If you could only have one engine, what would it be and why?

[xstian]

Mr OCD said:

1000cc IL4 in a superbike.

Why?

My opinion:

V-twin... feel and sound like tractors

Triple... all the disadvantages of a v-twin and all the disadvantages of an IL4. i.e. Not as torquey as a v-twin, yet doesn't rev like an IL4!

That's just what I've ridden and my own opinion... not tried a V4 yet.

The V twin in an RGV250 doesn't sound very tractor like. I have a CBR400 and that sounds like a sewing machine.

[LiquidGnome]

NSR 500 anyone!?

Probably all in collections now

[sc0tt]

Mr OCD said:

It wouldn't do that with you on it.

Yes

[dirkgently]

LiquidGnome said:

Mad Jock said:

Merlin....................

Not sure if one those would fit between the legs

[MotorsportTom]

dirkgently said:

And I thought my bike was under-braked!

Is that real? More info needed

[LiquidGnome]

dirkgently said:

Is that a drum brake I see!? Good luck stopping that thing! (is it real?)

[dirkgently]

MotorsportTom said:

Is that real? More info needed

There you go

[mpusch]

Mr OCD said:

1000cc IL4 in a superbike.

Why?

My opinion:

V-twin... feel and sound like tractors

Triple... all the disadvantages of a v-twin and all the disadvantages of an IL4. i.e. Not as torquey as a v-twin, yet doesn't rev like an IL4!

That's just what I've ridden and my own opinion... not tried a V4 yet.

Kind of funny how you described the triple. Often I hear that people like triples because they rev higher than v-twins, and have more torque than an IL4. It's interesting how perspective changes things.

[MrB1obby]

It's got to be about a 1200cc V12 2 stroke because of the smell, there's enough power and also the smell smells smelly. AND it smells good.

[smithyithy]

mpusch said:

Kind of funny how you described the triple. Often I hear that people like triples because they rev higher than v-twins, and have more torque than an IL4. It's interesting how perspective changes things.

Ditto, that's why I love my Daytona 675R, it's a peach of an engine.

I'd be happy with that to be honest, but I really want to get my hands on an RSV4 to test out that V4..

[Mark-C]

Three cylinders, Two stroke ....

Why? Nostalgia

[bass gt3]

smithyithy said:

mpusch said:

Kind of funny how you described the triple. Often I hear that people like triples because they rev higher than v-twins, and have more torque than an IL4. It's interesting how perspective changes things.

Ditto, that's why I love my Daytona 675R, it's a peach of an engine.

I'd be happy with that to be honest, but I really want to get my hands on an RSV4 to test out that V4..

Agreed, I think the 675 is a cracking little engine. Revving to 14k it's not far off the 16kof the Honda/Kawa/Yam bikes but has way more midrange.
I was out on my RSV4 today and it's still a stonking motor. Not as powerful as some but perfect power delivery for the road. Grunty throughout the rev range and along with the CP R1 motor, THE best sounding bike bar none.
My Ducati L2 is just ridonculous and i hope to have my little V2 smoker singing again...
Only motor I don't want?? IL4, just zero personality.

[srob]

A big, single cylinder four stroke. They feel like they're alive, you can hear them breathing.

ETA; the noise

Edited by srob on Wednesday 4th March 21:32

[LiquidGnome]

Definitely agree about the feeling you get from a single, probably why I bought a 690 Duke. I would seriously like to try a Street Triple/MT-09 though.

I've probably got one of the more characterful IL4's - the one in the old CBR 250's has a gear driven camshaft and goes to 19000RPM

[ZesPak]

V four, every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[final_edition]

The 360 degree cranked RC30

[sprinter1050]

Across the frame 6 pot 250 or 750 would do for me

Failing that almost any triple..

[Mr2Mike]

A V-Twin or a triple. IL4s with flat plane cranks tend to be bland, characterless engines, even though modern ones make huge power - it's like having an electric motor that suffers from high frequency vibration. The R1 crossplane lump sounds lovely though.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Thursday 5th March 12:20

[thatdude]

V4 with gear driven cams

wobbly crank R1-type engine

For a bike, that's what I would ideally want

[Walter Sobchak]

V4- best behaving, best sounding engine, then I'd pick an IL4, then a 2 stroke single in an MX bike .