In my limited experience, I'd always pick torque.

by Slow Hand , Indiana, Monday, February 09, 2015, 08:18 (3580 days ago) @ Paul

Torque is the 'grunt' that get you moving. I've never seen your neck of the woods, but I picture it as hilly and in town driving. More torque will help out in both instances! My first bike, about seven or eight years ago, was a '76 KZ400. I'm 225 and it pulled me around town just fine, full of clothes and my lunchbox. Now, it was about 100 rpm per mph, so it was pulling 4500 rpm at 45 mph. Fine for in city stuff but not much on highway! But, even for a little bike, it had no trouble stop light to stoplight and would take off in second gear with very little throttle. I've had a few four cylinders, Kz650, CB750K, etc, and they were quicker and revved higher, they didn't have the same torque as the various twins I've owned. My current bike is a big step up, a 1700cc RoadStar. It's not quick by any means but it has tons of torque!! I can come to a pretty steep hill in top gear and just roll the throttle, no thoughts of downshifting at all! I had a 650 V-Star before and for its size, it had plenty of torque too, it was a V-Twin also.

Another thing o look at as Byron brought up is gearing. Now, we can't easily change tranny gears, but sprockets are fairly easy to swap out. If it's a chain drive you are looking at an hour or two to change the two sprockets. You may lose some top end speed and mileage, but you will be better able to climb hills and take off easier, especially if you are loaded down with 'stuff'. I'm not sure on a belt drive, but in going to bet there will be options available to you.

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