I know military motorcycles had horsepower in the single digits sometimes, but I’m wondering specifics.
Perhaps I should have specified more. I was thinking past 1930s.
Here are some examples that I found (maker, year, engine capacity, power)-
Adler, 1902, 370cc, 2.5 HP
AJS, 1910, ?, 2.5 and 3.5 HP
Ariel, 1913, 499cc, 3.5 HP
BAT, 1904, ?, 2.75 HP
BSA, 1909, ?, 3 HP
Calthorpe, 1909, ?, 3 HP
Douglas, 1913, 348cc, 2.75 HP
FN, 1905, 300cc, 2 HP
Harley Davidson, 1909, 800cc, 7 HP
Hidebrand & Wolfmuller, 1894, 1428cc, 2.5 HP
Indian, 1901, ?, 1.75 HP
Matchless, 1912, 770cc, 5 HP
Minerva, 1904, 345cc, 2.75 HP
Raleigh, 1903, ?, 3 HP
Rex, 1900, ?, 1.75 HP
Rover, 1903, ?, 3.5 HP
Royal Enfield, 1901, ?, 1.5 HP
Scott, 1914, 532cc, 3.5 HP
Simplex, 1911, ?, 6 HP
Triumph, 1902, ?, 2.25 HP
Wilkinson, 1903, ?, 2.75 HP
It’s not a good random sample of all bikes produced at the time, Just a summary of bikes whose power rating, I could find.
It seems that in the first decade of the century, less than 10 HP was the norm.
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4 users responded in this post
Sometimes? They usually had hp in single digits! My friend’s 1915 BSA is 556cc and 6hp!
References :
Yeah it was very low. In 1915-1923 Triumph was making a 499cc motor in "the trusty" model H that made a mere 4hp.
References :
The 1909 HD Model 5-D was a 49.5 cubic inch (811cc) that produced all of 7hp.
References :
20yr HD Tech. MMI Grad 1991 and 2009. Factory trained by HD, Big Dog, American Ironhorse, Titan and Indian
Here are some examples that I found (maker, year, engine capacity, power)-
Adler, 1902, 370cc, 2.5 HP
AJS, 1910, ?, 2.5 and 3.5 HP
Ariel, 1913, 499cc, 3.5 HP
BAT, 1904, ?, 2.75 HP
BSA, 1909, ?, 3 HP
Calthorpe, 1909, ?, 3 HP
Douglas, 1913, 348cc, 2.75 HP
FN, 1905, 300cc, 2 HP
Harley Davidson, 1909, 800cc, 7 HP
Hidebrand & Wolfmuller, 1894, 1428cc, 2.5 HP
Indian, 1901, ?, 1.75 HP
Matchless, 1912, 770cc, 5 HP
Minerva, 1904, 345cc, 2.75 HP
Raleigh, 1903, ?, 3 HP
Rex, 1900, ?, 1.75 HP
Rover, 1903, ?, 3.5 HP
Royal Enfield, 1901, ?, 1.5 HP
Scott, 1914, 532cc, 3.5 HP
Simplex, 1911, ?, 6 HP
Triumph, 1902, ?, 2.25 HP
Wilkinson, 1903, ?, 2.75 HP
It’s not a good random sample of all bikes produced at the time, Just a summary of bikes whose power rating, I could find.
It seems that in the first decade of the century, less than 10 HP was the norm.
References :
Klassieke Motoren, Mirco de Cet, ISBN 978 90 396 1523 2
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