Guide To Types Of Motorcycle Engines

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different types of motorcycle engines, and what makes one kind of engine so different from another? We go through everything from big thumpers to boxer twins to outrageous inline-sizes and explain all!

Singles

The internal combustion engine doesn't get any simpler than this; one big cylinder thumping away to create power. Simple in operation, cheap to produce, and easy to repair and maintain, single-cylinder engines lend themselves to use in economy motorcycles and scooters, and have powered millions of budget bikes the world over.

But that's not the only place they're at home; the thumping power pulse and good bottom end torque of a big single is also ideally suited to dirt riding. Virtually every dirt bike and many dual sports also run on single-cylinder engines, affectionately called "thumpers" for the pounding vibration and sound they create.

Found in:

Virtually all dirt bikes and supermotos
Most dual-sports
Economy bikes like the Honda CBR300R

Big Twins

When you think of a twin-cylinder motorcycle engine, your mind probably goes straight to the "Big Twins" that power most American cruisers. But you can't forget about the compact and economical parallel twin (or inline-two cylinder) engines that are characteristic of many bikes in history, such as the signature mill that powers the Triumph Bonneville. But the parallel twin is not just some relic; fast revving, high-performance versions of this engine configuration also power the sporty Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the even sportier all-new Yamaha R3.

• Found in:

  Many lower-end sport bikes
  Iconic cruisers and standards
  BMW dual-sports (F650GS, F800GS)

• Strengths:

  Narrow and light
  Responsive
  Easy and relatively cheap to manufacture
  Good for general riding and commuting

V-Twin

The most iconic and recognizable motorcycle engine, especially here in the States, is undoubtedly the V-twin. With two big cylinders oriented in a "V" pattern, the "Big Twin" engine powers virtually every American cruiser (and even many Japanese ones.) The thick powerband, off-the-line torque, and most of all, the signature V-twin sound have been the keys to the V-twin's persistent popularity through the decades.

V-twins generally put out less power than similar-sized inline-4 counterparts, though they make up for it with the brute torque inherent to the V-twin's architecture. But V-twins can be fast too; just look to Ducati for inspiration about what a performance-tuned V-twin can do. The Italian sport bike manufacturer has been building and racing high-performance V-twins for a long time, and is cranking out an incredible 205 HP from the engine in the new 1299 Panigale.

• Found In:

  Virtually all American cruisers
  Virtually all Ducatis
  Mounted transversely in Moto Guzzis

• Strengths

  Plenty of torque and a wide powerband
  Narrow
  Low center of gravity
  That unmistakable V-twin sound!

BOXER TWIN

If you're looking at a boxer twin in a motorcycle, more than likely you're looking at a BMW; the odd-looking engine layout has been a signature part of the German manufacturer's motorcycle designs for the better part of a century. The boxer twin is perfectly balanced, smooth, and delivers gobs of torque across the entire powerband.

It's from this unique engine layout that the ubiquitous BMW GS, the most popular bike with a boxer twin, gets its ability to "tractor" its way through the toughest terrain in the world; those two big cylinders thump out enough torque to get the 600-pound bikes through just about anything, even at just above idle. It may not be the sexiest-looking engine ever put in a bike, but the boxer twin certainly has its strengths.

• Found In:

  Lots of BMWs

• Strengths:

  Torquey
  Perfectly balanced, and a low center of gravity
  Linear powerband and smooth power delivery
  Perfectly suited to shaft-drive motorcycles

TRIPLE

The perfect middle ground between torquey twins and revvy inline fours, the triple is not traditionally one of the most popular engine architectures - but those who ride them swear by them. Triples are a mainstay of Triumph's model lineup, powering all of their sport motorcycles, and are gaining in popularity in models such as the new Yamaha FZ-09.

While triples don't typically boast the same high horsepower numbers of inline fours or the grunty torque of big twins, they are a great balance of both, making them perfect for everything from commuting around town to aggressive track riding.

• Found In:

  Any Triumph sport bike
  Sportier bikes in Yamaha's lineup (FZ-09, FJ-09)
  A behemoth 2294cc also triple powers Triumph's over-the-top Rocket III roadster

• Strengths:

  Perfect balance of characteristics of twins and inline fours
  Versatility; work well in all ridings situations
  Unique exhaust sound
  Narrow and compact profile

INLINE-4

The smooth, fast-revving, extremely popular inline-4 is a universal engine architecture that powers most sport bikes you can think of. Since its introduction on the iconic Honda CB750 in the late 1960s, the inline-4 grew in popularity among the Japanese manufacturers for its ease of production, reliability, and good performance.

Today, they power virtually every Japanese sport bike, and the vast majority of road racing bikes in any supersport or superbike class in the world. Sport bike riders love the inline-4 for its smooth power delivery, screaming high revs, and the exhilarating top-end rush most performance inline-4s deliver.

• Found In:

  Most sport bikes, especially from Japanese manufacturers

• Strengths:

  Simplicity and popularity of engine architecture
  Smooth power delivery
  Fast-revving
  Cranking out big horsepower, especially at high RPMs

V-4

While the triple can be considered to be the ideal "middle ground" between twins and four-cylinder engines, another unique - though somewhat more costly - middle ground between those two designs is the V-4. The complexity and cost associated with manufacturing V-4s keeps OEMs from putting them in anything but higher-end models, but those that ride with them love the smooth power delivery, high performance, and narrow profile. The best part about V-4s is probably their unique sound; as essentially half of a V8, they have a unique, throaty growl that is pure performance.

• Found In:

  Higher end sport and sport-touring models (Honda VFR models, Yamaha V-max, Aprilia RSV4)
  World class MotoGP machines (Honda RC213V, Ducati Desmosedici)

• Strengths:

  Smooth, torquey power delivery
  High performance
  Narrow profile
  Incredible V4 sound

Unusual Engines Worth Mentioning

Inline-6

An unusual, impractical engine choice for a motorcycle, the inline-six has no logical 

place in a motorcycle - unless it's for a manufacturer to show off a feat of engineering 

(or an owner to show off at bike night.) The inline-six powered Honda CBX was not the

 only bike ever with an inline-six, but is the most iconic. The Kawasaki Z1300, produced 

from 1979-1989, sported an even bigger inline-6 powerplant.

Flat-4

The flat-4, with four cylinders arranged in opposing pairs (like a pair of boxer-twins) is best

 known for powering the original Honda Gold Wing, the GL1000. This architecture allows for 

excellent balance, plenty of torque, and a low center of gravity, but is expensive to manufacture.

Flat-6

Add two cylinders to the flat-4 and you get the flat-6, which powers 

the GL1000s big brother, the GL1800 Gold Wing. Like the flat-4, the flat-6 is torquey,

 has smooth power delivery, and has a low center of gravity, and is perfect for a big

 touring bike like the Gold Wing.