revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Seeing the Aprilia today with 215bhp it makes me question as always...


"who the heck wants 200+"

So, where is the sweetspot for you?

For me, i can't see the appeal of more than where i am with the 115bhp Triple i've got in the CP3 based XSR900, in honesty i absolutely think it's a fabulous engine, especially for the road, but even on track at my level of ability..

Apologies if i've missed your engine out, there's only so many options i can pick

My sweet spot would be 60-120 but you've put in engine configurations rather than just BHP so not picked an option. To be honest I don't care so much about the number/configurations of the cylinders. So for next bikes I'd consider singles, twins, triples and 4s. ie
MT09 variants
790 Duke
Z900
800 Monster
All similar power, all different engines.

I've made it multiple choice just for you

I'm happy with my 202. I just love the insanity of it.

The throttle works both ways.

Enough. (whatever that is )

8 is enough for anyone....

I know that 70ish bhp wasn't enough for me on the MT07.

I know that the street triple 675 was enough (110ish?), but the MT09, which has similar power but more torque, is more fun.

I've had a go on a KTM 1260 - just a quicky but it didn't feel unreasonably mental. However, I think all the rider aids were turned up to 11.

The most powerful bike I've owned was a 1998 R1, so about 140 - 150bhp, it was great fun, but it was a bit of a handful for me, especially on track, I find 50 - 70bhp a lot more enjoyable, I'm not that bothered about the engine type delivering it, though a 350 two stroke twin seems to be my favourite followed by a 400cc inline 4, I enjoy feeling that I'm using the full performance of an engine coming out of corners, with the R1 I always felt like it could spin the back wheel a little too easily.

Wasn't it PB a few years ago, once sports bikes got to about 165 BHP, that measured what the average punter uses in road riding.
I believe the figure they came up with was most people never used more that 80 BHP ...

200+ for the track - sure but lets get rid of the electronics and test ride skill rather than the programmes and electronics.
200+ for the road - meh

Same goes for 450 BHP cars on the road ... what is the point (these days)

My FZ750 is about 85bhp, if you thrash it, it's quick, and it's not exactly light either.

I've got about 45 in the Husky weighing 105 Kgs on low gearing. That's enough for what we do and enough for any hill or sand dune.

And the spanny sounds gorgeous on the rare occasion I give it the berries.

Mr Moofo wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:26 am Wasn't it PB a few years ago, once sports bikes got to about 165 BHP, that measured what the average punter uses in road riding.
I believe the figure they came up with was most people never used more that 80 BHP ...

Unless you're on a track it's gonna be pretty hard to (legally) use peak power isn't it?

ISTR a similar article when one bike came out, I think it was the cross plane R1, when they pointed out it was impossible to use full power on the road legally. To get to the peak power rpm you had to be breaking the speed limit, even in first.

My current bikes make...

11bhp
27bhp
49bhp
130bhp

I can have fun on any of them, but I wouldn't take any of them on a trackday.

I think for an everyday, do anything, only bike in the garage that could keep you interested and maybe use on track anywhere between 85-120 bhp is probably the sweet spot. Especially if you factor in running costs, like mpg and tyres.

Probably around 100 or so for me. That's more than enough to get me in trouble.

Supermofo wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:21 am My sweet spot would be 60-120 but you've put in engine configurations rather than just BHP so not picked an option. To be honest I don't care so much about the number/configurations of the cylinders. So for next bikes I'd consider singles, twins, triples and 4s. ie
MT09 variants
790 Duke
Z900
800 Monster
All similar power, all different engines.

I watched something on youtube yesterday where these 4 were all reviewed together. It was pretty good... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jlACFtjyM4

Numnut wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:41 am Probably around 100 or so for me. That's more than enough to get me in trouble.

Supermofo wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:21 am My sweet spot would be 60-120 but you've put in engine configurations rather than just BHP so not picked an option. To be honest I don't care so much about the number/configurations of the cylinders. So for next bikes I'd consider singles, twins, triples and 4s. ie
MT09 variants
790 Duke
Z900
800 Monster
All similar power, all different engines.

I watched something on youtube yesterday where these 4 were all reviewed together. It was pretty good... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jlACFtjyM4

Think I've watched that at least twice

and still the XSR is better

Numnut wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:41 am
I watched something on youtube yesterday where these 4 were all reviewed together. It was pretty good... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jlACFtjyM4

"The MT09 just throws its knickers at you!"

weeksy wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:12 am Seeing the Aprilia today with 215bhp it makes me question as always...


"who the heck wants 200+"

me...….! its simple innit really....better to have and not need that need and not have ! that's the truth of life !

fil2 wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:06 am

weeksy wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:12 am Seeing the Aprilia today with 215bhp it makes me question as always...


"who the heck wants 200+"

me...….! its simple innit really....better to have and not need that need and not have ! that's the truth of life !

for some maybe. But for others, having too much makes it a worse ride as it all gets a bit too crazy.