Characteristics of a triple?

**rwh** · 18th January 2007, 16:04

Originally Posted by Bonez

Nope. For your etification- http://www.answers.com/topic/v-twin

Transverse and longtitundinal relates to cylinder layout not crank layout.

That page references the BMW document, which only uses the word 'transverse' in conjunction with the cylinders, not the whole engine.

I've certainly seen this used here before, and I'm sure it's widely used elsewhere too - but it still seems wrong to me

Of course, in my opinion the usage of latitude and longitude for plotting global position is linguistically backwards too, but I'm never going to get that fixed ...

Richard

[Edit: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_engine. Obviously talking about cars. despite the term 'vehicle', but to make that distinction seems bogus too.]

**Scouse** · 18th January 2007, 16:06

Originally Posted by McJim

Hmmm - wikipedia telt me ah wiz spoutin' shite again. Ah always kent wikipedia was full o' it.

Cheers bud.

Nah in a cage an east/west configureation is called transverse as in the good ole Morris 1100 they had a transverse engine so IL4's are Transverse rocket 3's are not transverse

**Bonez** · 18th January 2007, 16:10

Originally Posted by rwh

That page references the BMW document, which only uses the word 'transverse' in conjunction with the cylinders, not the whole engine.

I've certainly seen this used here before, and I'm sure it's widely used elsewhere too - but it still seems wrong to me

Of course, in my opinion the usage of latitude and longitude for plotting global position is linguistically backwards too, but I'm never going to get that fixed ...

Richard

[Edit: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_engine. Obviously talking about cars. despite the term 'vehicle', but to make that distinction seems bogus too.]

Have read of a few motorcycle mags that describe the various engine layouts of the bikes tested then get back to us.

Edit- You did note the term "convention" in relation to motorcycle engine lay outs on that wikipedia page I posted?

**Motu** · 18th January 2007, 16:29

As for riding them - a 750cc twin,triple and inline 4.....a big twin is all about bottom end grunt,sure they will rev,but get inefficient at higher revs.A 4 cyl is a revbox,they will make seamless power from whoa to go,but are better at high revs.A triple really does fit in the middle,they love to rev,but will still ''hang on'' in the lower rpms.

And of course the best thing about a triple is the noise!

**rwh** · 18th January 2007, 16:36

Originally Posted by Bonez

Have read of a few motorcycle mags that describe the various engine layouts of the bikes tested then get back to us.

Edit- You did note the term "convention" in relation to motorcycle engine lay outs on that wikipedia page I posted?

As in 'the convention used below ...'? Yes - they more or less state both conventions are used, so they had to pick one and use it for their article. They didn't claim it was necessarily 'correct'.

(actually I care, but you probably don't care about that

)

Richard

**James Deuce** · 18th January 2007, 16:38

Originally Posted by McJim

Aye, yer right enough - I had it arse about face - longditudinal is where the cylinders hang oot the sides transverse is where they line them up neatly behind the front wheel.

I'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong!

You were right the first time!

Indian made inline 4s. They run along the frame between the headstock and seat.

Most modern transverse 4s are incorrectly described as inline - they aren't inline at all. The are transverse to the direction the frame of the bike travels.

**James Deuce** · 18th January 2007, 16:40

Square 4s!

**Bonez** · 18th January 2007, 16:41

Originally Posted by rwh

As in 'the convention used below ...'? Yes - they more or less state both conventions are used, so they had to pick one and use it for their article. They didn't claim it was necessarily 'correct'.

(actually I care, but you probably don't care about that

)

Richard

The whole motorcycle industry seems to have used this convention, so they must care

Mind things have gotten confusing lately. Ducatis use to be V2s now they are L2s and in 20 years will probably be 270 degree twins

**rwh** · 18th January 2007, 16:48

Originally Posted by Jim2

You were right the first time!

Indian made inline 4s. They run along the frame between the headstock and seat.

Most modern transverse 4s are incorrectly described as inline - they aren't inline at all. The are transverse to the direction the frame of the bike travels.

Um - surely the term 'inline' merely refers to the cylinders relationship to each other, not to the vehicle? I'd talk about a 'transverse inline 4' for a gsxr, or a longitudonal inline 3 (or triple) for a Rocket III. Or would you prefer the term 'straight' for that?

Of course, Bonez' wikipedia page claimed that a V-twin was really a V2 if they didn't share a crankpin, which would make an inline twin hard to build and an inline triple (if that has the same meaning) damn near impossible ... you could do a W-triple though - or a radial triple. Fun!

Richard

**RantyDave** · 18th January 2007, 16:49

Try again ... the first one got borked.

Basically, twins have more torque down low but rev lower and hence produce less power per cc. Fours have less torque down low but rev higher and hence produce more power per cc. Triples are half way between the two.

Torque is a factor of cyclinder size. Power is a factor of how much fuel air mix can be burned in a given time (basically capacity x revs).

Go here - http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Articl...ID=3301&Page=2

Dave

**James Deuce** · 18th January 2007, 17:03

Originally Posted by rwh

Um - surely the term 'inline' merely refers to the cylinders relationship to each other, not to the vehicle? I'd talk about a 'transverse inline 4' for a gsxr, or a longitudonal inline 3 (or triple) for a Rocket III. Or would you prefer the term 'straight' for that?

Of course, Bonez' wikipedia page claimed that a V-twin was really a V2 if they didn't share a crankpin, which would make an inline twin hard to build and an inline triple (if that has the same meaning) damn near impossible ... you could do a W-triple though - or a radial triple. Fun!

Richard

Rocket = Inline 3. Gsxr = transverse 4. Just like the difference between front and rear wheel drive cars.

Volkswagen make W5 engines. Very narrow angle. Near perfect primary balance.

**rwh** · 18th January 2007, 17:22

Originally Posted by Jim2

Rocket = Inline 3. Gsxr = transverse 4. Just like the difference between front and rear wheel drive cars.

Sure. But what about the VFR (transverse V4 IMO) or Boss Hoss (longitudonal V8)?

Richard

**James Deuce** · 18th January 2007, 17:35

And??????????

**rwh** · 18th January 2007, 17:47

Originally Posted by Jim2

And??????????

Well, your use of inline where I use longitudonal would make the Boss Hoss an inline V8, which in my preferred terminology would be an oxymoron. And if I said transverse 4, that could either be a straight/inline 4 or a v4 (or a boxer 4 for that matter, but I haven't seen one of those mounted transversely ...)

Also, I'm not sure how you'd describe a typical Masport. Vertical single?

All a bloody mess, and we'll probably just have to live with it

Richard