(23-03-13, 03:04 AM)darrsi link Wrote:95bhp is the bog standard brand new, 83+bhp is the norm in this day and age, any more than that is a well looked after bike!
You are selling your bike short, Darrsi!!. It is well documented that the figures you see on the spec sheet (98bhp) is the power of the engine measured from the crank and not the rear wheel were your reading was measured from.
So the power will be significantly lower due to the friction on the rolling road. It has noting to do with old age. If you were losing 14 horses of power due to old age and worn piston rings ect, I think you would sort of notice this power loss in the shape of excessive smoke coming from your exhausts, her burning a nice bit of oil, and troublesome starting due to loss of compression.
From Wiki....
"The power of the engine alone, often called crankshaft power, or power at the crankshaft, will be significantly greater than the power measured at the rear wheel. The amount of power lost due to friction in the transmission and final drive depends on the details of the design and construction. Generalizing, a chain drive motorcycle will have about 20% less power at the rear wheel than at the crankshaft"
Taking that rough generalizing figureas a guide...a near listed 100bhp bike like a Fazer at the crank will be about 80bhp on the dyno. That is not too far out in what we are seeing with your readings....so your bike is still measuring about 98bhp at the crank even after all these years.