It is by far the best engine design for motorcycles. It produces all of the gut wrenching bottom end torque of a V-twin, and produces all of the high RPM HP of the inline 4s. There is no down side to this engine design, yet it's found in very few motorcycles. I wonder why?
Why is the V-4 so underutilized in motorcycles?
- Thread starter grampi
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Honda made some but those bikes were sorta rare. I imagine they cost more to make and it is hard to pass the cost and make money on a low volume product. Plus where the engine shines best is in a dead market segment. Few sport bikes are purchased new today.
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The reason I don't like V4 motorcycles is silly but I just don't like their sound. When you have a header on an in-line 4 (or a I-6 CBX) and turning 10,000 RPM it's life changing. I grew up with Kerker headers on Kawasaki I-4 engines and it set the stage.
I guess the same can be said for a Harley-Davidson - nothing else can match the sound.
I guess the same can be said for a Harley-Davidson - nothing else can match the sound.
it is not that underutilized, the italian brands utilize v4 extensively. aprilia and ducati. all their top bikes have v4 engines. the most powerful production bike ever tested on the cycle world dyno is the ducati superleggera v4. it cost 100 000 dollars. they are the top sportbikes on the market.
Expensive to machine.
my favorite motorcycle of all time is the yamaha vmax. unfortunately, yamaha killed it in 2020. they did not want to upgrade the bike to euro 5 specs. it was one of the most iconic v4 motorcycles. when i was a kid i also loved the honda v65 magna v4. it was a very fast muscle cruiser. also the suzuki madura 1200 v4. another very fast muscle cruiser. i wished the japanese still made these v4 muscle bikes.
i own and ride a v4 - honda vfr800 interceptor - i like it
the weight could be considered a bit much for an 800cc motor compared to an inline4
but a 800cc sport touring bike costs a LOT less on insurance than a even a 600cc crotchrocket (i used to own/ride a goof2)
as in 2months on the 600 = 12months on the 800
but the version of the Interceptor i have is not the supposed carver of the 80s nor the 1200cc pig of the 20s
and yes LOVED the Vmax (2wheels around a motor) when it came out...PeeWee on it setting new track records.
a detuned version in the Venture Royal
it could be everything
the weight could be considered a bit much for an 800cc motor compared to an inline4
but a 800cc sport touring bike costs a LOT less on insurance than a even a 600cc crotchrocket (i used to own/ride a goof2)
as in 2months on the 600 = 12months on the 800
but the version of the Interceptor i have is not the supposed carver of the 80s nor the 1200cc pig of the 20s
and yes LOVED the Vmax (2wheels around a motor) when it came out...PeeWee on it setting new track records.
a detuned version in the Venture Royal
it could be everything
I know but I love the boxer engine...Had a 1973 R60/6 bought brand new...It was a great bike...
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Our ears must be tuned opposite. I had a first generation v-max and loved the sound. Harleys have been turning fuel into noise for over a hundred years.( just my opinion, please no rock throwing
). We do agree on the straight 6 with a header. Piped right they sing like a formula one engine. I’m too lazy to post any YouTube links but they are out there.I'm sure when everything was said and done, it was lack of sales that killed off this engine. If it was really selling across the board, they'ed still be making them. Cost of production might have been another reason. The bikes of today might be more cost efficient. I'm sure meeting emissions would be possible by de-tuning, but then they would loose the out of the box performance they had. In the end ,No Sales = No Money.,,
Very arbitrary judgment IMO. All engine configuration involve compromises; the V4 excels in some regards, demands compromises in others. As for the "magical" power enhancement of the V4 architecture, you are dealing with four individual cylinders identically tuned and producing a certain power level per cylinder. Now arrange those any way you like, you will never get some magical voodoo power gain as a result. Lastly, V4's cost more to produce so, in an industry whose sole motive is to make money, unless the customer is willing to pay a premium for the said engine configuration, there is no advantage to the manufacturer to increase costs on any given unit by going the V4 route.
if the v4 did not offer adavantages, it would not be used in moto gp racing. the most powerful naturally aspirated production stock motorcycles on the dyno are all v4 engines. and yes mainstream manufacturers stopped making them because they are costly to manufacture. ducati and aprilia have all their flagship bikes built with v4 power. they have incredible sound and power. and can be made to be extremely light and compact. the lightest stock motorcycles in production with 1000cc and over engines. the ducati superleggera v4 is 335 pounds in racing trim. a ducati superleggera will not be the most reliable bike you will ever own, but it will certainly give you the greatest thrills you will ever experience. not for the faint of heart. ducati and aprilia d'ont mind the extra cost. they cater to a different clientele.
Liked my V65 Sabre. Handsome in Maroon and Black. Very heavy bike.
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