Besides the difference in the number of cylinders, what are the big differences? Pros and cons of each? Experiences?

The reason I ask is because I am interested in getting a motorcycle and was doing a little research.

Thanks.

 

Inline-Four - generally needs to have the snot revved out of them to get any power; but can make a ton of power. My F3 is an inline-four, and I really felt like I had to do a ton of work to get anywhere. It could've been the fact that it was only a 600 lugging my fat *** around.

V-Twin - low-to-midrange grunt, tends to peter out near redline; variety of VTwins are out there, such as Ducati's 90º and Aprilia's 60º twins. My current bike is a Honda VTR (twin). Loads of grunt down low and in the middle. It's not as manic in the upper RPM range. Doesn't feel like I have to work it as hard to go fast, but it's also displacing a lot more than the F3.

Don't forget about the Bimmers (boxer engines), Triumph (inline triples), and thumpers (single cylinders). The VTwin and I4 are just the most popular.


Modified by marmaladeboy at 7:54 PM 10/26/2004

 

dont forget V-4's!

if you have an I-4 and a V-twin of the same displacement, the I-4 will generally make more power than the twin, but it is a peak horsepower at the upper rpm. the twin will not rev nearly as high, but the torque curve is much flatter, it pulls hard all the way thru the rpm range, where the I-4 has to be revved high to make the same get up and go.

i personally prefer V's, they normally come in bikes with much more character than the I-4's, who just tend to play follow the leader with design and technology

 

Also don't forget about the two-stroke variety... those things produce tons of power for what they are.

 

opps.


Modified by R6 at 1:26 AM 10/27/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smokee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dont forget V-4's!

if you have an I-4 and a V-twin of the same displacement, the I-4 will generally make more power than the twin, but it is a peak horsepower at the upper rpm. the twin will not rev nearly as high, but the torque curve is much flatter, it pulls hard all the way thru the rpm range, where the I-4 has to be revved high to make the same get up and go.

i personally prefer V's, they normally come in bikes with much more character than the I-4's, who just tend to play follow the leader with design and technology</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's true.

 

Aren't Harley Davidson's V-Twins?

 

yes, harleys are also V-twins, but all of them except the V-Rod has an air cooled, pushrod motor. not really cutting edge stuff. hell it wasnt even cutting edge thirty years ago lol

 

what about twins...as in straight twins not V?

 

normally an older design you see in smaller lower end bikes. i think the GS500F still has a two cylinder engine, i am sure there are more but i am at a loss at the moment.

i havent ridden an inline twin myself, so i cant really say much about em other than you dont see em much anymore and they are normally air cooled, older, but reliable, hard to kill engines

you can also get single cylinder bikes, "thumpers" in KLR650 (dual sport) and the buell blast. they sound pretty cool, but i havent ridden a single either so cant really comment on the power delivery

 

You gotta love how the v-twins sound like the rc51 and the TL1000!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hehehe I just &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what about twins...as in straight twins not V?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a kawasaki 250R which is a parallel twin motor bike. It is pretty loud but no power to back it up. Could also be due to the low displacement but overall I was not that impressed.. Fast enough.. just not fast enough for me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smokee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dont forget V-4's!
</TD></TR></TABLE>

V4's! woot!!

 

Sorry! Yeah, there are V4s out there.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by big pete &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

V4's! woot!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

damn i want your 400, i am in love with those things. if only i wasnt poor i would be cutting you a check right now!

 

inline4's ..... if you want the faster bike that is.

and marmalade boy.. if you had a 1000cc, you wouldnt have to rev the **** out of it to get power. that's not a characteristic of an inline4, thats a characteristic of a 600cc bike.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by immortal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">inline4's ..... if you want the faster bike that is.

and marmalade boy.. if you had a 1000cc, you wouldnt have to rev the **** out of it to get power. that's not a characteristic of an inline4, thats a characteristic of a 600cc bike.</TD></TR></TABLE>

True, true. I typed my first response too quickly. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

i wish i had a vfr.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smokee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn i want your 400, i am in love with those things. if only i wasnt poor i would be cutting you a check right now! </TD></TR></TABLE>
sell your 800 and buy mine. I'll sell it to a HT member for $4750

 

Also V-twins sound so damn nice!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tlaskin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also V-twins sound so damn nice!</TD></TR></TABLE>
I would have to agree........check sig

 

They both have their advantages. I have always been into I4s (I Love the way a liter I4 sounds with a pipe) I always hated twins cuz I hate harleys. But when it came to buy a new bike I really like the looks/price of the SV. I had heard so many good things about it, I decided to buy it. I admit at first it was like "This thing is fucken wierd" but after riding it all season, I hop on a buddies CBR600RR or even my dads 919, and it's like holy **** I miss my bike. As stated above, bikes with twins typiically have more character. I love the power delivery on the twins.

I think twins offer more practical power characteristics for the road. Typically more torque, and not ***** to the wall power like the new 600cc race reps. I know on a liter I4 you don't need to rev the **** out of them to make them go, but they have way more power than is practical for the street...though I still wouldn't mind having one! If you intend to race or stunt I would get an I4, (twins usually have oil starvation problems while doing wheelies) but if you want a nice bike to cruise around on and enjoy on the street, I would get a twin...