Why "reduced effect" bikes in the early 80s?

[yoda731]

Hey, folks. I was just browsing for info on the CX500. I have found some listings for these and other UJM bikes from the early '80s where there will be two identical models, except one listed as "reduced effect" on which the horsepower has been reduced.

So, I understand "reduced effect" to mean "less horsepower," but can anyone tell me why they are marketed like this-- just to appeal to an audience that wanted less power, or was it related to import restrictions to different countries, or what?

Here is one such site/listing that shows these bikes:

http://www.bikez.com/year/index.php?year=1981

Thanks!
JC

[Ninja Geoff]

maybe euro releases so they can be riddeb by the noobs?

[-Holiday]

Reduced effect: In some countries certain motorcycle models are sold with less horse power to comply with legal or insurance regulations in that country. For instance, a country might allow 16-year-olds to drive 125 ccm bikes with no more than 15 hp. The bike would then have to be modified to output no more than 15 hp. In another example insurance companies may not want to insure bikes with more than 100 hp, or may increase insurance rates for these bikes to the extent that most people would want to buy a reduced-effect version of their bike instead.

src: http://www.bikez.com/jargon/index.php

[flynrider]

What Holiday said. You're not likely to find a "reduced effect" bike in the U.S. They were primarily sold in Europe and Asia. The hp reduction was often just a restrictor plate on the intake that reduce the amount of air that the engine could pull in.

[paul246]

I know the V-Max was sold in Britain minus the V-Boost feature

The Americans got their taste of restrictions implemented by Reagan during the "Save Harley Davidson" era in the 1980's. Imports were hit with extra tarrifs once their displacement exceeded something around the 700cc mark.

Glad we didn't have that problem in Canada.

[yoda731]

The Americans got their taste of restrictions implemented by Reagan during the "Save Harley Davidson" era in the 1980's. Imports were hit with extra tarrifs once their displacement exceeded something around the 700cc mark.

Glad we didn't have that problem in Canada.

That sounds familiar. I think I read that that is the reason the V45 Magnas dropped to 700cc from 750cc, I think in '87 or so?

Thanks for the answers.

[jmillheiser]

the reduced effect CX500 was only sold in europe. Our CX500s are the full 50hp model.

Notice the rpms listed for the RE model. it cuts off right before the CX500 gets into the meat of its powerband.

[Kal]

If you get a restricted licence in the UK then you are restricted to 33Bhp for two years.

But a lot of these bikes seem to be restricted beyond UK standards...

Which surprises me as I thought that they gave out european licences with breakfast cereal...

[jmillheiser]

so you have to have the L plates for 2 years in the UK?

hey Kal is your avatar a pic of you ripping up your L tag once you got your full license

[Kal]

Not quite.

With a CBT (kind of like the MSF) we can ride a 125 with L plates for two years before requiring a new CBT

When we go for our licence we have a choice if we want it full or restricted. With a restricted licence the course and test is identical to the unrestricted test except that a restricted test is done on a 125 and a unrestricted test is done on a 33bhp+ bike (usually a 500cc)

Following the test neither needs to ride with L plates, but the restricted licence can only ride a bike of less than 33bhp for the first two years.

Restricted or unrestricted we are on probation for two years and can only afford to pick up 2 speeding fines before losing our licences and having to take the CBT and retest again.

I had to get the pic of the licence plate off the net since some little ****wit stole the bike with mine on.