When getting into the motorcycle industry, you will get to hear the term BHP quite frequently. If you have ever asked the question what does BHP mean in bikes and whether it is important, then you are not alone. This blog post will help the reader to understand what is BHP in bike terminology, why it matters when it comes to bike performance and how it will affect your riding experience.
What is the meaning of BHP in Bike?
BHP is short for brake horse power. It defines the power that the engine delivers to the road without taking into consideration the losses that occur, such as friction and heat. In simple terms, BHP in bike means the bike’s engine capacity, which is a measure of how much power the engine is capable of delivering. This is useful in determining the bike’s performance.
For instance, let me explain through an example that will seem very human-like. Suppose that you have a friend named Sam and he is very fond of motorcycling. Sam has just purchased a new bike and he is keen to know how it works. He is informed that it has a bike engine with a BHP of 50. This means that in theory the engine will be capable of generating fifty horsepower before this power is lost in the system.
Also read: Best Bikes Under 2 Lakhs In India
How Do I Measure My Bike’s BHP?
You don’t have to measure your bike’s BHP yourself. You will normally find it in your bike’s brochure or owner’s manual. Sometimes, different variants of the same bike model may have differences in equipment. This can affect their individual BHP. Make sure to check if the manufacturer advertised BHP applied to the variant of the bike you are interested in.
You can also refer to the company’s website or read blogs on AUTOLIVENEW for all the information about a bike’s BHP. If you feel that the stats the company advertises aren’t accurate for the bike you have bought, you can also have a professional dynamometer test conducted and confirm your bike’s BHP.
Why is BHP in Bikes Important?
Understanding what is BHP in bike is essential for several reasons:
- Performance Insight: It tells you just how powerful the engine is, which is what BHP represents. BHP or brake horse power, means the power that the engine can deliver. A higher BHP usually means that the car will have a higher top speed.
- Riding Experience: For riders like Sam, this knowledge comes in handy in evaluating the biking power through the BHP in relation to different conditions. BHP is a measure of the bike’s power, so a bike with a higher BHP like the KTM Duke 200 (24.67 bhp at 10,000 rpm) will typically be faster and more powerful than one with a lower BHP like the Yamaha R15 V4 (18.1 bhp at 10,000 rpm).
- Top Speed: The ‘what is BHP in bikes’ question is also related to how power impacts performance. In most cases, bikes with high BHP deliver high top speeds as well. This means that if Sam loves speed, then a bike with higher BHP will meet the desire.
- Comparison Tool: When it comes to shopping for bikes, BHP is a good way of comparing different bikes that are on the market. For instance, if Sam has two bikes to pick from and they have different BHP, he will be able to identify the bike with the best performance. He will be able to tell that at 10.7 BHP, the Hero HF Deluxe has less horsepower and will therefore have a lower top speed than the Hero Xtreme 125R with 11.4 BHP.
Facts About BHP
Here are some interesting facts about BHP:
- Testing Conditions: BHP is determined in a controlled environment and most often on a dynamometer to get the right measurements of the engine power.
- Not the Only Metric: BHP is crucial; however, it is not the only factor that defines a bike’s performance. The other factors are torque, weight, aerodynamics and so on.
- Engine Efficiency: Just because a bike has high BHP doesn’t mean that it is more efficient. Some other factors that affect engine efficiency are the fuel consumption rates and the recommended maintenance intervals.
BHP vs. HP: Many countries use the metric term HP or PS (derived from the German word pferdestärke) to measure a car’s horsepower. In India, most car manufacturers use the imperial unit BHP instead. BHP is also used in many European countries, like the UK. Interestingly, India officially uses the metric system and not imperial units for most measurements, such as kilometer instead of mile and kilogram instead of pound.
Example Bike Specifications
Let’s take the example of the Bajaj Pulsar RS200, a popular bike among enthusiasts:
- Price: ₹ 1,73,850 (Ex-showroom price in New Delhi)
- Mileage: Around 35-40 km/l
- Performance: 24.13 BHP at 9750 RPM
- To Sam, the Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 is suitable for daily use as well as for weekend riding as it has good power and fairly good fuel economy.
Conclusion:
It is important for the riders to know what is BHP in bike in order to make the right decisions on which motorcycles to buy and use. With the bike’s raw power rating, riders will be able to determine the bike’s performance, speed, and whether it is suited for their use. It doesn’t matter whether you are trying to decide between two different models or just want to know how your bike performs; BHP is something you should be looking at.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the meaning of BHP in bikes?
BHP is an acronym for Brake Horse Power which is the power output of the engine prior to power losses that occur due to friction and other factors.
What is the difference between BHP and HP?
BHP is the imperial unit of measurement, while HP is the metric one. 1 HP= 0.98632 BHP.
Is more BHP always desirable?
Not necessarily. More BHP meant that the bike has powerful engines but weight and fuel consumption also have to be considered.
How is BHP measured?
BHP is determined with the help of a dynamometer in a controlled environment to determine the power of the engine.
Does BHP influence bike fuel efficiency?
BHP in itself has no direct impact on fuel efficiency but the bikes that have a higher BHP might consume more fuel owing to an increase in power.
Is it possible to increase BHP of my bike?
BHP can be improved and this can be done through modification but one has to be very careful not to tamper with other important parts of the bike.
What role does BHP play in bike acceleration?
The ability of an engine to develop power is directly related to BHP and this in turn leads to faster acceleration.
How many BHP is appropriate for a commuter bike?
Commuter bikes, due to their feature set, normally require 10-20 BHP for power and 20-30 BHP for sports bikes, which optimizes power to fuel efficiency.
Does BHP influence a bike’s maximum speed?
Yes, the higher BHP will impact the ability to achieve a higher top speed as the engine would be capable of producing more power.
Are there bikes with higher BHP but with very low mileage?
Yes, some bikes with high BHP will have low mileage, as more power would mean more fuel used.
