Have you gone from a 4 Cylinder to a V Twin?

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Have you gone from a screaming four to a booming V twin? Or the other way round?

What did you like/dislike about the two engines?

I know the fours are generally peaky and the twins have a lot of low down grunt but I would like to hear you experiences of the two.

Cheers
Joe

2strokenut · Derestricted Danger Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Karma :

recently had 250 rebel(not much power anyway) now have a yamaha maxim 700cc 4 cylinder Shocked

like a bloody race bike!! still a cruiser but does 0-60 in 3.2secs Sick

bit mad but super bike

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

C'mon must be a few of you out there tearing about on V twins...

Davo · Davo To The Rescue! Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Karma :

G has.

He's gone from an R6 to an SV650 for his race bike.

Cillit-BANG · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Karma :

V-twin Duke, but have limited experience on in-line 4's.

I love my Duke. Low down grunt feels awesome and most noticable when kicked into top (5th), there is a massive surve of power.

It's only a 750 sport, but has as much torque as bhp Thumbs Up

I certainly find it an involving ride. Sundays blast, I had the wind behind me, and all I could hear was a lovely Ducati rumble, and I havn't got my race-pipes yet Smile

DucatiEVO · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Karma :

I run both ends of the spectrum (998RS + CBR1000RR). Both completely different rides.

The Duc is very punchy and gives that ' Shocked

' feeling when you crank the throttle at any point. Where the Blade has the power but still needs to be worked to give you the buzz, it doesn't have the initial 'oooh' factor of the Duc.

The Duc SUCKS in traffic, the on/off delivery is annoying through town. The Blade is a lot smoother to ride in traffic.

If I had to choose between the bikes (and assuming both were bone stock), I'd probably shy to the Blade because it's a better all rounder and it's probably a lot more reliable! Smile

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..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

DucatiEVO, what would you rather ride on a 150 mile Sunday blast?

extreme3d · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Karma :

Ride an SV650s.

I've only riden a few times on an inline 4's so can't compare properly, but I found IL4's to be to buzzy. I prefer the power further down for better acceleration out of bends, the lower deeper engine noise and the total lack of vibration of a (90 degree) V-twin. ultimately I prefer not having to change gear as much Thumbs Up

DucatiEVO · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Karma :

Joe - have to be the Blade mate.
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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

I rode the CBR and an SV back to back at Lydden on Saturday.

I think the 'bottom end grunt' thing is a bit of a myth, the SV really didn't seem to pull any better than the Ceeb at the bottom end of the rev range. It lacked the top end kick that the CBR has, and as you run out of revs sooner you have to change gear more.

Quite liked it though, just as something a bit different. Different noise, different feel.

I could make more sense of a twin on the road than on the track, I'm not one for revving the shit out of my bike in day to day a to b riding, so I'd happily burble around sounding like a tractor most of the time. But I think I'd miss having that top end kick up the arse to go and play with when I felt like it.

Admittedly, it's not the best comparison, should really compare a bigger twin with a smaller four but it's the best I can come up with. Smile

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

DucatiEVO:
To be fair, the CBR is known as relatively 'docile' compared to the competition, while your 998 is a relatively aggresively focused twin.

extreme3d · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Thanks guys Thumbs Up

I'm thinking of going from a CBR600 to a Honda SP2. I just love that V twin sound - but not enough as to rate that above the enjoyment of the actual ride (pretty obvious).

I think maybe going up to a litre from a 600 will help keep the excitement, and I'm getting a bit older now Wink

and think I might enjoy not revving the tits off a bike all the time.

I think the only way to find out really is to get a test ride...

DucatiEVO · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Actually, the SV was a track bike, tuned for race use with race suspension Wink

.

The CBR was a standard road bike, only mod being an end can and downgeared I believe.

A 600 four will out accelerate a SV650 at any decent speed. In the end most bikes will accelerate the same, just the lower the cc the lower speed this acceleration is limited to.

Comparing the SV to a 400 sports bike is perhaps a fairer comparison. For the road, I may well choose the SV over a 400, as I like the option of being lazy on the road and bad things happen if I'm tempted by a revvy engine that wants to go faster.
However for 'fun' I would choose the 400 (or an rs250 Wink

) everytime.

Joe:
I went up to a tuned downgeared zx9 from a zx6. To be honest it didn't actually excite me that much, it's just that it accelerates more at highspeeds. Also nice that you can be lazy, if you want easy speed.
Also ridden a busa in the past and wasn't really that impressed.

Trackdays (and now racing) I still find fun though, even on a twin!

cc123 · Geez a joab? Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Karma :

G, do you still have this mythical ZX9R!? Heard you mention it a few times, I get the impression its been binned and you can't be arsed fixing it, dunno why??? Confused

I'm probably totally wrong?
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mchaggis · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2004 Karma :

Four cylinders arranged in a line does sound a bit boring imo. A nice V or odd firing order gives things a fair bit more character. However, the front of an I4 engine looks much more attractive than that of a 90 degree V-twin. The single exhaust pipe hanging right out in the open air looks dreadful.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

extreme3d · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Karma :

Forgot to mention i already have an Inline 4...... it's in my car so why would i want another?? Inline 4's belong in cars, so leave them there Laughing

I know I'll get flamed for this but i've yet to get negative karma...... Wink

Collier · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Karma :

Yep;

MT5
NSR 125
RGV 250
Bandit 400
ZXR 400
ZXR 750
R6
ZX7R
Firestorm
Mille

Love the torque of the twins, miss the noise of the IL4's....

Smile

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

extreme3d · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Karma :

There was no need to take me seriously.... Rolling Eyes

mistergixer · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Karma :

When it comes to a four stroke bike engine, my heart lies with an inline 4.
IMHO, twins sound rough and agricultural; whereas the banshee wail of a four on full chat sounds like a dive bomber or a jet fighter.
Repeat after me: I am not a rider, i am a test pilot.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

There was no need to take me seriously either Wink

.