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dumb bike question

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  • 04-10-2004 1:18pm
    #1
    giftgrub
    Registered Users Posts: 1,309 ✭✭✭


    if this sounds stupid forgive me...but whats the difference between a V-twin and a normal bike engine?

    which is better?


Comments

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    #2
    fletch
    Registered Users Posts: 7,380 ✭✭✭fletch


    Jus the way the cylinders are arranged....like the way a car can be V6 or inline 6...a v-twin is jus 2 cylinders in a v...


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    #3
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    V-twin is a reference to the way a twin-cylindered bike has its cylinders arranged. Single cylindered bikes have obviously one cylinder, sitting straight up, or slightly leaning forward.
    V-twins have two cylinders at 90 degrees to eachother. In this way, the forces generated by each cylinder are cancelled by the forces of the other cylinder. If both were parallel, the bike would be quite shaky. It also aids in cooling and fits very nicely into the bike frame. Harley-Davidson invented the design (afaik).

    There's actually a section on Harley-Davidson at www.howstuffworks.com which may have more info for you. :)


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    #4
    Interceptor
    Registered Users Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭Interceptor


    giftgrub wrote:
    which is better?
    Neither is better - different configurations do different things and they all have good and bad points. Single cylinder, in-line twin, opposed twin (BMW), v-twin, in-line triple (Kawasaki), v-triple (Honda), v-four, inline four, and inline six (Honda) are the ones I can think of straight off.

    vee configurations tend to have better torque response and the older models weren't as high revving, but I'm sure the folk at Ducati have sorted that by now (Me want a 996...)

    'ceptr


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    #5
    Krusty_Clown
    Registered Users Posts: 19,496 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    V-Twins have a reputation for being more Torque'y, better handling in corners, and having better exhaust sounds.. But it is just that, a reputation...

    Modern inlines can have far more Torque and handle better in the corners.
    But they'll never sound as sweet*.. :D



    *: Suzuki SV1000s owner with twin scorpions to keep the nieghbours alert at night.


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    #6
    Furp
    Registered Users Posts: 933 ✭✭✭Furp


    On Harleys the V is set at about 60 degrees but its the way the timing is set up that gives them that unique sound they fire both cylinders simultaneous but only one cylinder has the piston in the right position and fuel in it so you get a kind of lagged timing on them, sorry how stuff works has a better explanation of it.

    But that sound is sweet it goes po-tat-oe po-tat-oe po-tat-oe po-tat-oe, not a very efficient engine and a very old design from the 50's afaik, but my dad has a 95 Fatboy with screamin' eagle exhaust and it is a monster to ride.


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    #7
    a_ominous
    Registered Users Posts: 795 ✭✭✭a_ominous


    There's some more explanation here
    if this sounds stupid forgive me...but whats the difference between a V-twin and a normal bike engine?

    Which is better?
    What is a "normal bike engine"? And better in what circumstances?


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    #8
    echomadman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,472 ✭✭✭echomadman


    Yeh, V's allegedly have more torque, but vibrate a bit (although not as much as single cylinder engines). I love the scream off straight fours though.


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    #9
    jackal
    Registered Users Posts: 793 ✭✭✭jackal


    Generally:
    more cylinders = more horsepower.

    This is not always the case, as is evident by the latest ducati's (vtwin) that are snapping at the heels of the jap superbikes (inline4). However, the cost of engine components is massive for a 1000cc v twin to rev high enough to keep up with a 1000cc inline 4, and the life of the components is significantly shorter cos they are working twice as hard.

    inline 4's scream, like a jet engine and v-twins roar/rumble/sound like an earthquake

    Its down to personality and usability, and twins tend to be more user freindly, with the power available down low.


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    #10
    rymus
    Registered Users Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭rymus


    and V4's, even with 'quiet' exhausts, sound like an earthquake during it's special time of the month.


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    #11
    batman_oh
    Registered Users Posts: 1,399 ✭✭✭batman_oh


    v4's dont make half the noise of v-twins, and dont make a thumpy noise at all, they tend to make a more whiney noise and sound like an inline 4 on drugs when wound up
    they are really quiet with stock exhausts
    twins make more of a punchy noise because of the bigger pistons needed to have the same capacity
    same goes for singles which 'should' be louder again
    twins handle better?
    that a weird comment, the fastest bikes in the world are moto gp bikes, none of which are twins
    and since they allowed full power 1000 inline 4's into british superbike the ducatis are getting owned(world superbike hasnt, and no1 has entered besides ducati this year-sham)
    twins do create not more torque, but a better spread of torque through the rev range, whihc allows them to have easier and better drive from a corner without the fear of highsides and spinnin the rear
    they pull from lower and tend to be less peaky than inline 4's but because of the size of the pistons it is more difficult to get them to rev high so 4 cyliner engines can produce more power at peak


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