I’ve always loved internal combustion engines, anything that powers and moves something else is fascinating. These days, electric motors are getting into the act but they don’t hold the same appeal, at least not for me. I like cars, but there’s often so much sheet metal and plastic covering up the engine we lose sight of the mechanical drive system and that’s what is so cool about motorcycles. The engine is out there in plain sight or can be with the removal of a few screws or dzus fasteners.
Because I mentioned diesel motorcycles yesterday it got me thinking about engines in general and the huge variety we see just today, let alone all of the variations over the past years. Motorcycles can have anywhere from 1 to 8 cylinders with the possible exception of 7. Cars go right on up to 16 cylinders, gotta love that. And then there’s airplanes. I was at Oshkosh some years ago and I still think one of the most beautiful mechanical devices anywhere is an old biplane with a big radial engine out in front. Some WWII fighters, like the Corsair, had radials, slightly covered with a cowling but still very visible. Of course others, like the P51 had the big Allison and Merlin V12’s.
V12’s have their own mystique. I once owned a 72 Jaguar E Type. The main reason I bought it, besides the great lines of the car itself, was the opportunity to work on that 12 cylinder engine and listen to it run. What a beauty!
Then there are the guys in their workshops that start thinking, “What if ..?” and you see big Allison V12’s mounted in cars or motorcycle engines in airplanes or car engines in motorcycles, all it takes is a wrench, a welder and imagination.
I guess that’s why I don’t get this “tuner” craze where they get too carried away with suicide doors and playstations in the console and audio output that will make your ears bleed. It’s the engines, guys, … the engines!
Doug Staab says
The future of motorcycles should be very interesting not only in terms of GP performance/tech finding its way to the street, but what will a hydrogen engine sound like ? look like? weigh? etc.
Motorcyclist had an interesting article on a homebuilt Kawasaki V-12 by Allen Millyard.
He used two, in-line 6 cylinder engines and combined them into a very stock-looking V-12. Remarkable.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/kawv12/
close-up pictures can be found at:
http://www.gkweb.net/galleries/z26.php
He first dabbled with a V-8 using two, in-line 4’s.
kneeslider says
That was one I missed, I wonder what it sounds like. Anything with a high cylinder count always has a unique engine note as is goes through the rev range. Like I said, a little imagination can lead to very neat machinery. Thanks for the pointer.
Brian motorcycle loan guy Malone says
I love this piece as it speaks to all of us motor heads who love the beauty man created when the engine was discovered. It has been taken to extremes and tested time and time again. The motorcycle engine in particular seemingly has really gained some steam in it’s respective technologies in everything from gas mileage to, cooling.
Nonetheless, it is about the motor/engine and what it does for the enthusiast like us.
Take Care,
Brian
BOB CHARDAVOYNE says
I believe those radial engine motorcycles I saw in another article on this sight had 7 cylinders.
I remember a featured trike tn a late 60’s issue of CYCLE GUIDE having an Allison V12 engine. Exibition only, but it actually ran.
Harold Dixon says
Kneeslider, I have the same love of all things internal combustion. As a mechanic for Cacanaugh Flight Museum, working on the radials and V12’s was a dream job. Going to Osh Kosh every year was just awesome. The roar of a radial is awe inspiring. The other mechanics and I used to sit with our spare engines, sepecially the V12’s, and try to figure out a way to put them on the street. A 47 Buick or Caddilac with an Allison or Merlin would be perfect. Dream on buddy, your not alone.