power band dirt bike

What Is A Power Band On A Dirt Bike?

There is a common misconception that the Power Band in a motorcycle is a physical part inside the engine and this is simply not true. The Power Band is the range of RPM that the motorcycles engine is operating at peak performance. This is usually the point where the climbing horsepower meets the peak torque. Power is the product of torque multiplied by speed of rotation (force x speed), so power is produced in the upper speed range where there’s both high torque and high RPM. Power bands can go past 14,000 RPM in some motorcycles and this is achieved by using lightweight connecting rods and pistons with shorter movements to reduce the inertia and stress on the parts.

Do Four-Stroke Bikes Have A Power Band?

All engines have a power band but not all engines are as noticeable to the operator as others. Four-stroke bikes have a broader range of power (broader range of RPM) and make it feel like the power is there for most of the gear until higher RPM where it will plateau. Two-strokes have a shorter range of RPM for the power band. 

Four-strokes typically have more power on the low end, most of the mid-range and then begin falling off towards the high-end.

Two-strokes make most of their power in the upper mid-range and top end. Some two-strokes have a very small range of only 300 RPM while others have a range of 3000 RPM.

Should I Stay In The Power Band?

Yes, when racing a motorcycle it is critical to maintain your RPM’s within the power band to produce the bikes peak performance through all gears. Pro riders have mastered this and stay in the range most of the time. The range can vary from bike to bike so it is important for you to get familiar with your bike and know where the power band is for each gear. Great riders will use the clutch to rev up the RPM through a turn without producing power to the wheels. This allows them to drop the clutch and apply a huge burst of torque to the rear wheel, propelling them through the exit of the turn. 

I hope this answered all of your questions about power bands, if not leave me a comment below and I’ll try to answer it for you! Braap braaaap my friends.

Go check out my article on how to winterize a motorcycle.

-Dirt Bike Masters