Greatest Engine in Motorcycling?

[beemerman2k]

I saw a late 80's era Yamaha Fazer 700 earlier today. As I was admiring the strange beauty of that machine, I remembered the Yamaha Genesis engine that marked their sport bikes from that era. That engine had 5 valve cylinder heads; 3 intake, 2 exhaust. I then began to remember other variations from the UJM concept that Yamaha ventured into like that liquid cooled V4 monster called the VMax, and the current R1 with the cross plane crankshaft (honestly, whatever that means. I have no idea :smirk:).

 

I began to think about other remarkable engines from my time in motorcycling (mid-70's til today), and I was asking myself this question:

 

Which of these engines really turn me on? I mean the very look, sound, and mention of the name makes me feel all twitterpated inside?

 

There are countless engines that immediately came to mind, from the mighty Kawasaki ZX14R to the Hyabusa to the GSXR1000 to the VMax to the late '70's era KZ1000 sporting a flat black 4 into 1 Kerker exhaust to the ultra-powerful BMW SS1000R. But the one that I would crown as the most sexy, most potent, most blood pumping engine in all creation is...

 

...The Honda CBX

 

 

King of the hill in my book. Rude, brash, bold, insensitive -- it just came on the scene and POW! Knocked me on my butt.

 

In fact, this article about says it all about this mighty motorcycle.

 

OK, what's the engine that, well, turns you on the most?

[Danny caddyshack Noonan]

+1.

Saw one at the gym last year. It was neglected to no end. Surprised it was being ridden.

[Firefight911]

As soon as I saw the title and who posted it, I knew!!! And I agree completely. I stop dead in my tracks every time I see/hear one.

[Effjay]

True true, the CBX engine was/is stunning to look at. I considered buying one new, then took a test ride on a new Kawi Z1 before choosing instead a new 1979 Yammie XS-11 standard which I owned for several years. The XS-11 didn't feature near the panache of a CBX, but was the torque monster which set standards for that era. Shaft drive seems also set an expectation for me, 'cus I haven't owned chain drive since...

[BULLman]

When I think of engine - I immediately think of my Honda Valkire.

 

Flathead 6 cylinder with 6 carbs

 

Smooth. Powerful. All chromed Out. Did I mention 6 carbs!

 

You could balance a nickle on the engine - start it - and the Nicole would just spin... not sure what it prove, but it was a cool trick.

[Guest Kakugo]

My personal favorite greatest engine is... the humble Japanese inline 4, be it from Honda, Kawasaki etc. Why I say that?

It was the first engine to offer high performances and reliability all in one. Before the Japanese I4 high performances came literally at a price. Remember the Triumph/BSA 750cc triple? It was built using late '30s technology and I can think of many words for it except "reliable". Same thing with the big 90° Ducati twins of the same era.

I remember when I bought my first Japanese I4 (a Honda). I simply could not believe it: smooth, powerful, started at first try (not to mention the electric start always worked!) and reliable. Having grown up with Triumph's it was like stepping in a completely different world: just service it according to the owner's manual, put fuel in it and ride.

Sure, people were bragging about how good British and Italian frames were compared to the Japanese but there was a deep chasm in how good the Honda was compared to the Triumph's I previously owned or the Ducati's, Laverda's etc everybody lusted about.

The humble, much maligned (at the time) I4 forced European manufacturers to "swim or drown" (of course the British were already drowning but that's another matter). Yes, a Ducati twin could be wild and exotic but what good was being wild and exotic if a catastrophic, unexplainable failure was just behind the corner?

[John Bentall]

If the CBX is the showiest standard engine, then I only have to think about Alan Millyard's 2.3 liter V12 Kawasaki to set my mind racing.

 

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/v12_custom_kawasaki_2300cc/photo_04.html

 

John

[Boffin]

I have always marvelled at the Moto Guzzi V8 500cc GP engine.

 

 

I was lucky enough to hear the bike that Guzzi apprentices have restored when it was at a Mallory Park classic meeting. It did not race but carried out a few demo laps.

 

 

Here is a link to a page of vintage bike sound clips - the Guzzi is the second one in. It is MUCH louder in the flesh.

 

Andy

[eddd]

Here is a link to a page of vintage bike sound clips - the Guzzi is the second one in. It is MUCH louder in the flesh.

 

Andy

 

That is a sweet sounding motor.

[realshelby]

I second the CBX!

 

I passed on buying a new one because I had heard they didn't handle well. Bought a 900F Honda instead, my buddy bought the CBX. I put quite a few miles on the CBX, it handled as good as the 900F, and let me tell you the power is awesome! I had a 900 Kawasaki before this and the CBX didn't break a sweat out accelerating that ( or the 900F Honda unfortunately). The only thing close in power was when Suzuki came out with the GS 1100.

 

The SOUND of the CBX when started on a cold morning sitting at idle....is the most perfect sound a machine can make.

 

The CBX may be one of the best looking bikes ever....

[rd400racer]

I still own two 750F's and like others here I passed on the CBX that was sitting in the showroom right next to them. Just saw one in nice shape on Craigslist for $5500. But the greatest engine of all time in my humble opinion is the Yamaha TZ750. I got to hear one recently at a vintage race event and it is pure audio sex.

 

 

[beemerman2k]

So when I speak of the "greatest engine in motorcycling", it's not necessarily the one you would buy. I also passed on the Honda CBX back in '79 when I opted for a left over '78 Suzuki GS1000E. Great bike that Suzuki was, and I loved the bulletproof engine that it had. But as great as that engine was for its time, it did not evoke inside of me the level of emotion that CBX did.

 

Even as of 2000, I passed on a Hyabusa or a CBR1100XX, a bike I really loved, and opted for the far more practical and usable BMW R1100RT, an engine that's good, but not at all in the category of "emotion stirring" in the least! I liken it more to the engine in my old Honda Accord -- reliable, quiet, and completely unnoticable. Which is a good thing when it comes to practical transportation that you rely on to get you places.

 

Also, I did get a chance to take a CBX out for a spin as I worked for a Honda dealer when that bike came out (the old "Honda of Boston" for those who remember that place). What a bike! That ride completely blew my mind. Actually, the reason I passed on the CBX was the cost of ownership; I understand that it was quite expensive getting those 24 valves adjusted.

[beemerman2k]

This link didn't work for me.

[beemerman2k]

True true, the CBX engine was/is stunning to look at. I considered buying one new, then took a test ride on a new Kawi Z1 before choosing instead a new 1979 Yammie XS-11 standard which I owned for several years. The XS-11 didn't feature near the panache of a CBX, but was the torque monster which set standards for that era. Shaft drive seems also set an expectation for me, 'cus I haven't owned chain drive since...

 

The XS11 was a great engine as well. In fact, I saw one recently that was iin very good shape. I wished I could have taken a picture of it (I was driving at the time). Very sttrong engine on that bike, and I loved the square look of the original.

 

I was never crazy about the same engine wrapped around the "Midnight Special" custom loook Yamaha came ouut with during that era. In fact, if I recall, didn't Yamaha offer that engine in a full dress touring bike a couple of years into the product cycle?

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

Here is a link to a page of vintage bike sound clips - the Guzzi is the second one in. It is MUCH louder in the flesh.

 

Andy

 

Sounds like a tiny, faraway NASCAR engine.

 

Someone posted

of a Ducati being run on a chassis dyno. After idling for about a minute, he starts working that engine - and it sounds schweeeeeeeet...

[Effjay]

True true, the CBX engine was/is stunning to look at. I considered buying one new, then took a test ride on a new Kawi Z1 before choosing instead a new 1979 Yammie XS-11 standard which I owned for several years. The XS-11 didn't feature near the panache of a CBX, but was the torque monster which set standards for that era. Shaft drive seems also set an expectation for me, 'cus I haven't owned chain drive since...

 

The XS11 was a great engine as well. In fact, I saw one recently that was iin very good shape. I wished I could have taken a picture of it (I was driving at the time). Very sttrong engine on that bike, and I loved the square look of the original.

 

I was never crazy about the same engine wrapped around the "Midnight Special" custom loook Yamaha came ouut with during that era. In fact, if I recall, didn't Yamaha offer that engine in a full dress touring bike a couple of years into the product cycle?

 

I wasn't crazy about the "specials" either - mine was the '79 standard. In '81, the "Venturer" touring version was introduced with Yamaha-by-Vetter fairing which incorporated the standard model rectangular headlight. I know, 'cus I ordered a complete assy over the counter (same metallic blue color) and mounted it on my '79.

 

BTW, the same engine team (IIRC) designed the '82 Seca 650 as well as FJ1100/FJ1200 series. I also owned a new Seca and a new '89 FJ1200 (kept the FJ 14 yrs until replaced by a new '04 FJR). See? I said I liked those Yamaha engines!

[beemerman2k]

Oh boy, now you're bringing back memories.

 

My first motorcycle was a '77 Kawasaki KZ400, but it was almost the '76 Yamaha XS500. That was a similarly shaped boxy motorcycle like the XS750 triple and later the XS1100, except that it was a 4 stroke parallel twin. The local dealer had one of them in stock, and I waited too long to make up my mind and a high school friend bought it first. I muust admit that I was a bit intimidated by that bike, I had just learned how to ride and I was concerned that it might be a bit much for me.

 

Wow, back in those days the Suzuki GT and Kawasaki KH 2 stroke triples were prevalent everywhere. I remember few of the Yamaha 2 strokers from that era, with the RD350/400 being most popular and lasting. That yellow Kenny Roberts special in the earlyy 80's was a beauty. I often heard about and read about the TZ750, but I don't know that I ever actually saw one.

 

 

I did recently see a 500cc V4 Yamaha 2 stroker at a bike night gathering. That thing was a smoke monster! Sounded and looked great, though.

[Effjay]

Your thread might well evolve into a "trip down Memory Lane" for many of us riding long enough to relate to those old motos. Hey, my first scoot was a '72 Yammie R5C which was the predecessor to the RD series! I still have original sales brochures on all those including entire XS series (pretty sure that XS500 too)...

[SageRider]

Maybe doesn't get me all "twitterpated", but I consider the 1200 V4 powering the '83 Yamaha Venture Royale and eventually the V-Max (with intake modifications) to be the finest engine I've ever ridden. Steady grunt from idle to beyond redline! V-Max intake mods made a real monster out of it. Basically the same engine still sold in the V-MAX unti 2008. 25 years!!!

 

Now to get me all "twitterpated" takes a Merlin, Griffon, or a big P&W!!!

[Firefight911]

 

Now to get me all "twitterpated" takes a Merlin, Griffon, or a big P&W!!!

 

Hey, no fair!!! You can't bring a gun to this stone fight!!!!

[SageRider]

 

Now to get me all "twitterpated" takes a Merlin, Griffon, or a big P&W!!!

 

Hey, no fair!!! You can't bring a gun to this stone fight!!!!

 

[Ponch]

There's always this: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/v12_custom_kawasaki_2300cc/

 

and his other creation: http://motorcyclephotooftheday.com/2011/08/05/close-ups-of-the-outrageous-allen-millyard-custom-v8-kawasaki-kz/

[beemerman2k]

Those V8/V12 Kawasaki's are examples of some pretty clevel engineering.

 

If we're gonna go here, though, we have to include the Dodge Tomahawk in the conversation :smile: That thing ought to "twitterpate" anybody

[Effjay]

Maybe doesn't get me all "twitterpated", but I consider the 1200 V4 powering the '83 Yamaha Venture Royale and eventually the V-Max (with intake modifications) to be the finest engine I've ever ridden. Steady grunt from idle to beyond redline! V-Max intake mods made a real monster out of it. Basically the same engine still sold in the V-MAX unti 2008. 25 years!!!

 

Now to get me all "twitterpated" takes a Merlin, Griffon, or a big P&W!!!

 

Oh Michael, now its you too bringing back more memories. I owned a '90 Venture Royale 1300 for several yrs along side the FJ12 and a few other motos (which didn't cost so much to buy new or used back then). The Venture was the first real touring bike I owned. Yes, that V4 engine was soulful and monoshock chassis ahead of its time.

[Lone_RT_rider]

This sound of this beauty screaming accoss the Peace River bridge (HWY 41) in Port Charlotte Florida with an open Hooker header, will forever be engrained in my memory. Man, what a beautiful sound.......

 

 

Shawn

[upflying]

No one mentioned the Suzuki RE-5 yet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_RE5

 

[Paul Mihalka]

Well, as usual, my memory lane goes a few miles farther back than your lanes. My sweet memories are with my BMW R50/2 with long slim straight pipes - low compression, wasn't even THAT loud. Another memory is my 500cc Gilera Saturno Corsa with it's straight (no megaphone) racing pipe. No way any other 40 hp motor can sound more powerful than that.

[eddd]

I grew up with 2 cycles, purchasing my first one new at 16. I continued with a series of 2 strokes but eventually ended up with a 500cc Triumph. That experience sent me back to 2 strokes, first a Suzuki Titan 500, and eventually to my first touring bike, a GT750 3 cylinder water-cooled 2 cycle.

 

Add gas into one tank, 2 stroke oil into the other, lube the chain, and ride. That engine was remarkable. Two up, way overloaded, and later on pulling a small trailer, that bike took me and the ex to every one of the lower 48 and into Canada with zero issues.

 

While the bike itself was unrefined, that unusual engine, one of the last of the street two strokes, is my choice.

[Ponch]

This sound of this beauty screaming accoss the Peace River bridge (HWY 41) in Port Charlotte Florida with an open Hooker header, will forever be engrained in my memory. Man, what a beautiful sound.......

 

 

Shawn

 

That was my first bike, in Black.

[lkchris]

Well, mine's the BMW boxer twin.

 

May not be the best sound but is for sure the best feel.

 

This is the bigger ones, of course, as the 800 and smaller have little feel at all.

 

A nice massage to continually remind you you're riding a gentleman's motorcycle.

 

An engine completely undeserving of the insult of a noisy aftermarket muffler.

[beemerman2k]

Your first bike was a KZ1000?! Holy smokes, amazing you're still among us. I would think both the weight and the power of this bike would be a bit much to learn on.

[basilr]

My first bike was a 1980 Suzuki GS1000 that I bought of a LEO teaching my newbie rider course in 1981. His wife was pregnant and she wouldn't let him ride anymore. 8400kms on the odo.

 

I rode it and loved it till '87. Then I go an air conditioned sports car and a new wife.

 

Didn't ride again for 22 years. That's when I got my 05 RT. As much as I like it, there are times when I say to myself "damn, I wish I still had my GS1000". I can still hear it, but only in the ramblings of an idle mind.

[beemerman2k]

I thought the GS 1000 was among the best bikes ever made from the point of view of 1) a joy to live with 2) reliable 3) lots of power where you need it 4) inexpensive 5) comfortable.

 

I used to enjoy what I thought were long rides on mine. A good ride was going from Boston to Portsmouth, NH. Enjoying seafood in Portsmouth, and then riding home. I'd spend the day doing this, but it's only about a 60 mile ride each way.

 

Then I bought my 2000 R1100RT, and I joined some area riders for a day long tour through the State of New Hampshire and some of Maine. On my way to our meeting place in Portsmouth, NH from where we would launch our ride, I marvelled that what used to be the day long trip, was now simply the meeting place from which to begin the day long trip! What a difference the RT makes

[Effjay]

Well, mine's the BMW boxer twin.

Doubtful you'll get any arguments about "boxer motor love" on this forum.

[mrduck]

 

 

While I do agree the with truly great street bikes mentioned here, as far as great engines go do consider the lowly XR-80.....absolutely indestructible,the essence of simplicity, almost a zero maintenance engine....you just can't kill these bikes!

 

I'm willing to bet most here have either owned one of these or played around on one at some time in our youth

 

 

 

Don J

[mikeR1100R]

That was my first brand-new motorcycle: a 1980 GS 1000e in blue. Loved it!

[Effjay]

There you guys go again hitting my nostalgia buttons. Before that '79 Yammie XS-11, I had a new '77 GS750 identical to this one which was Suzook's first 4 stroke motor. That was my 2nd new moto after a '74 Honda CB750 K4. Oddly, the CB was the only Honda moto I ever owned ('cept briefly a 50cc step-through scooter as my very first motorized 2-wheeler. I tulipped its valves playing dirt moto with it!

)

[Quinn]

For me, the classic engine designs would be the vertical twin (Triumph and other British, UJMs), the V twins (Harley and clones, Ducks, etc.), and Opposed twins (BMW, Guzzies). Might need to include inline 4s, and all those two cycle imitations.

 

------

 

 

[basilr]

Mine was blue too.

[Ponch]

I was over 6'5 and weighed 275 at the time. Anything smaller made me look like a monkey screwing a football. I got used to it quickly. In fact I took my road test on it and passed the first time.

[Kouros]

To me....It's this one. My own CB750 and just finished the rebuild.

At least the greatest sounding engine.

 

[Effjay]

To me....It's this one. My own CB750 and just finished the rebuild.

At least the greatest sounding engine.

An enjoyable video and nicely done resto-mod!

Unsure if the greatest engine but in my mind, its certainly the one that changed everything...

 

Hey, I also have a K4 sales brochure too!

[Limecreek]

I am probably going to take some crap for this one, but I think the power plant on my fist mini bike was the greatest engine in motorcycling.

 

Without that one the rest of them wouldn't have mattered.

 

The Techumseh 3.5 hp Engine

This one currently on Ebay.

[beemerman2k]

This list is probably my top 10 engines in relatively recent motorcycling (in no particular order):

 

1) Honda CBX

2) Suzuki Hyabusa (meanest mutha in the valley)

3) Kawasaki KZ900 (original, not GSXR)

4) Ducati 916 (isn't this the one that revived the company?)

5) Yamaha VMax (cruiser representative)

6) Ducati (that $75,000 V4)

7) BMW SS1000R (crotch rocket representative)

8) Honda GL1800 (whole family from the GL1000 on)

9) Honda CB 750 (impact is incredible)

10) BMW R1200 (Had to include this engine simply because of it's tremendous influence on motorcycling wrt the RT, GS, and RS/ST. Chose the latest incarnation of this design)

 

Honorable mentions would go to all the 600/1000cc sport bikes as they are all engine and suspention and not much else.

 

The Suzuki RE5 was an interesting bike, but it's rotary engine didn't really give it any advantage over other models. Anyone remember the Van Veen OCR? That was a European brand that also had a rotary engine during the same time period as the RE5. I'm pretty sure the Van Veen model is featured in a James Bond movie from that era as well.

[Whip]

 

 

 

 

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[Downs]

Old movies are awesome.

[Ponch]

Then there is Mad Max...

[Downs]

The Bronze.

[Lone_RT_rider]

Your first bike was a KZ1000?! Holy smokes, amazing you're still among us. I would think both the weight and the power of this bike would be a bit much to learn on.

 

Yeah, I was glad it wasn't my first bike either. I had 4 bikes before that ranging in cc's 50, 175, 350 and 500. That KZ1000 was a beast!

[UberXY]

Interesting home project: The CBX V12

 

 

 

I use to frequent vintage bike races in England. The tortured shriek made by the Scott Flying Squirrels is still the sound track for my nightmares.

 

 

If you really want a brain teaser challenge, try looking at this 5 cylinder, valveless, radial-like piston engine being developed in NZ:

 

Duke Engines