Top 10 Best Motorcycle Engines - Page 3

nakedrider · 07-21-2010, 10:08 AM

I've been so entranced by Gusgus's avatar that I missed the discussion. FastfoodFred, very nice also.

RC51 · 07-21-2010, 10:39 AM

Based on sound alone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaRop_ZMwo0

dragracer1951 · 07-21-2010, 11:30 AM

Knobby Clarke shows up at the IoM every year with his Rc166. From a completely deserted paddock, there will be 100k people inside of 15 seconds when he lights it off.

Zenmervolt · 07-21-2010, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by cyborg

1340cc engine with 66-hp?

And a redline at 6,000 RPM, that's important.

To make 66 hp at 5,400 RPM, the engine has to be making 64 ft-lbs of torque at that point. That's a lot of torque down a lot lower than where it usually occurs on a sportbike. There are a whole different set of design parameters to set up those characteristics.

Yes, less torque and more revs will give more horsepower and more ability to take advantage of gearing, which is unquestionably better for the racetrack and other sporting needs, but that doesn't mean that a slow-revving engine biased towards lower-end torque doesn't have its own charm.

As the British say, horses for courses. There's room for both types.

I definitely believe that the Evo belongs on the list, if only for what it did for the company. With the exception of the engine in the Honda C90, there's no other engine on that list that did as much for its brand as the Evo did for Harley; the transition from the Shovelhead to the Evolution meant that Harley went overnight from a 25,000 mile engine to a 100,000 mile engine.

I do have to agree with the poster who was surprised that BMW's air-cooled boxer was left off the list though. The R-series engines are legendary and did a lot to establish the BMW as an indestructible machine.

fastfoodfred · 07-21-2010, 04:41 PM

Fred wept.

xx8055NIACxx · 07-21-2010, 04:56 PM

man that 6 cylinder sounds godly

Devil_Doc · 07-21-2010, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by SpinCycle

The mild mannered street going smooth idling 08 Hayabusa makes more power and torque out of the box than all those including the NSR and with a turbo supports 500+HP! If you need power, BIG brutal power, to power everything from rail buggies, dwarf cars, and the fastest LSR street going bikes.... you get a Busa. The Suzuki Hayabusa has been on top of the speed wars for over a decade, absolutely ignorant to leave it off a "Best Engine" list.

Huh? Lol.. The busa was fastest a few years ago, but I can think of 2 stock bikes off the top of my head that are faster on the top end than stock busa.

Originally Posted by cyborg

1340cc engine with 66-hp?

Lets not start that conversation up again.

SpinCycle · 07-21-2010, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Devil_Doc

Huh? Lol.. The busa was fastest a few years ago, but I can think of 2 stock bikes off the top of my head that are faster on the top end than stock busa.

Lets not start that conversation up again.

key word, Stock.

FatMatt · 07-21-2010, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by Devil_Doc

Huh? Lol.. The busa was fastest a few years ago, but I can think of 2 stock bikes off the top of my head that are faster on the top end than stock busa.

How is that? Aren't they all limited to 186mph?

smoothytaggert · 07-21-2010, 06:56 PM

I see these postings and remember my '92 1127... last of the greats before the ZUKES went to water and dropped the cc and poochied the frame design- 1054(2)... WTF...
the one thing that bike was missing... 6th gear LOL
RIP (-not really-) to my beloved 92GSXR1100... 10 years and a multitude of mushroomed valves, shit tons of body work, and grin twist throttle... stepping stone that's missed but not forgotten... that's my 2 cents...

FireDave · 07-21-2010, 07:01 PM

BMW boxer, oil heads.
Bulletproof.
Beautiful to look at.
Iconic.
Easy to work on.
Probably more miles total than the GWs

Devil_Doc · 07-21-2010, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by SpinCycle

key word, Stock.

I think the list was more geared towards influential motors, not influential modifications. If that was the case, my vote would be for the Britten. Matter of fact, I think it should be on the list anyway. lol..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM_aNwaodd4

Originally Posted by FatMatt

How is that? Aren't they all limited to 186mph?

Eh.. A recent test that I read pitted big bore bikes head to head on the autobahn. #1 was the RSV4 at a few tenths shy of 190, and a ZX14 at a few tenths short of 189, IIRC. The busa was 3rd or 4th, again IIRC. But I remember being surpised that the busa wasn't the fastest.

fastfoodfred · 07-21-2010, 07:47 PM

I think an honorable mention should be the old RZ350 motor. Had a good roadracer and dragracer followings, and is still a pretty potent runner in a 4wheeler.

Being that Yamaha built it, I suppose it just belongs on the list, not as an honorable mention, though.

SpinCycle · 07-21-2010, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by fastfoodfred

I think an honorable mention should be the old RZ350 motor. Had a good roadracer and dragracer followings, and is still a pretty potent runner in a 4wheeler.

Being that Yamaha built it, I suppose it just belongs on the list, not as an honorable mention, though.

The RD400/350/5 too..

fastfoodfred · 07-21-2010, 08:20 PM

Aprilia's SXV- 60 hp vtwin with 450 cc of hostility....and I don't even care for the vtwin engine at all, but when something gets outlawed for thinking out of the box and beating what was though of as the best of it's kind, it has got to be good!

gilberjj · 08-16-2010, 10:46 AM

I vote gen 1 hayabusa and s1000rr engines.... both ground breaking. Even though I don't like them, the bmw and goldwing engines have been known to go forever and ever.


07-21-2010, 10:08 AM	#41
nakedrider Shredder Joined: Aug 2009 From: Parts unknown I Ride: 08 R1	I've been so entranced by Gusgus's avatar that I missed the discussion. FastfoodFred, very nice also. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-21-2010, 11:30 AM	#43
dragracer1951 Joined: Sep 2005 From: Bremerton I Ride: 05 KTM 625smc, 03 Are See fiddy one, 05 DRZ470SM, 95 FZR1040, 69 Combat Commando Roadster, 73 Commando Interstate, 67 BSA B44, 71 BSA B50	Knobby Clarke shows up at the IoM every year with his Rc166. From a completely deserted paddock, there will be 100k people inside of 15 seconds when he lights it off. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-21-2010, 04:41 PM	#45
fastfoodfred Moto2 Champion Joined: Mar 2006 From: spokane, wa I Ride: 2008 SXV4.5 + 1985 RZ350 + 2010 YZ250F +	Fred wept. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-21-2010, 04:56 PM	#46
xx8055NIACxx Railer Joined: Jan 2009 From: Seattle WA I Ride: 2006 ZX-10R, Your Girl	man that 6 cylinder sounds godly __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-21-2010, 06:56 PM	#50
smoothytaggert Knee Dragger Joined: May 2006 From: lively Hagadone area I Ride: 2/3rd gen Viffas 99KX250 04KTM400EXC 94VFR400R	I see these postings and remember my '92 1127... last of the greats before the ZUKES went to water and dropped the cc and poochied the frame design- 1054(2)... WTF... the one thing that bike was missing... 6th gear LOL RIP (-not really-) to my beloved 92GSXR1100... 10 years and a multitude of mushroomed valves, shit tons of body work, and grin twist throttle... stepping stone that's missed but not forgotten... that's my 2 cents... __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-21-2010, 07:01 PM	#51
FireDave Railer Joined: Mar 2007 From: Seattle, WA Blog Entries: 1 I Ride: BMW K1200GT, KTM 990 Adv, Ducati SF	BMW boxer, oil heads. Bulletproof. Beautiful to look at. Iconic. Easy to work on. Probably more miles total than the GWs __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-21-2010, 07:47 PM	#53
fastfoodfred Moto2 Champion Joined: Mar 2006 From: spokane, wa I Ride: 2008 SXV4.5 + 1985 RZ350 + 2010 YZ250F +	I think an honorable mention should be the old RZ350 motor. Had a good roadracer and dragracer followings, and is still a pretty potent runner in a 4wheeler. Being that Yamaha built it, I suppose it just belongs on the list, not as an honorable mention, though. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-21-2010, 08:20 PM	#55
fastfoodfred Moto2 Champion Joined: Mar 2006 From: spokane, wa I Ride: 2008 SXV4.5 + 1985 RZ350 + 2010 YZ250F +	Aprilia's SXV- 60 hp vtwin with 450 cc of hostility....and I don't even care for the vtwin engine at all, but when something gets outlawed for thinking out of the box and beating what was though of as the best of it's kind, it has got to be good! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


08-16-2010, 10:46 AM	#56
gilberjj Shredder Joined: Feb 2008 From: Olympia, WA I Ride: Zx14	I vote gen 1 hayabusa and s1000rr engines.... both ground breaking. Even though I don't like them, the bmw and goldwing engines have been known to go forever and ever. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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