Best engine configuration?

[Motu]

Throttle control shouldn't ever come into the equation - the throttle goes to the stop,and then rider control takes over.

[dipshit]

You're thinking waaay too hard. You make throttle control sound random and like grip is out of the scope of the understanding of the rider.

No, i'm talking about how a bike hooks up and puts the power to the ground.

I remember F3 guys when GSX-R400's were popular taking out one plug and racing on 3 cylinders when it was pissing down at Levels once. They were able to go faster in the wet like that because they ended up with better traction instead of the silky smooth power delivery spinning up.

And sometimes it is out of the scope of the rider..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LShY-dIns8g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9zNUPDmnz4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=092x6rr5lPw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtofbxmlv8Y

[Ocean1]

No, but I have played with a variety of 9 and 12 S models. 45 degree V-Twin FTW!

Interested in a mild trundle Sunday?

This is were I think the competition restrictions on engine sizes have had a negative impact.

Yup, they make what sells. Pity about the idiots who believe what they see ont' telly saturday arvo might make a good road bike. Or that there's any functional relationship between that and what they see on the showroom floor.

Dead right. We need to take the focus off the capacity of a petrol fired engine and replace it with a focus on limiting how many Mega Joules a bike can consume during a race.

Meh. I tried suggesting sealed fuel cells to some of the racing dudes, that that should be the only restriction. Weren't impressed, phrases like chequebook engineering abounded. Still, reckon a completely open class would be an eye opener for the conservatists.

[James Deuce]

Interested in a mild trundle Sunday?

I don't have a bike. Silly thing fell down in the wind when I wasn't looking.

[Ocean1]

I don't have a bike. Silly thing fell down in the wind when I wasn't looking.

I have two machines here gathering dust and somewhat in need of a run, take your pick.

[Grahameeboy]

Interesting that V Twins still more popular despite the R1's, Gixxers etc...

[Motu]

DESPITE? Because of maybe?

[mikeey01]

Triumph have managed to make the 1050 sound like a late 70s Daihatsu Charade.

lol

[caseye]

That Norton wankel engined bike does take some getting used to, but what a sound. V Twins still rule.

[H00dz]

Now I'm a solid Inline four type of guy, but theres no doubting the truly rude sound a V twin give off.....

[Forest]

It depends on the application.
Also; if you really want to go fast...... give pistons a miss.

If I ever win the lottery, I will go out and order one of these:

[peasea]

If I ever win the lottery, I will go out and order one of these:

My point exactly.........

[cheshirecat]

Then there is this

Bit tempermental in the tuning department apparently.
They were working on a 50cc 4 stroke triple before pulling out.

[red675]

Well, I have just returned to the 4 cylinder world after spending the last year or so on a V-twin and was thinking about the pros and cons of each ...

So ... what is your favorite engine configuration and why?

your v-twin boys will spend their lives defending their purchase decision of Italian exotica but then they have to given the prices (and the absurdity of banging their heads against the rest of the world's wall performance-wise)

your 4 cylinder boys have learnt nothing since 1969 when the Honda CB750 took on the world and lost in all terms except reliability (handling and power of the BSA Rocket 3 was heaps better)

and then there was the 4 cyclinder Z1 - widow-maker didn't they call it ? the first in a long line of jap fours that went better in straight lines

so you have the sixes (CBX and Z1300) which my mechanics professor described as "nonsense" (he wasn't quite right but they were a tad impractical so he wasn't totally off the mark) or triples - doh

[McJim]

I prefer a twin because of the early delivery of useable torque. I bought my Ducati because it is cheaper to buy and maintain than a Hyosung 650. Japanese bikes were too exotic for me with lots of valves, injection, computer gadgets and stuff that would be great on the race track but impractical for day to day riding.

In my opinion about 90% of riders today have far more bike than they can handle. We aren't all Valentino Rossi or Casey Stoner so why do we have to have the latest greatest crotch rocket with a gazillion ponies under our arses?

I get around fine with only 53hp. (and a sackful of torque )