Newbie tech question: why/how does Honda Fury make low power?

[Billericay Dickie]

I know this is a racing forum, but rec.motorcycles seems to be mostly
swearing ---.

Looking at the specs for the Honda Fury chopper, I'm puzzled to see a
modern motor, with 3-valves per cylinder, fuel injected, overhead cam,
of a massive 1,300cc capacity --- produce just 59bhp.

You'd think a Boy Scout troop working in a garden shed, if they
cobbled together a motor with those specs, would see more power. Did
Honda engineers have to work hard to REDUCE the power --- an odd task
for a m'cycle engineer?

Does the motor run on just a dribble of fuel to get "good" mileage?
Polite explanations welcomed. Cheers.

[Dr Ivan D. Reid]

On Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:30:35 -0700 (PDT), Billericay Dickie

Post by Billericay Dickie
I know this is a racing forum, but rec.motorcycles seems to be mostly
swearing ---.
Looking at the specs for the Honda Fury chopper, I'm puzzled to see a
modern motor, with 3-valves per cylinder, fuel injected, overhead cam,
of a massive 1,300cc capacity --- produce just 59bhp.
You'd think a Boy Scout troop working in a garden shed, if they
cobbled together a motor with those specs, would see more power. Did
Honda engineers have to work hard to REDUCE the power --- an odd task
for a m'cycle engineer?
Does the motor run on just a dribble of fuel to get "good" mileage?
Polite explanations welcomed. Cheers.

Don't you think 59 bhp is more than enough for anything as evil-
handling as a chopper? Plus it's unfaired, which limits how fast you
want to travel, and the tyres limit how fast you want to accelerate...

I did a quick gwgl but couldn't find; what revs give max power
and what torque/revs for max torque -- that will tell a lot.

[Julian Bond]

Post by Billericay Dickie
I know this is a racing forum, but rec.motorcycles seems to be mostly
swearing ---.
Looking at the specs for the Honda Fury chopper, I'm puzzled to see a
modern motor, with 3-valves per cylinder, fuel injected, overhead cam,
of a massive 1,300cc capacity --- produce just 59bhp.
You'd think a Boy Scout troop working in a garden shed, if they
cobbled together a motor with those specs, would see more power. Did
Honda engineers have to work hard to REDUCE the power --- an odd task
for a m'cycle engineer?
Does the motor run on just a dribble of fuel to get "good" mileage?
Polite explanations welcomed. Cheers.

They're just emulating Harley.

[snogfest]

Post by Billericay Dickie
I know this is a racing forum, but rec.motorcycles seems to be mostly
swearing ---.
Looking at the specs for the Honda Fury chopper, I'm puzzled to see a
modern motor, with 3-valves per cylinder, fuel injected, overhead cam,
of a massive 1,300cc capacity --- produce just 59bhp.
You'd think a Boy Scout troop working in a garden shed, if they
cobbled together a motor with those specs, would see more power.  Did
Honda engineers have to work hard to REDUCE the power --- an odd task
for a m'cycle engineer?
Does the motor run on just a dribble of fuel to get "good" mileage?
Polite explanations welcomed. Cheers.

You're right, this is a racing NG

The Rebel, oops, Fury, is a CRUISER. Therefore it's aimed at a market
who likes whatever it is that's appealing about cruisers, they
probably don't care about high power output or fuel consumption.
Cruisers with big cc long stroke air-cooled twins are about image and
low revs.
If it made twice the power what do you think Honda'd have to change ?
(that's rhetorical).
Seriously, I think it's a great looking bike, but I'd have the MT-01
or the new V-Max if I wanted something a bit different.

[Champ]

On Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:30:35 -0700 (PDT), Billericay Dickie

Post by Billericay Dickie
I know this is a racing forum, but rec.motorcycles seems to be mostly
swearing ---.
Looking at the specs for the Honda Fury chopper, I'm puzzled to see a
modern motor, with 3-valves per cylinder, fuel injected, overhead cam,
of a massive 1,300cc capacity --- produce just 59bhp.

Modern? 3-valves per cylinder? Just the one overhead cam?