpssystems.net/accurate-gpsbased-speedometer/

[Robert]

Now dont know what will happen but if you have GPS and want an easy way around the rev limiter it may be easy enough to disconnect the speedo pickup. You will get the engine light on but that should be the extent of it. When connected it should go out or you can reset it.