[Spridgets] Bentley-RR Trivia: was calculating speed

[Weslake1330 at aol.com]

Not so.
 
Top speed is limited by aerodynamic drag and BHP.  To go faster you  need 
less drag or more bhp or both.
 
Acceleration on the other hand is limited by lb/f torque to weight ratio  (to 
the point where the drag is greater than bhp and limits top speed and  
therein acceleration).
 
The motorcycle has less drag than a car (less frontal area really) so needs  
less bhp to reach its maximum speed.  The wheel diameter is neither here  nor 
their because the gearing controls the gearing and the wheel diameter is  just 
one factor.
 
W e s l a k e 1330
 
In a message dated 21/10/2008 18:15:47 GMT Daylight Time,  bmwwxman at gmail.com 
writes:

Fact
is, BHP or HP by any measure really has nothing to do with  speed. Only in
elapsed time to reach a given speed. I have seen a 20 HP  motorcycle reach
110 mph because of its wheel diameter and gearing.  Likewise, I have seen 200
HP V-8s that couldn't hit 90  MPH.

Cheers!!
Jim