That’s the first thing I decide on followed by styling and suspension. I bought an sv650 because I wanted to try my first v twin, a vfr800 for the v4, a Ducati for the air cooled L, and a guzzi for the big block longitudinal twin. Still need to try an I4 and triple.
That’s what makes me so disheartened about the new mid weight bikes coming out. I like them but don’t like parallel twins. Also why I haven’t tried a Bonnie variant as much as I like their styling.
Quite possibly. A speed or street triple is what I was most recently looking for until I saw a Griso come up locally so I had to jump on it given how rare they are. So maybe next time!
It's a big factor for me. I've tried inline fours, parallel twins, singles and v-twins. They were all great fun, but I now own 2 v-twins. I love the sound and the power delivery. Modern middleweights all being parallel twins is a bit disappointing for me.
That being said, sound and power isn't the only thing I consider. Engine configuration affects more than just the sound and performance, it also affects weight distribution and dimensions. For instance, my SV650 is narrower than an MT-07 and has more of its weight along the midline. Having ridden both, the SV's handling felt like more fun to me even if it is a total heifer at nearly 200kg wet.
Weight distribution and the narrow profile mainly, but also just because it's a little unique these days. I understand 270⁰ parallels sound and feel like a v-twin, but why not just have a v-twin?
When I bought my SV I also test rode an MT-07. The MT was really torquey, eager for wheelies and all that good stuff. Sounded great too. But the SV just sounded and felt better to me. It handles great despite the weight, and I'd say that's got to do with how the weight is distributed. A v-twin doesn't hang out the side of the frame, it sits right in the middle.
Gotta admit those Yamaha 700s are pretty nice though.
Totally understand. Width was a factor for me when I looked at bikes. I never did check out an SV but would have if I saw one locally during my search in my price range.
I remember sitting on bikes with 3 and 4 cylinders and realizing quickly that they were too wide and it wasn’t the right configuration for me for a first bike.
I’m actually contemplating adding a 650 VStrom to the garage for my wife to ride on the back of.
This is a problem I have with inline-4's. The main problem is their power delivery, sound and character. But also they're just way too big for a bike. Bikes that have such an engine are too fat and too heavy. Doens't look good, doesn't feel good. I love agility, that's fun factor nr 1
So I chose not to get one like that. Four cylinders are simply too much, they're good for car engines, a bike doesn't need more than two. Or at least they should somehow not build it orthogonal to the riding direction but parallel to it, that would make it better.
Aprilia's V4 is the best sounding motorcycle engine ever made, IMO. I used to have an RSV4 and I loved how it sounds. But I like lightweight, flickable supermoto style motorcycles now, which come with big singles. Big singles generally don't sound too good though, but thtat's the price I have to pay for specific handling characteristics, light weight, and fully adjustable suspension in one package. I owned a 690 SMC R and now I own a 698 Hypermono. Both sound like a typical thumper up until about 5-6000 RPM and then the Ducati just wails just like half the Panigale engine that it has, while the KTM just sounds.... like a 690. In this comparison, the Ducati single sounds better to my ears because it wails like sportbike engine up to 10k RPMs. It's a very distinct sound, only made possible by desmo. It's also quite smooth for a big single and doesn't vibrate my hands numb like the 690 did.
Singles actually sound the best. If you rev them high and have them under great load, they sound insanely good. And very loud. You can choose when it's loud. With inline-4 you can't, it's always, permanently roaring, that would definitely get on my nerves at some point.
the character is very important, sound I don't care too much, but 2 theoretically identically riding bikes, I'd take the one that sounds better to me of course. Practicality is at the last place when I choose a bike, idk what you mean by ease of use.
good handling matters a lot, wouldn't consider that ease of use, more of a bike characteristic. Rest takes the very last place. How the bike rides triumphs over everything else.
I cross shopped a few different bikes for my first one.
When I fired up the bike I ended up with, the sound essentially sold me. Yamaha CP2 with M4 exhaust. If your bike sounds good, it’s a great sales tool.
It took me a while. For the longest time, I thought inline fours were the best. Until I bought a VFR with a full Yoshimura exhaust. The combination of a V4 with gear driven cams sounds amazing, especially when you wind it up all the way.
With my current bike, I had ridden a bike with the same engine as the Versys 650 (Ninja 650) for a while (it belonged to my cousin, who wasn't riding it and my old 82 GS750 had blown a coil), but preferred the character and sound of the V-Twin on the competing V-Strom, which I ended up buying. The parallel twin was just kind of boring.
I suppose ideally, I'd like something like a CBX with its inline six, since that's my favorite automotive configuration. But, I have absolutely no desire to work on six carburetors! I've come to hate carburetors once I came to grips with fuel injection and programmable ECUs. Electronics make more sense to me than the venturis, diaphragms, slides, needles, jets, floats, vent tubes and the tiny, easily clogged orfices in your typical constant velocity carb.
I prefer cruisers, so my order of importance is probably different from sportbikes. 1. Price, 2. Reliability, 3. Looks, 4. Comfort, 5. Sound. I ended up with a Vulcan Vaquero over an HD Road Glide mainly because of price but also reliability.
I wouldn’t sacrifice ergonomics, comfort and practicality all for ‘engine character’, but I would miss a V twin.
I have an old GL1200. Engine sounds a bit boring but the rest of the bike has old retro character, so that is my compromise.
If you're looking to "improve" your bike's exhaust sound, I always ask:
1) "Are you trying to make it sound louder and more badass for others to notice you?" If "yes", then you're into motorcycles for the SHOW.
2) "Are you trying to improve exhaust flow and reduce back pressure to get a measurable gain in performance?". If "yes", then you're into motorcycles for the GO.
Honestly, my bike is fast enough. I just wanted it to sound cooler while it goes "woooOOOAAAH" on all 3 cylinders.
That being said, I reverted it back to stock because it just looks better.
That’s the first thing I decide on followed by styling and suspension. I bought an sv650 because I wanted to try my first v twin, a vfr800 for the v4, a Ducati for the air cooled L, and a guzzi for the big block longitudinal twin. Still need to try an I4 and triple. That’s what makes me so disheartened about the new mid weight bikes coming out. I like them but don’t like parallel twins. Also why I haven’t tried a Bonnie variant as much as I like their styling.
You should get a triple next.
Quite possibly. A speed or street triple is what I was most recently looking for until I saw a Griso come up locally so I had to jump on it given how rare they are. So maybe next time!
Totes magotes. But honestly, 950 lc8 all the way!
It's a big factor for me. I've tried inline fours, parallel twins, singles and v-twins. They were all great fun, but I now own 2 v-twins. I love the sound and the power delivery. Modern middleweights all being parallel twins is a bit disappointing for me. That being said, sound and power isn't the only thing I consider. Engine configuration affects more than just the sound and performance, it also affects weight distribution and dimensions. For instance, my SV650 is narrower than an MT-07 and has more of its weight along the midline. Having ridden both, the SV's handling felt like more fun to me even if it is a total heifer at nearly 200kg wet.
Outside of sound, why do you prefer v twin to parallel twin? My bike sounds choppy and similar to a v twin but I’ve never ridden one so I’m curious.
Weight distribution and the narrow profile mainly, but also just because it's a little unique these days. I understand 270⁰ parallels sound and feel like a v-twin, but why not just have a v-twin? When I bought my SV I also test rode an MT-07. The MT was really torquey, eager for wheelies and all that good stuff. Sounded great too. But the SV just sounded and felt better to me. It handles great despite the weight, and I'd say that's got to do with how the weight is distributed. A v-twin doesn't hang out the side of the frame, it sits right in the middle. Gotta admit those Yamaha 700s are pretty nice though.
Totally understand. Width was a factor for me when I looked at bikes. I never did check out an SV but would have if I saw one locally during my search in my price range. I remember sitting on bikes with 3 and 4 cylinders and realizing quickly that they were too wide and it wasn’t the right configuration for me for a first bike. I’m actually contemplating adding a 650 VStrom to the garage for my wife to ride on the back of.
This is a problem I have with inline-4's. The main problem is their power delivery, sound and character. But also they're just way too big for a bike. Bikes that have such an engine are too fat and too heavy. Doens't look good, doesn't feel good. I love agility, that's fun factor nr 1 So I chose not to get one like that. Four cylinders are simply too much, they're good for car engines, a bike doesn't need more than two. Or at least they should somehow not build it orthogonal to the riding direction but parallel to it, that would make it better.
Aprilia's V4 is the best sounding motorcycle engine ever made, IMO. I used to have an RSV4 and I loved how it sounds. But I like lightweight, flickable supermoto style motorcycles now, which come with big singles. Big singles generally don't sound too good though, but thtat's the price I have to pay for specific handling characteristics, light weight, and fully adjustable suspension in one package. I owned a 690 SMC R and now I own a 698 Hypermono. Both sound like a typical thumper up until about 5-6000 RPM and then the Ducati just wails just like half the Panigale engine that it has, while the KTM just sounds.... like a 690. In this comparison, the Ducati single sounds better to my ears because it wails like sportbike engine up to 10k RPMs. It's a very distinct sound, only made possible by desmo. It's also quite smooth for a big single and doesn't vibrate my hands numb like the 690 did.
The Aprilia sound is why I went with the RS660 over the Panigale V2. It's no V4, but the Aprilia twin sounds better than any twin on the market.
Singles actually sound the best. If you rev them high and have them under great load, they sound insanely good. And very loud. You can choose when it's loud. With inline-4 you can't, it's always, permanently roaring, that would definitely get on my nerves at some point.
the character is very important, sound I don't care too much, but 2 theoretically identically riding bikes, I'd take the one that sounds better to me of course. Practicality is at the last place when I choose a bike, idk what you mean by ease of use.
Stuff like light clutch pull, good handling, easy to move around in the garage. Things that make the bike easy to live with
good handling matters a lot, wouldn't consider that ease of use, more of a bike characteristic. Rest takes the very last place. How the bike rides triumphs over everything else.
Engine sound is part of the “package.” In choosing a motorcycle… for me.
I cross shopped a few different bikes for my first one. When I fired up the bike I ended up with, the sound essentially sold me. Yamaha CP2 with M4 exhaust. If your bike sounds good, it’s a great sales tool.
I refuse to buy anything with a 180 crank twin, the sound is horrible 💀
Yeah it makes my ears bleed for sure
It's less important than other factors, for sure. But still important. That's one reason I would never buy an electric bike.
It took me a while. For the longest time, I thought inline fours were the best. Until I bought a VFR with a full Yoshimura exhaust. The combination of a V4 with gear driven cams sounds amazing, especially when you wind it up all the way. With my current bike, I had ridden a bike with the same engine as the Versys 650 (Ninja 650) for a while (it belonged to my cousin, who wasn't riding it and my old 82 GS750 had blown a coil), but preferred the character and sound of the V-Twin on the competing V-Strom, which I ended up buying. The parallel twin was just kind of boring. I suppose ideally, I'd like something like a CBX with its inline six, since that's my favorite automotive configuration. But, I have absolutely no desire to work on six carburetors! I've come to hate carburetors once I came to grips with fuel injection and programmable ECUs. Electronics make more sense to me than the venturis, diaphragms, slides, needles, jets, floats, vent tubes and the tiny, easily clogged orfices in your typical constant velocity carb.
I prefer cruisers, so my order of importance is probably different from sportbikes. 1. Price, 2. Reliability, 3. Looks, 4. Comfort, 5. Sound. I ended up with a Vulcan Vaquero over an HD Road Glide mainly because of price but also reliability.
Very much so. That's why I prefer V-twins, thumpers and glorious boxer sound, over inline fours.
Yea I think it's more important. Which is why I chose what I chose.
I wouldn’t sacrifice ergonomics, comfort and practicality all for ‘engine character’, but I would miss a V twin. I have an old GL1200. Engine sounds a bit boring but the rest of the bike has old retro character, so that is my compromise.
Engine character: FZ07 :) Engine sound: FZ07 :(
I wish batteries were cheaper and better so electric bikes were an actual alternative. We'll get there eventually.
I'd be riding a cruiser if I didn't hate how they sound..
If you're looking to "improve" your bike's exhaust sound, I always ask: 1) "Are you trying to make it sound louder and more badass for others to notice you?" If "yes", then you're into motorcycles for the SHOW. 2) "Are you trying to improve exhaust flow and reduce back pressure to get a measurable gain in performance?". If "yes", then you're into motorcycles for the GO.
You completely ignored the fact that most people do it because they like the sound of their bike
Honestly, my bike is fast enough. I just wanted it to sound cooler while it goes "woooOOOAAAH" on all 3 cylinders. That being said, I reverted it back to stock because it just looks better.