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[skadamo]

oud pipes may save lives, but quiet, all-electric motorcycles may save the planet. Well, sort of. But, hey, at least they'll save some coin when you silently whiz past the gas station. We got a chance to see a lithium-ion powered chopper when Hybrid Technologies (the same guys with the electric roadster and the electric mini cooper) swung by out office. Their Stealth motorcycle has a horsepower equivalent to a 500-cc bike, and it tops out at around 50 mph. That's not much on the highway, but it's plenty of speed to zoom around town. And at least your neighbors won't complain about the noise: This is one good looking, yet nearly silent hog. Check out the video below.... —Benjamin Chertoff

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4216271.html

[Bogan]

Their Stealth motorcycle has a horsepower equivalent to a 500-cc bike, and it tops out at around 50 mph

Completely wrong, if it has a horsepower equivalent to a 500cc bike then it cud do the same top speed (unless a monkey designed the driveline of course). 500cc bikes can easily hit 120mph, which requires roughly 5x the horsepower.

If he means torque however he would probably be right, but torque is an extremely poor overall unit of measurement, as a sproket change will significantly alter this.

[skadamo]

Good point.  Also, did he mean 2 stroke or 4?     Thanks for the info, makes sense now that you mention it.

[Bogan]

i wud assume fours stroke, as im not aware anyone makes 500cc two strokes anymore, with engine technology today they would be far too savage to ride id expect. Would be something id like to try though!

Another thing id like to see done (and am getting rather off topic here but i think its worth a mention) is to make an engine using the two stroke diesel cycle, but with direct petrol injection instead http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_stroke_diesel. As it would be as powerfull, or more so than a normal two stroke, but with less emissions than a 4 stroke engine and possibly greater efficiency.