Due to the off-season the forum slows down a little, so I cruise around other ones on occation. I saw this guys post in Maximumsled's forum and found it interesting. I know we've had these discussions before, and I don't want to start any arguments........buuuuut, since its slow right now.....what do you all think about this:
"I gave this shot before, and by some of the comments it seems it still didn't register, so I thought I'd try again. You hear alot these days about how the new twins make so much torque and accelerate so hard. Guys are buying into this propaganda and make buying decisions based on the hear say and hype floating around. The comparison.
The 700 Viper vs the 700MXZ, a twin and a triple with very similar hp ratings.
MXZ = 119.3hp and 80.3 ft/lbs @ 7800 rpm ( making over 80ft/lbs from 7100-7800rpm)
Viper= 119.8hp and 75.8 ft/lbs @ 8300 rpm ( making over 75 ft/lbs from 6800-8300 rpm!)
I'm going to use AC chassis numbers for gear ratios and speed calculations just because I know them off hand..and because it's the motors we are comparing..so the chassis, other than providing the calculation numbers is irrelevant. I'm also going to calculate the numbers with a 1 to 1 ratio on the clutches to make things simple. I'm not evaluating clutch ratios and who has the best set up...just motor torque. Chassis losses are not included.
So..throw the 700 twin in a ZR chassis with 24/39 gears and you get 130 ft/lbs of torque "at the drive axle" ( this is where torque numbers directly correlate to acceleration) and a 1.12 overdrive top speed calculation of 115.1 mph. The 700 triple motor running 500 rpm higher gives a top speed number of 122 mph. To achieve similar top end calculations the triple must be geared down to 20/35. The geared down triple has drive shaft torque of 132.8 ft/lbs ( WHAT? MORE THAN THE TWIN?) and a 1.12 overdrive top speed of 114 mph. Not only that...at 6200 rpm ( slow trail cruising speed) the twin has 115 ft/lbs of drive axle torque and the triple has 119! MORE AGAIN. The triple also makes this torque over a much broader power band 6800-8300 vs 7100-7800. To add insult to injury..let the triple breath..3x3..the 700 Mach 1 motor makes 139.7 hp and 86.3 ft/lbs @ 8500 rpm. Gear it down to 20/35 for similar top end and you get a whopping 151 ft/lbs on the drive axle and with a calculated top speed of 116 mph. So..what does your big twin torque mean in the real world?..It means you bought vibrating piece of junk..to save a couple of lbs at the most...but other than that?...NOTHING"(1).
(1) - Post from Maximumsled forum.
1997 XLT SP 600
"Engage the Mechanism"
"I gave this shot before, and by some of the comments it seems it still didn't register, so I thought I'd try again. You hear alot these days about how the new twins make so much torque and accelerate so hard. Guys are buying into this propaganda and make buying decisions based on the hear say and hype floating around. The comparison.
The 700 Viper vs the 700MXZ, a twin and a triple with very similar hp ratings.
MXZ = 119.3hp and 80.3 ft/lbs @ 7800 rpm ( making over 80ft/lbs from 7100-7800rpm)
Viper= 119.8hp and 75.8 ft/lbs @ 8300 rpm ( making over 75 ft/lbs from 6800-8300 rpm!)
I'm going to use AC chassis numbers for gear ratios and speed calculations just because I know them off hand..and because it's the motors we are comparing..so the chassis, other than providing the calculation numbers is irrelevant. I'm also going to calculate the numbers with a 1 to 1 ratio on the clutches to make things simple. I'm not evaluating clutch ratios and who has the best set up...just motor torque. Chassis losses are not included.
So..throw the 700 twin in a ZR chassis with 24/39 gears and you get 130 ft/lbs of torque "at the drive axle" ( this is where torque numbers directly correlate to acceleration) and a 1.12 overdrive top speed calculation of 115.1 mph. The 700 triple motor running 500 rpm higher gives a top speed number of 122 mph. To achieve similar top end calculations the triple must be geared down to 20/35. The geared down triple has drive shaft torque of 132.8 ft/lbs ( WHAT? MORE THAN THE TWIN?) and a 1.12 overdrive top speed of 114 mph. Not only that...at 6200 rpm ( slow trail cruising speed) the twin has 115 ft/lbs of drive axle torque and the triple has 119! MORE AGAIN. The triple also makes this torque over a much broader power band 6800-8300 vs 7100-7800. To add insult to injury..let the triple breath..3x3..the 700 Mach 1 motor makes 139.7 hp and 86.3 ft/lbs @ 8500 rpm. Gear it down to 20/35 for similar top end and you get a whopping 151 ft/lbs on the drive axle and with a calculated top speed of 116 mph. So..what does your big twin torque mean in the real world?..It means you bought vibrating piece of junk..to save a couple of lbs at the most...but other than that?...NOTHING"(1).
(1) - Post from Maximumsled forum.

1997 XLT SP 600
"Engage the Mechanism"