Does weight make that much difference ??
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Joined: May 2012
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From: NH
Does weight make that much difference ??
Ok so......... I have a 2010*SG 96" with*Arlen Ness*"Big Sucker" air cleaner, a V/H Pro Pipe chrome w/stock baffle and a*SE Super Tuner....The bike was*Dyno'd by my local HD dealer and the*dyno sheet shows**85HP/95*TQ**I was riding yesterday with my buddy*who has a *bone stock 96"*RG and we went head to head and he stayed right with me ......Now lets say because*i had the wife*on the back who's a*100lb soaking wet .....*and he's a skinny puke and*lest just say*i'm not...............*I'm giving up about*135lb to him......... I figured*I would still*walk*right by him..... So*my question is ........Does weight make that much difference ? Or is there*something going on*with my bike?
The engine overall doesn't have a lot of power, but it's advantage comes from the little amount of weight it has to push.
I weigh 185. Not much considering I'm 6ft. My bike moves when I twist it. With my wife on the back, it still moves, but I notice the added weigh even though she doesn't weigh much. It also affects braking, but again not much. But overall, yes, there is a difference.
100lbs to a car isn't much, but to a bike that weighs around 800 with you on it, that's a lot. Nothing wrong with your bike. Proper air pressure can affect HP by as much as 3HP. A huge difference for a motorcycle.
I weigh 185. Not much considering I'm 6ft. My bike moves when I twist it. With my wife on the back, it still moves, but I notice the added weigh even though she doesn't weigh much. It also affects braking, but again not much. But overall, yes, there is a difference.
100lbs to a car isn't much, but to a bike that weighs around 800 with you on it, that's a lot. Nothing wrong with your bike. Proper air pressure can affect HP by as much as 3HP. A huge difference for a motorcycle.
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From: Alberta
Try this calculator to illustrate the difference:
http://www.race-cars.net/calculators/et_calculator.html
http://www.race-cars.net/calculators/et_calculator.html
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From: PA
Ultimate HDF Member
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From: Ogden, UT
Let's say your buddy is 150 pounds on a 700 pound bike with 90 HP, that works out to a 1/4 mile time/speed of 12.31 @ 108 MPH
Now if you and the OL outweigh him by 235 combined or 1085 lbs at 90 HP that works out to 13.36 @ 100 MPH so yes it makes a big difference.
You can play with weight and HP at this web site
http://www.wallaceracing.com/et-hp-mph.php
Now if you and the OL outweigh him by 235 combined or 1085 lbs at 90 HP that works out to 13.36 @ 100 MPH so yes it makes a big difference.
You can play with weight and HP at this web site
http://www.wallaceracing.com/et-hp-mph.php
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From: NH
Ok so leave the OL at home and brown rice ...thanks all !!
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Road Master
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From: Brentwood, TN
I can tell a difference on my stage 1 103 Limited when a 120 lb passenger gets on board. Mostly for acceleration and slow speed turns. Thats only 10% more weight but its noticable when passing. Bike acts like I suddenly lost 10 HP.
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From: SW Minnesota
Interesting thread. Here's a little tidbit of information from Harley's site.
2006 TC 88 Ultra Classic weighs 819 lbs wet. Torque is 86 ft/lbs
2007 TC 96 Ultra Classic weighs 840 lbs wet. Torque is 92.6 ft/lbs
2008 TC 96 Ultra Classic weighs 851 lbs wet. Torque is 92.6 ft/lbs
2009, 2010, 2011 TC 96 Ultra Classic weighs 889 lbs wet. Torque is 92.6 ft/lbs
2012 TC103 Ultra Classic weighs 889 lbs wet. Torque is 100 ft/lbs.
Reported torque is "engine torque," not "rear wheel" torque.
The newest TC103 Ultras are 8% heavier than the last TC88. The engine is 17% larger. Torque is
16% greater.
Half of the increase in engine displacement and torque goes just to push the added weight of 70lbs .
2006 TC 88 Ultra Classic weighs 819 lbs wet. Torque is 86 ft/lbs
2007 TC 96 Ultra Classic weighs 840 lbs wet. Torque is 92.6 ft/lbs
2008 TC 96 Ultra Classic weighs 851 lbs wet. Torque is 92.6 ft/lbs
2009, 2010, 2011 TC 96 Ultra Classic weighs 889 lbs wet. Torque is 92.6 ft/lbs
2012 TC103 Ultra Classic weighs 889 lbs wet. Torque is 100 ft/lbs.
Reported torque is "engine torque," not "rear wheel" torque.
The newest TC103 Ultras are 8% heavier than the last TC88. The engine is 17% larger. Torque is
16% greater.
Half of the increase in engine displacement and torque goes just to push the added weight of 70lbs .
Last edited by MNPGRider; Jul 9, 2012 at 07:31 PM.
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From: Oroville,Washington.
When you've only got 85 ponies to start,a weight addition has a dramatic effect on perfomance. The stage II 113 inch motor in my RK puts out decent power with the SE tuner,Freedom Pefomance 4 inch duals,and K&N intake.I'm only 216 lbs,but when the SO gets on,even though she's only 115 lb,I can feel the loss in acceleration.Not crippling,but very noticable.
