The parallel twin take over

[domarena33]

I'm a huge lover of V-twins in both sportbikes and cruisers but it seems the time of V-twins is over. The GSX-8R, the KTM 990 RC and the R7 to name a few. Yamaha even killed the R6 in a move to an inline triple (supposedly the R9) because of Euro 4 or 5 standards. I believe this twins change up is all due to European Emissions regulations as well. I'm gathering that they're still torque rich engines but with a flatter delivery of energy so there's at least a small delivery difference in the block layout between a I-2 and a V-2. Does anyone know what differentiates an inline twin from a V-twin as far as emissions regulations? Is it ease of production? Looking for a puzzle piece to connect the dots.

 

[domarena33]

Bumping this convo in case it got lost in the feed

 

[Motofun352]

Money is always the answer.

 

[rpm894]

New crate R6 engines are $5500. The more you buy, the longer you can stave off the decline of good bikes due to government manipulation.

 

[The B Team]

Money is always the answer.

This^. V twins are more expensive, more complicated, and more cumbersome than their V counterparts, both in design and in meeting emissions regs. SV is still homologated, but I expect that the 660 will become the dominant platform, looking at the numbers.

 

[The B Team]

New crate R6 engines are $5500. The more you buy, the longer you can stave off the decline of good bikes due to government manipulation.

If they (sportbikes) sold well in the first place, they wouldn't be dying off.

 

[MK3Brent]

If they (sportbikes) sold well in the first place, they wouldn't be dying off.

He refused to understand that.

 

[rpm894]

If they (sportbikes) sold well in the first place, they wouldn't be dying off.

There are plenty of sportbikes being sold. That’s why we keep seeing new models.

 

[The B Team]

I was referring to supersport (r6 and the like.)

 

[ctk62]

Parallel twins might not be the sexiest layout but they do allow you to have your cake and eat it too. Cheap, compact, light, powerful, nice sound with a 270 degree crank. What's not to like? That new KTM RC8C swapped a V twin for one and all the reviewers seem to love it. Personally 3 bangers are my favorite engine config but big high revving twins come in a close second.

 

[domarena33]

Parallel twins might not be the sexiest layout but they do allow you to have your cake and eat it too. Cheap, compact, light, powerful, nice sound with a 270 degree crank. What's not to like? That new KTM RC8C swapped a V twin for one and all the reviewers seem to love it. Personally 3 bangers are my favorite engine config but big high revving twins come in a close second.

Although not huge, there's a sound difference between the I-2 and the V-2 (the Ducati L-2 included). IMHO nothing comes close to the sound of a duck droning down a long straightaway. That sound which most people know, can be recognized from a distance. Again, just wondering what the specific pro's are as they're pretty similar engines i'd imagine

 

[ctk62]

V2's main advantage is perfect balance (no balance shaft), but that comes with more cost (2 cylinder heads) and more packaging challenges (longer front to back). I don't know if it's just a Ducati thing or what but I have to admit V2s are way prettier than I2s... but on the engineering side, for smaller + cheaper engines anyway, the I2 is better

 

[bmart]

I've tried to like Parallel twins for years...but it never worked out. I'd take a V or L anyday!