Motorcycle Engine Type Reviews

Is it "All Show but No Go"?
How to decide on Motorcycle Engine Types

How to explain motorcycle engine types without going abracadabra on you (or myself)and not focusing on one brand or one type of motorcycle engines? Here is my humble overview of how your power-horse makes you roll down the street. This is only meant to be a brief intro to the working of motorcycle engines and motorcycle engine types.

It all comes down to a simple principle of your motorcycle engine types & its workings. You chuck in some fuel which gets mixed with air. This gets inducted into the cylinder where your piston is turning around. The piston is attached to a shaft, which turns your wheel. Add to the drive shaft different combinations of turning (gear box) and you're able to drive faster / slower with the same engine power.

Okay that's simple, now let's look a little at the process in the cylinder. Basically you can count on two engine processes: a two stroke or a four stroke engine. Which means it takes 2 or 4 turns to return to the beginning position of powering the motorcycle. As you can imagine having only two strokes makes it possible to power the motorcycle much more regularly. However a two stoke engine is more reactive and more nervous to drive. A four stroke is a little more laid back.

Back to how it works. As gas and air get sucked into the cylinder the piston comes around and squeezes this gas mixture together. At the most effective time the sparkplug ignites the mixture, which sends the piston back down. The force pushes the shaft around. Now multiply this process by a few cylinders and raise the rate at which it happens and you got yourself a powering engine driving you down the road.

Selection
It's important to first think about your riding style, when looking for a new engine. Different engines will deliver different results. Do you prefer ultra-fast acceleration or do you want to sustain super fast top speeds? Do you value a smooth ride? These considerations will all affect your engine choice.


Power
Motorcycle engines are each specifically created for individual purposes. You should keep this in mind when it comes time to buy one. How much power do you want your bike to have? If you want a higher torque motorcycle motor, you should choose a motorcycle engine with less cylinders. But for a smoother ride you may prefer a V-Twin or 4+ cylinder.


Cylinders
You'll get more torque with a 1 or 2 cylinder motorcycle engine, but these engines are usually louder and slower turning.


Comfort
A motorcycle that has more cc’s it isn’t always a more comfortable ride. A motorcycle that has cc's in the 1000s may be really good for general touring but will not be the same as a lightweight 4 cyclinder 650cc sport bike. But we can't have it all, right? You can get a range of cc's, but the first thing to go is comfort.


Aftermarket
The aftermarket motorcycle engine market is huge. You can get engines ranging from capacities in excess of 200cu inch (3000cc), all the way down to 74cu inch for shovel and sportster engines. Do some research and you're sure to determine just the right engine for your needs.


Rotary Two-Stroke
The advantage of a rotary two-stroke motorcycle engine is that intake timing is not dependent on the transfer and exhaust ports. This is because the intake port is on the side of the crankcase and is dependent on position and the duration of the valve cutaway.


Overhead Camshaft Four-Stroke
Chain driven are more widely used than head cams due to price, noise-factor, and a host of other reasons.


CC
Power output and size of the combustion chamber in a motorcycle engine are interrelated. The upper limit is about 18-hundred cubic centimeters (cc), while the lower limit is about 50 cc. Of course engines in the lower range are usually found on small motorcycles.


Cheap Deals
Make sure you know who built the engine, even if you are buying from a supplier. They should be able to tell you. Outward appearances can be deceiving and there's no way to know if the engine is well-built or not. If the price is too low—there's probably a reason. The last thing you want is a broken down bike and the cost to replace the engine will surely be more than the savings on a cheap one.


Output
Make sure you know the engine's power output. Normally 1BHP per cu inch for an Evo motor is generally about right. With tuning and the right add-ons you can get more, but be sure the right mix of mid range and top range power to suit your riding needs is present. A competent engine builder should be able to offer a range of engines to suit your requirements.


Custom Kits
Custom kits are a great way to go. You get a fully assembled motorcycle engine that is matched for your transmission, frame, etc., along with everything else you need to build your bike. You'll be on the road in no time.

We really appreciate tips from other riders. If you would like to add a tip to this list, feel free to send it to us using our contact form.

The modern day bikes are built on a variety of engines: The one cylinder - BMW F650, The twin cylinder - Harley and Ducati, The triple cylinder - Triumph, The four cylinder - Honda VFR, many Others, The six cylinder - Honda gold wing, Kawasaki Z1300, The eight cylinder - Boss Hoss

Engine strength is measured in horsepower - which was originally the amount of weight a horse could lift in a certain time. Torque is the twisting force from the engine on the back wheel. Together these forces are the major influence on how your bike feels & rides.

Single engines (also known as thumpers) create some form of vibration due to the fact that only one cylinder is moving up and down.

Fall maintenance tips: clean the bike, change the oil, fill the tank and stabilize the fuel, change the coolant, lubricate the cylinder via the sparkplug holes, prep the battery, lubricate and grease the bike, get tires off the ground and cover the motorcycle.

Winter maintenance tips: see also fall maintenance plus major maintenance jobs can be done (or have them done) make sure the battery has a pulse charger.

Spring maintenance tips: uncover the motorcycle, check battery, change the oil, check the tires, perform regular maintenance and clean your bike.

Very generally speaking its best for a novice to buy a four stroke instead of a two stroke engine. Four stroke engines generally give fewer problems.

Engine maintenance should be a regular part of your service schedule - check and adjust tappets (4 strokes) - Change cam belt (4 strokes) - check cam chain tension - check cylinder heads and exhaust (2 strokes) - check nuts and bolts.