Only ever had IL4's what am I missing?
Discussion
Other than a Speed Triple a few years ago, all my big bikes have been inline 4's. I've always liked the top end scream you get from them and the tickover warble (with an exhaust of course). I rode a Tuono V4 1100 a couple of weeks ago and was blown away by it. The power was just instant and it pulled hard through the gears up to license losing speeds in a matter of seconds. It made my bike (Z1000SX) feel quite flat and lazy afterwards.
I liked the Triple, it seemed to offer good torque with a nice shove at the top end but I've never ridden a V-twin. I was considering a H2SX or Hayabusa next but am sorely tempted to test a Superduke, later Tuono or Ducati Streetfighter. Have I been missing out all these years?
I liked the Triple, it seemed to offer good torque with a nice shove at the top end but I've never ridden a V-twin. I was considering a H2SX or Hayabusa next but am sorely tempted to test a Superduke, later Tuono or Ducati Streetfighter. Have I been missing out all these years?
I recently traded my kwak z900rs for a Ducati 698 super mono. It's possibly the car equivalent of swapping a Jag for a Caterham. So much lighter & nimble, way thinner & the handling is awesome with instant torque. However, it is absolutely horrible to tour on & is realistically ok for about 2 hours max in the saddle. The low speed fuelling is abominable so I avoid 30mph speed limits as much as possible.
If I could afford it, I would have both types of bike!
If I could afford it, I would have both types of bike!
The engine configurations all have pros n cons, some people really prefer one over another. Im impartial, you get used to whatever you ride just as you do different styles of bikes.
You mention an H2SX, that's a little different as its supercharged, and its much more characterful than an aspirated IL4, really distinctive noise and pulls like a train in any gear, so super smooth. I really love that supercharged Kawasaki engine. I also have a V-twin and a straight 6 engined bike. Had a Ducati V4 until last year, it was nice too, although I think if I was buying another Ducati I would prefer one of the last twins.
You mention an H2SX, that's a little different as its supercharged, and its much more characterful than an aspirated IL4, really distinctive noise and pulls like a train in any gear, so super smooth. I really love that supercharged Kawasaki engine. I also have a V-twin and a straight 6 engined bike. Had a Ducati V4 until last year, it was nice too, although I think if I was buying another Ducati I would prefer one of the last twins.
I've had singles, twins (parallel, V and flat), triples and fours. (I need a 6 in my life!!! 
) All are different and all have pros and cons. However, if what you like is top end scream the twins are likely not your thing. Twins are at their best in the mid-range, which is where most riders spend most of their time when riding on the road.
I'd suggest you get a demo on a twin or two but, from what you've said, I think you'll want to continue with four.
) All are different and all have pros and cons. However, if what you like is top end scream the twins are likely not your thing. Twins are at their best in the mid-range, which is where most riders spend most of their time when riding on the road. I'd suggest you get a demo on a twin or two but, from what you've said, I think you'll want to continue with four.
It also depends how the engine is tuned. For some years and many miles I had an air cooled, 1,000cc Ducati. The torque curve was flat from about 2,000 to 6,000 rpm. It felt like a big elastic band pulling you toward the horizon. But I think in the 1198s, all the power is up the top.
Also ridden an SV650 which was similar if slower than the Multi, except being a liquid cooled four valve engine rewarded you for revs.
Also ridden an SV650 which was similar if slower than the Multi, except being a liquid cooled four valve engine rewarded you for revs.
8IKERDAVE said:
Other than a Speed Triple a few years ago, all my big bikes have been inline 4's. I've always liked the top end scream you get from them and the tickover warble (with an exhaust of course). I rode a Tuono V4 1100 a couple of weeks ago and was blown away by it. The power was just instant and it pulled hard through the gears up to license losing speeds in a matter of seconds. It made my bike (Z1000SX) feel quite flat and lazy afterwards.
I liked the Triple, it seemed to offer good torque with a nice shove at the top end but I've never ridden a V-twin. I was considering a H2SX or Hayabusa next but am sorely tempted to test a Superduke, later Tuono or Ducati Streetfighter. Have I been missing out all these years?
Isn’tI liked the Triple, it seemed to offer good torque with a nice shove at the top end but I've never ridden a V-twin. I was considering a H2SX or Hayabusa next but am sorely tempted to test a Superduke, later Tuono or Ducati Streetfighter. Have I been missing out all these years?
I’m not suprised the tuneo feels loads faster , it’s a 170 hp naked sports bike , your sx is 130 hp sports tourer , there totally different bikes , to me it doesn’t sound as if it’s so much the engine configuration that’s the issue , it’s the type of bike , it sounds like you want more excitement than a sports tourer offers , a naked sports bike sounds what your after .
If it’s top trumps speed you want I’d not go for the tuneo , I
Watched a drag race of a tuneo , v4 street fighter , s1000m ( I think it was a m ) , the tuneo got blown away , though that’s what you’d expect , the other 2 are 200 hp + .
And the in-line 4 won every race , v4 wasn’t far behind .
I still wonder how your going to use all that power / speed on the road , especially on a naked , I’ve had my z900 to the stop & I can honestly say I thought I was going to be blown off it , I’d try a 1,000 cc sports bike .
You can’t beat a big capacity v twin (Harley excluded) on the road. Besides how they feel you can be charging and hardly anyone notices as the exhaust note is relatively mellow even at 9/10k rpm. Scream a four and everyone will notice.
People like what they like though. Perhaps you are a il4 man. It’s v twins for me followed by v4, il4 and triple a distant last. Instead of being the best of both worlds I find triples the worst. They don’t rev like a 4 and they don’t have the torque of a twin.
People like what they like though. Perhaps you are a il4 man. It’s v twins for me followed by v4, il4 and triple a distant last. Instead of being the best of both worlds I find triples the worst. They don’t rev like a 4 and they don’t have the torque of a twin.
Beauty of bikes is there's so much choice! It also does go down to personal preference
I love my V4 - I think it's one of the very best engines ever made
I've owned an MV triple and I like how they are linear but still rev out... The sound is also really nice. It's close between this and the V4 but for ultimate power it's the reason I went with the Aprilia engine
The IL4 are very good for pulling top gear are very low revs, great mpg and efficient. My GSXR does exactly this but it's a bit boring if 200hp can be that?
I own a lot of 2 strokes and that becomes another convo on putting power down and the way something feels
I love my V4 - I think it's one of the very best engines ever made
I've owned an MV triple and I like how they are linear but still rev out... The sound is also really nice. It's close between this and the V4 but for ultimate power it's the reason I went with the Aprilia engine
The IL4 are very good for pulling top gear are very low revs, great mpg and efficient. My GSXR does exactly this but it's a bit boring if 200hp can be that?
I own a lot of 2 strokes and that becomes another convo on putting power down and the way something feels
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
But I think in the 1198s, all the power is up the top.
Correction: On the 1198, all the power is at 4500rpm and up, which makes it a really hairy, somewhat tiring and overwhelming road bike as it just wants to wheelie and pull your arms out as the revs climb.. fun but gets a bit much. The 1098 is a much nicer proposition. KTM V twins are very different and more linear in their nature...fast but more accommodating as the throttle opening goes up.
As above, big V or L twins are about midrange punch which is fantastic for real world road use. Instant power of a corner, for overtaking, they are superb. But, that high rpm limitation means you need to give it more gears as you can't carry as many revs to the next gear.
personally, aside for the Aprilia V4 (truly spectacular motor, especially the 1100) they are my absolute fav and everything I own and ride is a V or L twin... They just suit my riding and I'm more comfortable than with a zingy IL4 that needs to be fed revs to move.
I'll also echo the love for the Triumph triple. My 675 was my fav lightweight race bike.. enough torque to pull, enough high rpm to hold a gear to a corner and enough character to be enjoyable.
But there's no wrong answer really, try them all and see for yourself.
Biker 1 said:
I recently traded my kwak z900rs for a Ducati 698 super mono. It's possibly the car equivalent of swapping a Jag for a Caterham. So much lighter & nimble, way thinner & the handling is awesome with instant torque. However, it is absolutely horrible to tour on & is realistically ok for about 2 hours max in the saddle. The low speed fuelling is abominable so I avoid 30mph speed limits as much as possible.
If I could afford it, I would have both types of bike!
To be honest this is all the bike I need these days , I only go for a blast round the lanes these days , sounds idea .If I could afford it, I would have both types of bike!
When I first rode a Ducati V twin I really didn’t like it. After a few days I realised I’d have to adjust my style of riding. Now I absolutely love them. This is my 3rd. And I’ve done 20k miles in 4 years on this bike. If I’m out for a long ride, this is my go to bike. The shove in top gear from 4K revs still makes me smile. I also have a V4 version but although it’s smoother and more refined, it doesn’t have the character or that mid range torque of the VTwin.
After a good few I4's (albeit some crossplane) I'm picking up a 1200 parallel twin on Saturday in the form of a speed twin 1200. The low down torque of the engine makes it lovely to ride around town and I find it doesn't egg me on the upper limits of the rpm range where I'm doing silly speeds. I'm sure will have another I4 or V4 someday but an looking forward to a big capacity twin for bumbling around on!
8IKERDAVE said:
Other than a Speed Triple a few years ago, all my big bikes have been inline 4's. I've always liked the top end scream you get from them and the tickover warble (with an exhaust of course). I rode a Tuono V4 1100 a couple of weeks ago and was blown away by it. The power was just instant and it pulled hard through the gears up to license losing speeds in a matter of seconds. It made my bike (Z1000SX) feel quite flat and lazy afterwards.
I liked the Triple, it seemed to offer good torque with a nice shove at the top end but I've never ridden a V-twin. I was considering a H2SX or Hayabusa next but am sorely tempted to test a Superduke, later Tuono or Ducati Streetfighter. Have I been missing out all these years?
Weirdly, the only bikes I've pretty much always owned have been big twins because of the huge grunt straight on the throttle.I liked the Triple, it seemed to offer good torque with a nice shove at the top end but I've never ridden a V-twin. I was considering a H2SX or Hayabusa next but am sorely tempted to test a Superduke, later Tuono or Ducati Streetfighter. Have I been missing out all these years?
Current road bike in a Gen3 SDR which has something daft like 140nm torque and it will rip your arms out of their sockets if you aren't prepared. I'd be mindful of a modern Streetfighter, all the power is still top end.
Older twins don't like trundling around at 30mph, they chug along, and you're switching between 2nd/3rd gears, but if you're used to IL4's you could just sit in 2nd and it'll rev higher.
Opapayer said:
You re comparing a 180bhp 215kg V4 1100cc Tuono to a 140bhp 230kg Z1000SX. They re very different bikes that aren t competing in the same place. If you want to try different bikes then try them, but maybe try to compare apples with apples when you re doing it.
Yes, I'm aware of this and maybe it came across wrong. I wouldn't expect my bike to match the handling or performance of the Tuono but I have owned / ridden other IL4's with similar power. Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff