S&S Cycle has built an all new V-Twin engine called the “X-Wedge.” This is not a re-engineered anything, they started from scratch and designed a brand new engine with an emissions legal fuel and exhaust system, which will conveniently address the custom bike building issues caused by the new EPA rules.
What’s new about the X-Wedge? It’s a 56.25 degree V-twin with a single piece forged crank, three cams (two exhaust and one intake), wedge head combustion chambers, 30% to 50% greater cooling fin area than traditional twins, a new oiling system and it will be available in displacements from 110 to 139 cubic inches. Many of the parts are automotive style giving S&S the ability to source parts from more suppliers. S&S also builds their own six speed transmission to go along with the X-Wedge. Power so far, without any real effort is 135 horsepower at the crank, in emissions legal form. An added bonus is the engine is built in Viola, Wisconsin, not sourced from China or anywhere else, that earns it some big points in my eyes, we need a lot more of that.
Cycle World has an in depth article in the January issue covering this new engine. One point they made in the “Oh, by the way” category was the bike used as a test bed. It was a mix of S&S frame and Buell inverted fork, custom fender, Muzzy exhaust, you know, all of the things you might put together if you were thinking of going into the custom motorcycle business instead of just building engines. Another U.S. V-twin motorcycle company with a little less chopper and a little more sport? Now, wouldn’t that be interesting?
Link: S&S Cycle
Link: Cycle World
Related: New EPA Rules for Custom Bikes
Mayakovski says
It’s hard to tell from the photo but it looks like they kept the “I’m so massive I must be compensating for something” transmission. That’s really too bad, given a fresh start engine design (well really a redesign), I would have expected a more modernized stacked transmission.
Ah well, who wanted a short Harley engine anyways.
hoyt says
I searched S&S Cycle’s website and could not find anything about this engine on their site (yet); and my CW issue has not arrived.
Based on the photo above, the engine looks a bit oversquare in its design.
This can be very good as the engine should rev more.
Although, assuming the engine has an oversquare design, what affect would that have on the amount of torque and how soon in the rpm band would the torque arrive?
Kneeslider, did they provide bore and stroke dimensions?
A compact trans. would be great for the next direction in custom bike building.
Thank you S&S for keeping air cooled motors alive.
howard kelly says
The X Wedge was designed as an engine that would allow manufacturers to continue providing air-cooled v-twins to customers and still meet upcoming emissions regulations. It was engineered to be compatible with existing driveline components so manufacturers would not have to change everything in their Bill of Materials to incorporate it in upcoming models–it does, however, require a frame change from existing materials.
The Cycle World article does offer a comprehensive explanation of the engine–I encourage you to read it.
Howard
kneeslider says
Bore sizes from 4 1/8 to 4 1/2 inches, stroke from 4 1/8 to 4 3/8 inches.
The info is not yet on either site but should be soon.
Digital magazine delivery is great! 🙂
Willie Schmitz says
Great news from S&S. Hopefully some of the builders will give the engine a try.
Kneeslider, any info on external demensions? Will it fit FRX frames?
Old Will
Macfly says
It is great to see an American company come out with a fresh idea. It is also nice to see something other than a “chopper”. If they indeed start making motorcycles I hope they build a functional bike that has good handling, good brakes and is comfortable along the lines of what is shown in the pic.
Macfly
hoyt says
Thank you Kneeslider & Howard for the info.
Howard, a compact transmission would be awesome. Many riders are seeing (and wanting) the additional direction for the custom motorcycle scene…
…a sportbike chassis using the torque of the big twin engine.
Two classic hot rods for the ages are Curt Winter’s sporty Big Twin Racer & Mike Cook’s timeless American Cafe Racer. These builders have been building sport chassis for big twins for nearly ten years. Imagine the ride they could build with a more compact transmission! The market for this direction is here now and will be for several years to come as the 20-30 something repli-racer rider moves onto or adds additional bikes to their collection.
Diesel says
It’s great that S&S took the time to engineer thier own motor, but it’s a dog in the looks department, and lets face it, people won’t choose over an S&S Evo or Shovel if it looks like crap.
hoyt says
I like the look of the engine. It looks like a combination of a big twin and an XR750 engine.
Steve says
I think the appearance is kinda’ generic, sort of a big billet waiting to be machined. The numbers sound good!
5th gear says
i want to see in inners of this motor, the belt drive cams should be of great interest after all the trouble harley has w/chains.
Diesel says
This reminds me of the “Super Vee” motor? It was a Vtwin built in the 80’s that used small block chevy internals. These had simular looking cylinders but were a dead giveaway by the chevy timing chain cover.
P.T. Anderson says
I happen to like the way it looks but what I’d really like to see is this engine in that ACE cycle car. The rounded cooling fins would, in my opinion, compliment the rounded body of the ACE. Even the extra cooling capacity might be a good idea in that aplication.
Pablo says
Excellent. Car parts even more betterer. Just think, it hasn’t even been tweaked yet!!!!!
Big Dog will rock with it.
Prester John says
Looks and styling? This is just the genric version, guys. I’m sure S&S will work with their various OEM customers to come up with unique, high style cosmetics for every part that don’t affect EPA.
TCS
Baxterblue says
Glad to see S&S thinking outside the box. 56 degree V and side by side rods. Next generation 60 degrees and water cooling.
Sid says
Howard & S&S,
The engine looks great in the Big Dog…very purpose-built looking with the performance to match. Looking forward to seeing it in person
good job & nice article by Kevin Cameron in CW.
John says
S&S sort of missed the mark here with this X-Wedge engine.
For one the sound. Harley people, or those who have been S&S engine buyers in the past, love the noise a 45 degree V-Twin makes. A 56 degree engine should sound very much like a generic Honda or Suzuki. Might look good parked, but fire it up for a potential buyer and watch them disappear. The appearance of “BAD” just got muted down to “Universal Japanese”. Made in USA or not, it won’t project the image their targeted customers want.
Also the issue of requiring manufacturers to tool up special chassis layouts just to use this engine? S&S is asking for a new redesign. Did they help pay the chassis R&D expenses required by the companies who will purchase this engine? Manufacturers who buy this engine should have told S&S that they hold the cash and that they are S&S’s customers and not the other way around.
Next, the potential market for replacement engines that could bolt directly into existing frame designs has been abandoned by the S&S people.
Overall, S&S is not Harley. They don’t have the clout or reputation Harley does. (Can you imagine Harley ditching their “trademark” sound?) Also I feel S&S have not taken into account the needs of their customers, the individuals and the companies that buy their product. Emissions issues could easily have been addressed by using existing 45 degree engine layout designs. Harley will sort the emissions problems out, S&S would have been better served by using their R&D cash to build along existing lines, not pushing it’s own agenda.
Mitch says
Just got through reading the article in the September issue of CW on the Wedge. S&S has thier own softail frame and will offer a rolling chassis for your build. I for one love the looks of this engine and can’t wait to hear what this 3 Cammer sounds like, much less how it feels to gas it!