XJ Horsepower

An interesting observation about the equation above, that not many people i've met notice.

Notice the number in the denominator of the right hand expression: 5252.
Then look at a valid hp and torque dyno chart from a real engine run.
Where do the two lines cross?
5252 rpm.
ALWAYS!

You can use this fact to sniff out suspect dyno charts and numbers. If someone shows you a dyno graph of an engine and the torque and hp lines do NOT cross at 5252 rpm, then either the scales of the y-axis were messed with, or what you have there is a totally bogus dyno run and someone is fudging things.

The number 5252 incorporates conversion factors, to keep the desparate units of measure aligned. Without it, the hp/torque relationship crumbles.

Peace,
Christopher.

 

Another thing:
Don't get too hung up on hp alone.

There's a saying among gear heads that goes something like this:

"Hp gets the glory, but torque does the work"

Put another way, Torque is the offensive line and fullback, while hp is the running back. Sure, it's nice to have a speedy, flashy tailback, but he's not going ANYWHERE without the grunt up front.

Gimme some solid torque anyday. In drag racing, torque is king, not hp.

As stated earlier in this thread. Hp is imaginary. That is to say, torque is what your measuring. hp is a calculated number, based on that torque.

Cheers,
Christopher.

 

It may be a bit simplistic but.... :grin:

If Im riding my 29 year old bike and its running well because I made it run well and Im smiling every mile of the way.....my last care is horsepower.

I dont mean to belittle the discussion, but thought Id put my .02 in.

 

The Vulcan's 2 cylinders and yours is 4. Kind of like the difference between a big 4 banger and a small V8.

 

Deadulus has the wisest take in this thread.
My helmet is off to you sir.

I also dig the userid and the attendant irony therein. :wink:

I went for a 40 mile ride yesterday and just enjoyed the ride. No pressure to be the fastest hooligan on the road, like i used to feel on my Ninjas or ZRX1100.

 

Enough already about 4 cylinder XJs "smokin' " small displacement v-twins. You have twice as many cylinders. Now cut that in half and you'd have a thumper against a V-twin. Who do you think would win? My KLX650 Kawi single cylinder had 38hp stock and was useless off the line. But that's not what it was built for. Not all bikes are built to run 1/4 mile times.