Choosing your motorcycle well, choosing your engine well
Content
Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Engines
Mono, Bi, Three Cylinders, Four Cylinders, Six Cylinders to choose from the engine character
Comfort, performance, protection, versatility, consumption, purchase and cost ... There are several parameters that can guide your choice of motorcycle. But it was so good to choose your motorcycle, was it the first one to choose your engine well? You will be given benchmarks to mark your reflection.
If on four wheels you are more or less concerned with what's under the hood, on a motorcycle it's different. The engine remains part of the choice. It must be said that given the weight-to-power ratio, the performance and type of engine do affect the behavior of the machine. In addition, we have several architectures that also offer very different behavior palettes. As a result, engine type is a fundamental element of the behavior and character of our staff. That is why we offer you an overview of existing solutions on the market to light your way.
One cylinder
Sometimes inexpensive utility, sometimes competitive in the shower when it comes to off-roading, the single-cylinder distills a mild vintage scent when adorned with cooling fins. In this configuration, he is not looking for performance, but rather softness. However, sweetness is not his strength. It even catches fish through a relatively narrow range of use, which makes the pilot juggle a lot with the selector. Inflexible due to poor cyclical regularity, it hits low revs and loathes taking turns due to poor natural balance and large masses at stake. This is why he develops often modest strength. Avoid long road trips with its steering wheel. Finally, the strong mechanical stress it experiences will change its reliability over time. This shortens its average life and is less than that of a multi-cylinder.
Strengths
- Ease
- Reduced weight
- Low cost of ownership for both purchase and maintenance
Weak
- Its reduced range of uses
- His lack of flexibility
- Its limited power
Preferred terrain: city, walk, off-road.
Iconic models: 125 station wagons or sports cars, 450 SUVs, the Mash Five Hundred and the KTM 690 Duke, which bring the mono concept to a climax, both in terms of refinement, performance and price.
Two-cylinder
Here we turn to more versatile mechanics, as evidenced by the versatility and variety of models available on the market. However, combining two single cylinders can be accomplished in many ways and we recommend that you read the file we dedicated to it to see it more clearly. Depending on the chosen configuration, a mechanism with more or less symbols is obtained. To put it bluntly, parallel twins like the British or flat ones like BMW are more docile. Conversely, V-engines often have more bumps. Only the BMW 1250 Line demonstrates most of the capabilities of this engine. Large track, GT or GT sports in general are part of the two-cylinder's field of action. We will add customs and, on the other hand, sports cars, especially with V-engines. Relatively compact, the twin touches its limits when you want to play at the highest level of track competition. This is why Ducati decided to switch to a 4-cylinder to reclaim the SBK title. Pretty well balanced, or at least balanced because that's not always the case, the double cylinder will take you fast and far with comfort and good longevity.
Strengths
- Its relative compactness (narrowness)
- Various suggested configurations
- His performances, his pair
- Driving in general
Weak
- Lack of relative flexibility (V-engines)
- Its limited capacity (competition)
- Its sophistication and reliability are tainted on very modern engines.
Preferred terrain: all applications possible
Iconic models: Flat BMW, Classic Triumph Range, Large Custom (Harley / Indian), Ducati Sports Cars, Muscle Roadsters (KTM, Ducati), French (Brough Superior / Midual)
Four cylinders
Despite the passage of time, his success is unshakable. Starting with the Honda CB 750 just 50 years ago, he only went so far as to think outside the box. Combined with the strong bias that gives it comfortable torque, its legendary flexibility allows it to expand all deflections. In fact, it ideally finds its place in modern suva such as the Kawasaki 1000 Versys or the BMW S 1000 XR. Flexible, branchy, powerful, well balanced, he is a good student for those who want to travel fast, far and comfortably. Safe bet that comes in V or online. In both cases, it is a three-dimensional mechanism, but not necessarily very heavy, because it is naturally balanced and takes advantage of small moving parts. As a result, he takes his place on the athlete. He is even the king of this category! Capable of taking many laps, it cheerfully exceeds 200hp / L while knowing how to stay reliable. Only 600 people struggle with engine torque. If you are a fan of vigorous recovery at low revs, go below 1000cc.
Strengths
- His strength
- Its flexibility
- Its balance
- Its reliability
Weak
- Its relative complexity
- His trail
- No torque below 1000 cm3
Preferred field: Sports, Hiking, Adventure ... on Resins
Iconic models: Yamaha YZF-R1 and R6, BMW S1000R / RR / XR, Aprilia RSV4, Ducati Panigale V4, Kawasaki Versys and H2
Three cylinders
Those who follow them may have believed in an oversight, but this is not the case. After working with bi- and four cylinders, the conversation about three comes down to the synthesis of the previous two. This engine plays the right balance between the two. More flexible and cumbersome than a bi, it has more torque than a four-legged one without being able to compete with it in maximum power at the same displacement. In fact, it appears well on big trails that don't have strong all-terrain desires, character roadsters that have trunks but don't pound at low revs. He is a great travel companion every day. Well educated but not polite, he pays an honorable attention to the sensations. It is also found on large English GTs, couplers and sockets. An ideal form of compromise, the benefits of which are perfectly illustrated by the Triumph 675. With a 75cc more than a 3 four-cylinder engine, it has managed to offer the same power, with a much less hollow engine, more comfortable to use on the road as well as on the track. Taking advantage of the additional 600cc size, the 90 Street demonstrates this even better today, as does its MT 3 rival. Both offer an endorsement close to the 765 four-cylinder, with lighter weight and added agility. An alternative that should be seriously considered at the time of choice.
Strengths
- Flexibility
- Couple
- The nature of the engine
- Noise
- Vibration comfort
Weak
- Space and weight close to four-cylinder
- Maximum Recessed Power at Equal Bias (Sport)
Preferred terrain: Rodters, medium sized trails
Iconic models: Triumph Daytona, Speed and Street Triple или Rocket III, MV Augusta Turismo Veloce, Brutale и F3, Yamaha MT-09
Six-cylinder
The six-cylinder engine for the motorcycle is the same as the V8 and V12 for the car. Necessarily. Due to the lack of a large area and weight, it does not have a sporting vocation. But his business is quite luxurious, calm and enjoyable. Incredible softness, endless range of use, from one end of the tachometer to the other, without any dips. Full of sensation with pleasure to the ears. Its width and weight are not its best allies in the city, but its quasi-electric flexibility catches up with its drawbacks. Its vocation is excellent tourism in all its glory ... With it you will travel to the end of the world in the greatest comfort you can find on a motorcycle. And if thrills are your thing, look from BMW, the K6's 16-cylinder series is on the verge of GT sport, a unique thing that looks great, while the Gold Fender puts more emphasis on comfort.
Strengths
- Flexibility
- Vibration comfort
- Uvuk
Weak
- Vesi
- Mosmos
- Purchase and service price
Preferred area: tourism and sports GT
Iconic models: Honda Goldwing 1800 and BMW K 1600 GT (formerly Honda 1000 CBX, Kawasaki Z1300 and Benelli Sei)
