Help me with engine types

[Fifteen15]

Today I was talking to my friends little brother who's about 10. He loves bikes and I let him sit on my SV650 etc etc. Anyway, then he asked me what stroke it was, 2 or 4? I hesitated for a bit, I was stumped. It was then that I realized I really don't know ANYTHING about engine types. Anyway, eventually I spluttered out, "it's a V-twin".

So please help I've tried Google but it's hard to make sense of it all
____________________
"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

[temeluchus]

it is a four stroke. The piston travels 4 times (strokes up or down) per cycle. induction, compression, power, exhaust. or suck squeeze bang blow.

google "how a four stroke engine works".

two strokes use a different system and the piston only travels twice per power cycle. they use the crankcase as a something like a supercharger to get mixture into the cylinder.
____________________
Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[Nope.]

Four Stroke engine:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/4StrokeEngine_Ortho_3D_Small.gif

Two Stroke engine:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Arbeitsweise_Zweitakt.gif


Four stroke engines keep a reservoir of oil that you have to change occasionally. Two stroke engines burn the oil along with the fuel so you have to keep topping it up.
____________________
Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400