what is the optimal adventure bike power?
 

I mean do we really need 1200cc and 120HP ??? I see most adventure bikes goes this direction and cannot comprehend why to be honest. I have now in my nc750x 55HP so like half of what super tenere or f1200gs and somehow I don't feel I need more power especially off-road. I understand with pillion I'd need probably more horses but most adventure riding is single I guess. I think same as with weight too much power can work against you.

Adventure Bike
 

Hmh,
i think it depends on the kind of journey you plan. I own a XT1200Z and a XChallenge, for ride saround europe and with my wife on board the big Bike is very fine and comfy as long as i stay on tarmac, single and offroad the small XChallenge is much more fun.
At least 50 hp are enough, but 110 hp are on tarmac and for long distance on tarmac, especially on "Autobahn" much more fun:scooter:

Easy answer, one which has enough! :scooter:

I'd say a power which can get you fully loaded to 45 degree hill with reasonable speed as well as it can keep you up the traffic on the highway :)

I toured all over the UK on a tiger cub. Supposedly it had 10 Hp :) My last big (for me) trip was most of Europe on an Enfield. On that trip I averaged more miles per day than I ever did on my BMW. To the extent after about eight days I was running near three days ahead of my loose schedule. Partly comfort, partly less tiring and partly not having to stop for fuel so often.

Although, to fulfil a long time ambition I may soon turn to the dark side :)

The quick answer is probably 10bhp more than you have now :rofl:

There's nothing wrong with 10bhp either - as long as it's associated with very little weight and you're willing to put up with the bikes limitations in one area to gain advantages in another. I can't imagine I'd get much joy out of a 1200GS with only 10bhp but my 88kg Suzuki seems to perform well enough on it.

One thing I have noticed over the (many) decades that I've been riding long(ish) distances is that the power required to maintain "equilibrium" with the other vehicles on the road has been going up. When I first started about 30bhp would have you amongst the fastest vehicles on the road. Not in the fast lane of the autobahn maybe but just about everywhere else. 60bhp (a 750 Honda for example) would have you well in front of just about everything. Now my 60bhp bike feels about the same as the 30bhp one did. You need that power to be able to keep up with the traffic and 120bhp (a GS (roughly)) to stay in front. I'm not talking about speed limits or things like that but the way cars handle, accelerate and respond - up hills for example.

So yes, if you want to go out with the big boys you will need 120+bhp and 1200cc and I've seen GSs and Ferarris playing nicely together on alpine passes near me. If you are happy to do your own thing, ignore the traffic and go at your own pace then 60bhp or (much) less is fine.

The last powerful car I raced lost out to a 70 HP bike. He was telling Mr. Plod about how he'd like to donate a hundred quid to the Government as a way to make up for his bad eyesight and hideous taste in German cars as I headed towards the finish line.


Not much point having 200 mph performance round here unless you own a race track or can get the Chief Constables job.


Andy

yeah, but this is not the point here power doesn't only translate to speed.
For a safety reason sometimes better acceleration is needed or with more power you can cruise smoother without revving engine too much hence better fuel economy, you have power reserve just in case etc.

Of course. Look at all those dead cyclists and scooter riders littering the highways, if only they'd had another 100 HP ;-)


Of course you can just observe, plan and position according to the vehicle and conditions?


Loud pipes save lives too, nothing to do with how much fun going BWOAR BWOAR is.


If you enjoy it do it.


Andy

My and most Enfields return close to 100mpg and those low powered bikes certainly don't rev much :), I doubt very much if your under stressed 1000ccc 100bhp bike can get anywhere near this figure. The great lie is modern bikes are more fuel efficient. they seldom are, my old (1961) 500cc Triumph also turned back around 100mpg, but I do admit, that one was tuned. My 1970 650 Triumph was also returning around 65-70mpg. My 800 cc BMW could just about manage 50-55 if driven very sedately.

I crossed with a Bmw F800Gs SouthAmerica and Europe and had never too less power. It's on your own, if you prefer more power or less weight