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[CVO ~ Senior Chief (Ret)]

When I retired from the Navy, I stopped exercising, quit watching what I was eating or drinking, and gained about 35 pounds of good living. As my 50th birthday greeted me, I made the decision to flip back the switch and take better care of myself. I’ve lost 40 pounds through exercise and a decent diet.

As far as the bike goes, I became interested in how to equate my weight loss to horsepower  … It only makes sense that the fewer pounds the bike has to lug around, the easier it is for it to accelerate.

“Weight to power” is the approach taken to solve this problem and to get glimpse of any perceived performance gains.

Bike   Me   Total   lbs/HP ratio
946   204   1150   14.375   (original weight)
946   164   1110   13.875   (new weight)

The lower weight clearly gives a better ratio, but what does that mean in terms of horsepower?

WARNING: Algebra use below!

1150 / x = 13.875 (Translation: original weight divided by some unknown horsepower would give the same power-to-weight ratio as 1110 / 80). Solve for X

“Weight loss” to “Horsepower” Formula:
Old weight (1150) / New Power-to-Weight Ratio (13.875) = 82.9 hp or a perceived gain of 2.9 horsepower.

[grc]

      Yup, and guess how much better it would be if Harley would put their overweight bikes on a diet.  It wasn't all that many years ago that a "heavyweight" motorcycle came in at 600 to 700 pounds.  Harley's latest come in at over 900 pounds.  All those increases in engine size over the years weren't done to make the bikes faster, they were made to keep the bikes from getting considerably slower as the weight increased.

Jerry 

[cvobiker]

Dammmmm.  I had a relapse,   I forgot all that algebra crap.     Interesting though.   

[Alremc]

When I retired from the Navy, I stopped exercising, quit watching what I was eating or drinking, and gained about 35 pounds of good living. As my 50th birthday greeted me, I made the decision to flip back the switch and take better care of myself. I’ve lost 40 pounds through exercise and a decent diet.

As far as the bike goes, I became interested in how to equate my weight loss to horsepower  … It only makes sense that the fewer pounds the bike has to lug around, the easier it is for it to accelerate.

“Weight to power” is the approach taken to solve this problem and to get glimpse of any perceived performance gains.

Bike   Me   Total   lbs/HP ratio
946   204   1150   14.375   (original weight)
946   164   1110   13.875   (new weight)

The lower weight clearly gives a better ratio, but what does that mean in terms of horsepower?

WARNING: Algebra use below!

1150 / x = 13.875 (Translation: original weight divided by some unknown horsepower would give the same power-to-weight ratio as 1110 / 80). Solve for X

“Weight loss” to “Horsepower” Formula:
Old weight (1150) / New Power-to-Weight Ratio (13.875) = 82.9 hp or a perceived gain of 2.9 horsepower.

Good deal! An incentive to either lose weight or get a bigger engine! 
Congrats on the weight loss there Shipmate...

[BryantH]

Nicely done - I experienced a similar occurrence when I took off 30 pounds in 2012. The biggest difference for me was that my new Ohlins rear shocks were setup for me at the higher weight (which I added a few pounds to the spec sheet that I wish I didn't). In any event, my rear shocks are stiffer than they were. I'll have to make some adjustments this riding season by either adjustments to the Ohlins or eating more Pizza............ hahaha

BryantH

[CVO ~ Senior Chief (Ret)]

Thanks for the replies! My next HP gains are going to come by way of bike modifications. 

[North Georgia Hawg]

I just try to fatten up my riding buddies... if I can worsen their HP-to-weight ratios, it widens the delta between them and me!

[dayne66]

With the rider mods I have planned, I'm only lookin' at about .99 hp.

[Mr. Warlock]

Painfull gains but I'll bet very prideful gains........ 

[CVO ~ Senior Chief (Ret)]

Painfull gains but I'll bet very prideful gains........ 

Painful doesn't really cover it! But I have a six pack other than beer. 

[E-Skunk]

Congrats on the calculation and hp gain but more so one the personal achievement!  I did a similar thing way back when I hit 40 and noticed not only the weight shift difference on my old EGlide but none of my leathers fit anymore!

Now that I am in my 50s I can think of a lot of things that I would rather do than calc! Living in SoCal, get out there and take a ride for all of us that are looking at this today!

[CVO ~ Senior Chief (Ret)]

Congrats on the calculation and hp gain but more so one the personal achievement!  I did a similar thing way back when I hit 40 and noticed not only the weight shift difference on my old EGlide but none of my leathers fit anymore!

Now that I am in my 50s I can think of a lot of things that I would rather do than calc! Living in SoCal, get out there and take a ride for all of us that are looking at this today!

Thanks!! Snow is great to look at, I can see it on the mountains from my yard ... Must be cold up there?    I do "sacrifice" most days and ride for my brothers that can't, I've put 17K miles on my bike since I bought it last February. I don't really dig the California political views and many of the people here are a special kind of stupid but you can't beat the weather.

[ultrarider123]

Thanks!! Snow is great to look at, I can see it on the mountains from my yard ... Must be cold up there?    I do "sacrifice" most days and ride for my brothers that can't, I've put 17K miles on my bike since I bought it last February. I don't really dig the California political views and many of the people here are a special kind of stupid but you can't beat the weather.

My dad used to say California is like a bowl of cereal.  Whatever isn't nuts and fruit is flakes...

Can't fault you on the weather that you have all year long, however, and congrats on the weight loss.  May have only gained a smidgen of HP on the weight loss but your body will be better for it over the years...

[FLY-DOG]

CVO ~ Senior Chief (Ret)........Congratulations on the HP gain, I mean weight loss!  I too was a Senior Chief (AECS) back in 1980 before I was commissioned an Ensign under the LDO program and finally retired in 1998 as a CDR.  Now at 65 years old I have to work a little harder to stay in "Ship Shape".  I try to hit the gym 3 times per week....we have a fully equipped gym on-site here at work (Delta Air Lines) not a 5 minute walk from where I work so I can go either before or after work, how sweet is that!

Oh...does that F.O.G.R. stand for "Friends Of Giant Rock" (FOGR)?

[CVO ~ Senior Chief (Ret)]

CVO ~ Senior Chief (Ret)........Congratulations on the HP gain, I mean weight loss!  I too was a Senior Chief (AECS) back in 1980 before I was commissioned an Ensign under the LDO program and finally retired in 1998 as a CDR.  Now at 65 years old I have to work a little harder to stay in "Ship Shape".  I try to hit the GYM 3 times per week....we have a fully equipped GYM on-site here at work (Delta Air Lines) not a 5 minute walk from where I work so I can go either before or after work, how sweet is that!

Oh...does that F.O.G.R. stand for "Friends Of Giant Rock" (FOGR)?

I guess I need to change that now? FOGR stood for Fat Old Guy Riding.

Nice on having a gym at work, I was fortunate to picked up at the same unit that I retired from so I still have access to the gym here. I have been working out at home before I leave for the day which has just been more convienent for me.