V4/IL4/V2/Para 2/single which is best?

[kawashima]

V4/IL4/V2/Para 2/single which is best for bike engine?
I want to know your preference and reason.
My thought is...
single : no merit at all but lightness(offroad only)
Para 2 : there is no fast bike with this engine.(cheap cost only)
V2(L2) : tasty and torqy at mid range. but not good at low and high.
IL4 : smooth and strong at high rev. but not tasty.
V4 : smooth and tasty. good at all range. best engine.

[feef]

which is the best for what?

For off-roading?
top Speed?
Acceleration?
ease of riding?

they all have their own relative merits that will show through depending on the context of the bike the rider and how it's ridden.

a
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[Barry_M2]

[NSR Mick]

I'll third that.
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[BorderHooner]

They are all best at doing what they are designed to do.

None are better than a spoon for eating cereal with a slpash of milk. The spoon is best.

Spoon thread
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[feef]

[TheShaggyDA]

Stacked Transverse V48
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[MarJay]

Honda says a V4 for a road bike as its the best compromise of compact size and power.

Unfortunately its also expensive to produce.

If one engine type was clearly better than another for all applications, then there would only be one type of engine.
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[mr.z]

Thing with a V4 its a swine to work on, whereas a single is easy to fix (theres a picture of stinkwheel floating about the net with his 2stroke single engine on a park bench undergoing major surgery)

Personally i prefer the delivery of a vtwin, and the noise, thing with the cx is most semi major stuff can be done engine in (headgaskets, clutch, allsorts) the boxer / oposed twin type engine i think i'd quite like, but then if you drop it things can get expensive..

As for parallel twins, a TDM850/900 allthough not that fast is poerfull enough to frighten yourself on and acts much like a Vtwin.. and cb500 have their own race series

Actually my fave engine is the pan euros transverse V4 (and just think of the tuneing potential) But i like the idea of an inline 3 (triumphs) for best comprimise.

One of the things i love about bikes is the diversity, even if a bike dosn't do it for you it works for somebody else, most cars are just cars, only biger or smaller..
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[stinkwheel]

Yeah, you didn't mention triples. I like the triple configuaration, smooth, progressive acceleration without the 'deadness' of a four. I particularly liked the triple 2-strokes because they are in balance with a bang every 120 degrees, smooth as a baby's bum. They did have cooling issues though.

You also missed the horizontally opposed twin which has a lot to recommend it for certain uses.

In the end, it's horses for courses, depends what you're going to do with the bike.

[irving]

>>

[G]

If you want to go fast; the more cylinders the better. So a 4 cylinder bike for best power.

A V4 configuration seems to be adding unnecessary complication and, though does have advantages as far as size goes, but nothing much else.

A V or parallel twin can make similar power.
Generally I find them quite bland to ride.


Singles usually have good low down power in comparison to their peak power (not great in comparison to their capacity often).

If you want to really make the most of a bike, for the vast majority of bikes you do have to rev them; so I prefer a bike that makes it more obvious when you get it right.


Add in other factors like 2 stroke or 4 stroke, number of valves and it all becomes a bit harder to work out.

For instance the RS250 is a v-twin which is very revvy, while a VTX1300 is a very 'un-revvy' v-twin.

My 10 valve head TRX850 twin actually has more of a 'step' in power as it gets to the powerband than many sports 600s (IL4s) do.

[McJamweasel]

[G]

That's why I said nothing 'much' else - from my experience of riding bikes with and without such firing orders, I'd say you'd have to be decently better rider than me to be able to make use of the extra traction of a similar engine with a big bang configuration over one without.

Of course, you don't have to have a V4 as a big bang configuration, either, but generally makes sense to do so.

Think the only possible complication with an IL4 big bang configuration is vibration issues?

[gavin]

[mchaggis]

It's a V4 for me I think, for the noise if nothing else.
A howling triple with a racecan raises the hairs on the back of my neck too.

I'm not especially convinced in the parallel twin though, even though the GPZ is rewarding to ride and has a satisfying surge. It doesn't do much for me in the aural department. I like the sound of a high-revving I4 engine in moderation, but it just doesn't have quite the edge to it to grab my attention.

Riding though, I do love the top end rush of a good revvy engine.

To my ear, cylinders of 400cc or more have the biggest effect. Standing six feet behind a TL thou with racecans on and feeling my chest move when it started is something I'll always remember.

Riding a middle weight Honda V-twin has kind of put me off riding V-twins though, revving it never seemed to achieve very much other than making more noise.


You want to go see an classic 2 stroke 750 GP bike road racing if you want a memorable spectating experience.
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[G]

[stinkwheel]

[Torque05]

Voted V4...because of the VMax, sounds great goes even better.... although...
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[mchaggis]

[craigs23]

No guesses needed for my choice...

[gavin]

[lilredmachine]

This has very little to do with facts. I prefer a Single in a light frame with some nice sticky roadbike rubber on it. An IL4 bores me, I like v-twins but they don't really come in styles of bike I enjoy...
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[Rookie]

Nothing better than the howl of an IL4, plus if you get an IL4 with some decent torque and midrange, you get the advantages of a V twin without killing IL4 excitement.

Not particularly familiar with V4s though.

[G]

Depends the rider, as I said. Although I'm not an amazing rider, I'm quite happy to try and keep the revs up on the road, even if I'm not 'going for it'. Given a skilled rider they should always be quicker on the more powerful bike until you're getting to stupid power.