Motorcycle engines: design, principle of operation, technical characteristics

A lot of articles have been written about car engines, there is a lot of different information. There are not so many articles, diagrams, or descriptions about motorcycle engines. Let's try to fill this gap. There are quite a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts. Among them there are also beginners who still know little about the design of internal combustion engines in motorcycles.

Motor vehicles are predominantly equipped with two-stroke, four-stroke, rotary and boxer engines. The latter are not so widespread, but certain manufacturers use them.

General structure and principle of operation

Motorcycles are equipped with units in the combustion chambers of which the thermal energy released from fuel combustion is converted into mechanical energy. The piston of a motorcycle engine receives the energy of combustion products, after which reciprocating movements begin. Thanks to the crank mechanism, the crankshaft rotates. These are the main components in the internal combustion engine.

The crank mechanism is practically no different from a car engine. The piston group is also not much different. The piston here has several rings, a connecting rod and a pin. The total volume of the engine cylinders consists of the working one, as well as the volume (this path will be conditionally V) of the cylinders. The ratio of the total displacement of a motorcycle engine to V cylinders is called the compression ratio. The higher the compression ratio, the more efficient the engine will operate. In modern engines, the compression ratio can reach 9-10 units. And sports engines can have better characteristics - from 12 and above. It must be said that the design of two-stroke and four-stroke engines is slightly different. Let's look at the differences between them now.

Aprilia RSV4 RR, RSV4 RF (model 2016) - 198.5 hp. at 13,000 thousand rpm

Second place in the ranking. The compiled list clearly shows how difficult it is for motorcycle manufacturers today to cross the threshold of 200 hp. What a difficult task this is.

More recently, the Aprilia model had a “modest” 181 hp engine, but the latest tweaks for the 2021 model year motorcycle have made a serious improvement in it. The result is obvious - 198.5 hp, the most powerful production liter bike currently sold in America.

It’s surprising but true why so few people buy such a technological masterpiece.(?)

Four stroke engine

In motors of this design, the cycle is four power strokes. What is the essence of his work? In one cycle, the crankshaft makes two revolutions. During the intake phase, the crankshaft goes to bottom dead center, and the fuel mixture enters the cylinder under the influence of vacuum. Next comes the compression stroke. What is happening at this moment? The piston rises and compresses the working mixture. At this time, the intake and exhaust valves are closed and the fuel is ignited by a spark plug. When fuel burns, gases expand significantly and produce useful work. Next, the piston, when moving upward, squeezes the gases through the exhaust valve.

What to do when buying used equipment?

To choose a second-hand road motorcycle, you must pay attention to the condition of the engine (listen to it for extraneous noise, crackling, knocking, etc.), check the front fork for serviceability, and familiarize yourself with the behavior of the bike low speed, try to accelerate and brake sharply.

If during driving the equipment did not stall, did not knock, quickly picked up speed and also dropped it sharply, it means that the compression is in order, the carburetor and ignition are adjusted, the generator is working (especially if the driving was with the high beams on for 20-30 minutes).

It is very useful to talk with the previous owner of the “iron horse” before purchasing. No one else, only he, can tell in detail about the positive and negative aspects of this device. It’s great if the owner has already carried out a number of restoration work on his motorcycle. This includes a major overhaul of the engine, replacement of old seals with new ones, inspection of the wiring and general condition of the unit.

When buying a two-wheeled car secondhand, you must pick up the technical passport and take a receipt. Even if it is not notarized, this is already a big plus.

V-shaped two-cylinder unit

This unit is one of the most ancient. But today this scheme is still alive and in use. This design with two cylinders, a common crankpin and a V-shape design has no problems with the oscillating couple effect. The best cylinder camber angle is considered to be 90 degrees. Vibrations from this unit during operation are negligible.

This is an almost perfect motorcycle engine, but the camber angle makes the dimensions larger, making it difficult to mount it in the frame. But it is possible to do this - this is confirmed by motorcycles from Ducati. This arrangement is unconventional, but it is still found on sports cars participating in world championships.

Opposite

A piston internal combustion engine with rows of cylinders positioned at an angle of 180 degrees relative to each other. Reaching the dead center of the opposing pistons occurs simultaneously (mirrored). Very similar to the V-twin engine, but the difference is in the degree of cylinder placement. Used by BMW and in our Urals and Dnieper. Pros: high torque, cylinders are well cooled, center of gravity is low. Cons: wide design and difficult to assemble (especially the gas distribution mechanism).

Our recommendation is to purchase original components. We cooperate with manufacturing plants Suzuki and Honda and supply contract spare parts that are tested by specialists. Write to our employees, they will help you choose the right part.

Two stroke motor

In motorcycle engines of this design, the working cycle is completed in one revolution of the crankshaft. Another feature is the absence of an inlet and outlet valve in the design. Their function is assigned to the pistons. The latter, when moving, open and close channels for supplying the fuel mixture and releasing exhaust gases. On some models, a reed valve may be installed on the inlet. Under the piston in two-stroke engines there is a crankcase, which also participates in the gas exchange process.

When the piston moves to top dead center, the fuel mixture enters the combustion chamber in the sub-piston space. Gases remaining from the previous cycle are released through the space above the piston. When the windows close, the compression stroke begins. At top dead center, the mixture is ignited by a spark. Gases are then formed during combustion, they expand and push the pistons down. When the latter drop two-thirds of the stroke, a window into the exhaust system will open. A new portion of the working mixture will flow through other windows. And when lowering, the piston will create the necessary pressure. This process is called purging, and the channels are called purging. Modern engines have a large number of channels. This is the so-called return-loop blowing.

Can you trust the odometer?

On most old classic motorcycles, the odometer is mechanical and its readings, with some skill, can be adjusted to any value. With electronic devices (including on-board computers of modern foreign cars), the same operations can be carried out if you have the appropriate software. The odometers themselves are interchangeable within the same model, and in the case of “China” – even between different manufacturers.

The previous owner of the bike could have distorted the indicators unconsciously, without malicious intent. By replacing the gear ratio in the gearbox, the driven sprocket, the wheel, or simply by installing tires that are not the standard size. Depending on where the speedometer (odometer) takes data, it may show not actual, but estimated mileage. Sometimes the device may simply be broken, and who knows how many kilometers the bike has traveled since then?

Two-stroke in-line two-cylinder internal combustion engines

Almost all motors operating on this principle operate according to the same scheme. It uses a crankshaft, and the connecting rod journals on it are located at angles of 180 degrees. These models have fewer disadvantages than their four-stroke counterparts. This can be attributed to the fact that the spark in each cylinder jumps after a full revolution of the crankshaft. As a result, there is no uneven flash, which is found in four-stroke engines.

But the effect of the so-called swinging pair is great. At high crankshaft speeds, this effect can manifest itself in obsessive vibrations. The problem is further complicated by the fact that these two-cylinder engines require separate chambers. This means the design has a central main bearing, as well as oil seals. As a result, the crankshaft will be wider than in its four-stroke counterpart.

BMW S1000RR - 190.4 hp at 12.500 thousand rpm

Just recently, the previous HP4 model (derived from the S1000RR) could only be content with the last place in the table. The new basic road version of 2015 has caught up, its capabilities have increased today, to the same 190 hp. It is noteworthy that the year before last, sportbikes with similar engine power could only count on sixth place in the ranking. What we mean is how quickly the technology of new generations of internal combustion engines is moving forward.

Two-stroke V-twin engine

An engine built according to this design is now a rarity. One example of such a unit is the NS 250 from Honda.

It was created primarily for the Japanese market. Since the motor is two-stroke, a separate crank chamber is required, which is structurally impossible to do. The “swinging couple” cannot be avoided, but the forces that are characteristic of two-stroke engines do not apply here.

BALTMOTORS MARINE DAME 265/280

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Using technological experience and selecting the best suppliers on the market, Baltmotors offers high-quality Deima boats that can be equipped with Baltmotors Marine motors.

PECULIARITIES

In-line three-cylinder engine

This transversely mounted unit is a development of the in-line two-cylinder engine. Engineers tried to find compromises between vibration and the size of the four-cylinder internal combustion engine. This scheme was the main one in the 70s.

There are many examples of this. Basically, Japanese Suzuki and Kawasaki equipment was used with in-line three-cylinder engines. There are other motor design schemes. These are four-cylinder, six-cylinder in-line and V-shaped units.

There are never too many repairs?

How to determine the resource if, against the backdrop of a solid mileage, there is an abundance of clearly “fresh” (or foreign) spare parts in the motorcycle? On the one hand, this is an understandable matter, especially if we are talking about old models, such as domestic “opposite” cars, stock spare parts for which have not been produced for a couple of decades. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find a completely complete, serviceable, not repainted (at least partially) old Ural Stroller in the factory version. On the other hand, the bike can be not just well-groomed and in good working order, but extremely tuned, technically – not at all the same as it came off the assembly line. Frequent repairs and active tuning can either help or harm a motorcycle, worsening handling or power characteristics. An unsuccessful “experiment” may be “dead” already within the first hundred.

By and large, an old motorcycle that was regularly ridden, which was honestly maintained and diligently updated, will be in better condition than a newer machine with less mileage, on which nothing was changed, but was serviced “from time to time.” If you find it difficult to assess the “condition-mileage” ratio on your own, submit the equipment to an independent expert judge (fortunately, there are now plenty of places where diagnostics can be carried out).

Device

The placement of the cylinders here is opposed (the same as on other Soviet motorcycles in the heavy class). In terms of design features and technical characteristics, this is a domestic forced internal combustion engine for road-type motorcycles.

Cylinders located horizontally are cooled much better, and the crank mechanism is better balanced. As for the power system, the engineers provided a separate carburetor for each cylinder. This made starting easier and increased the power of the motorcycle engine.

Unit index – MT8. In addition to design differences, it was superior to other engines in technical characteristics. So, the power is 32-35 horsepower. The maximum speed was 90-105 kilometers per hour if the motorcycle was equipped with a sidecar. Fuel consumption was six liters per 100 kilometers. At the same time, the engine capacity of the motorcycle is only 650 cubic centimeters.

Supply system

Gasoline with an octane number of at least 93 is used as fuel for carburetor motorcycles.

Motorcycle engines have a power supply system that includes a fuel tank, valve, filter, air filter and carburetor. Gasoline is located in a tank, which in most cases is installed above the engine in order to flow by gravity into the carburetor. In other cases, it can be supplied using a special pump or vacuum drive. The latter can be found on two-stroke bikes.

The fuel tank has a cap with a special hole where air enters. In many foreign motorcycles, however, air enters through carbon tanks. And some have a lock on the lid.

The fuel valve prevents fuel leakage.

Air enters the carburetor through the air filter. The filter comes in three types.

1. In the compact oil type, air enters the center, turns 180 degrees and passes into the filter. At the same time, it is cleaned when the flow turns, where heavy particles settle in the oil. The engine of the Ural and Izh motorcycles is equipped with such a filter. However, other types, paper and foam, are used abroad.
2. Paper filters are disposable. They must be changed at every maintenance.
3. Foam filters are reusable - they can be washed and re-soaked with oil.

Sports motorcycles with engines of 250 cc and above today have a so-called “direct intake” system, where air is taken in from the front of the fairing, thereby increasing the filling of the cylinders at high speeds.

Design advantages

The main difference between this engine and all others is the combustion chambers of a more advanced design. They have a cast iron sleeve, which is enclosed in an aluminum alloy cooling jacket. There are no longer cast iron cylinders, which were constantly subject to overheating on Urals and other heavy motorcycles.

This approach made it possible to significantly improve cooling and completely eliminate the operation of the internal combustion engine in overheating mode. At the Urals they came to such a design only in the early 80s. Another feature is a monolithic, rather than composite, crankshaft, as well as liners in the lower heads on the connecting rods (rather than rolling bearings). This made it possible to significantly reduce noise. Owners also have the opportunity to easily repair the motorcycle engine (in particular, the crankshaft). Moreover, such repairs can be performed up to four times. It was believed that this unit often jammed due to these same liners. In fact, the engine jammed not because of this, but because of the negligence of the owners. The oil was not changed in a timely manner; low-quality oils were used in the motorcycle engine. The only drawback of this power unit is the imperfect oil filtration process using a centrifuge. Otherwise the technology was good and very modern.

Yamaha V-Max - 197.4 hp at 9,000 thousand rpm

Another motorcycle legend, the V-Max model. Despite its very strange roots in the intricacies of which obvious signs of incest are visible, this model of a sportbike shows quite good results time after time. Its huge 1.679 cc engine easily produces 197.4 hp. at 9,000 thousand rpm. The Americans received such indicators during their measurement tests. In terms of torque, this 1.6 liter engine was head and shoulders above all other competitors.

The only negative about this V-Max model, which is logical, is that it is excessively heavy.

IZh engines

Created in 1987 at the Izhevsk plant, the IZH motorcycle is still popular among motorcycle enthusiasts. And there is something to love about it - it is a reliable and high-quality motorcycle. It has a strict classic design and a number of advantages over “Jupiter”. However, there is also a minus - the crankshaft of the IZH motorcycle engine is much larger and more massive. What does this affect? Due to this, the engine operates at lower speeds, resulting in reduced power. This is a two-stroke single-cylinder engine. It is filled with a mixture of oil and gasoline.

With a power of 22 horsepower, the motorcycle engine capacity is 346 cubic centimeters. This is a good indicator for such a small volume. If you use the unit to the maximum, you can reach a speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

Units

Another common unit of measurement for power is horsepower.

Relationships between power units

Chinese engines

Nowadays, not everyone can afford to restore domestic motorcycles or purchase high-quality Japanese or American motorcycles. Chinese products are much cheaper and are in good demand. There are no engines that would have been developed by Chinese engineers. All units are recycled internal combustion engines from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or sold licensed units from the same brands. Four-stroke copies are of quite high quality, as they are manufactured on Japanese lines. But many people have purely negative opinions regarding two-stroke internal combustion engines.

Motors from China have two markings. One is used for internal use, and the second is needed for the rest of the world. The first letters in the name are the plant. The number 1 means that the engine has one cylinder, 2 means that it has two. The third letter is volume. So, I is a 125 cm3 motorcycle engine. A, B - 50 cm3, G - up to 100 cm3. L – up to 200 cubic centimeters.

Owners of Chinese licensed engines claim that in terms of quality and technical characteristics, as well as reliability, they are much better than domestic power units. They are also practically problem-free - you need to understand that this is not Chinese folk art, but a motor manufactured under license. Even a 250cc Chinese motorcycle engine will have a sufficient level of reliability.

What classes of motorcycles are there?

Classicism

Text by Vladimir Zdorov

Photo Editorial Archive

>>Class inequality in the context of history can lead to revolutions and civil wars. But if we are talking about motorcycles, then it is an ocean of types and categories, with their own subcultures, implying a certain dress code and even behavior for the owners...

It should be noted that this topic is quite slippery and it’s true that each manufacturer has its own, for example, the BMW company introduced the purely automobile term roadster into the designation of its road models and, curiously, for many years now even specialized publications have been using it without any doubt. If you don’t go into the specific jungle that can lead to Adam and Eve, then, in a simplified way, all types of motorcycles can be divided into only... five classes! Yes, such blasphemy! That is, these are road cars, “pure athletes” (MotoGP, WSBK, Speedway, trials, rally raids, etc.), off-road vehicles, scooters and motorcycles with sidecars! As if everything... But everything is not so simple, so you have to go a little deeper.

Road motorcycles

Motorcycles with a direct riding position and a minimum of plastic. Sometimes they are also called classic motorcycles, and, as a result, modern replicas of cars that were produced in the middle of the last century have deservedly been called neoclassics. Typical representative: Honda CB 1100 EX.

Sportbikes

Motorcycles with an embryonic riding position and other features of exclusively sports cars: low clip-ons, a sea of ​​plastic, forced engines. Modern civilian sportbikes have long since stepped firmly towards the 200 hp mark, and some models have even jumped over this bar... The purebred racing counterparts of sportbikes are called superbikes and, although manufacturers formally talk about the almost complete similarity of their racing and civilian cars, this is not so.

Judge for yourself: the cost of modern superbikes easily reaches 300,000 euros (against 15,000 - 30,000 euros for a motorcycle “from the store”) or even more, the engines develop about 220 hp, and the maximum speed can exceed 320 km/h. Such machines live in the WSBK world series, and there are also supersport class motorcycles there - with an engine capacity of 600 cm3. However, owners of serial six hundred cars also call them sportbikes.

Naked

The cheapest way to repair a broken sportbike is to throw out all the dead plastic and install straight handlebars instead of clip-ons. This is how the first naked shoes appeared (from the English naked - naked). Over time, factories caught on to the trend and began to produce such models in series. In most cases, they are created according to the “classic” recipe - that is, they “undress” the sportbike, making the pilot’s position a little more humane.

In other words, they are adapted for urban use. However, there are models that were originally designed specifically as naked bikes and they do not have sports bike parents in their pedigree. Another common name is streetfighter (that is, street fighter), essentially the same naked, but, as a rule, very cubical and “evil”.

A classic example: the Ducati Streetfighter and its antipode, the kind and defenseless naked BMWG310R.

Supermoto

According to one version, the hooligan French were the first to come up with such motorcycles. True, there are those who attribute this story to the Americans, although this does not change the concept of “building” a supermoto: ingredients unnecessary for asphalt were removed from a typical motocross machine. 17-inch wheels shod with road tires were installed at the front and rear, the suspension was sometimes lowered, and the brakes were strengthened. And voila, your bike for street madness is ready!

Of course, manufacturers did not stand aside and began to mass-produce such models, for example, the KTM 690SMC and its amorphous antipode, which has already sunk into oblivion, the Honda FMX 650. Sometimes cars of this class are also called motards.

Hyperbikes

The ancestor of this class can be considered the CBR1100XX Super Blackbird motorcycle, presented to the public in 1996. It is believed that this was the first production motorcycle to reach 300 km/h (however, three-digit values ​​were obtained with the help of tuning; the “official” maximum speed of the Drozd is 290 km/h).

Unlike sportbikes, hyperbike engines have long since surpassed the cubic capacity of 1000 cm3. Although this is not the main indicator and there are exceptions here, for example, the purebred sportbike Ducati 1290 Panigale has a 1300 cm3 engine, but this is precisely a sportbike.

The main thing for the manufacturer in the history with hyperbikes is precisely the power and speed characteristics, albeit at the expense of handling. Prominent representatives of the class: Suzuki GSX-R1300 Hayabusa and Kawasaki ZZR 1400.

Sports tourists

The main difference between “fitness tourists” and hyperbikes is a greater emphasis on comfort. The pilot's position is not so radical; often, instead of a chain, the main gear has a cardan, and sometimes the manufacturer uses integrated panniers. However, sports tourists should not be confused with “pure” tourists, which will be discussed a little further. Here are the classics: Kawasaki GTR1400, Yamaha FJR1300, Honda Pan European...

Touring motorcycles

Strongholds of sybaritism and comfort, both for driver and passenger: the most prominent representative of this class is the Honda GL1800 Gold Wing. Such motorcycles are an extract of the manufacturer’s capabilities, a bundle of technology and achievements. As the name suggests, the main purpose of these cars is to travel on asphalt. Built-in panniers are more of a standard here, sometimes such motorcycles are equipped with a music system right from the factory, you can often find six-cylinder engines, and the amenities include everything you can imagine, from cruise control to an electrically adjustable windshield.

Enduro

Motorcycles designed for riding both on roads and over rough terrain. The Americans call cars of this class Dual Purpose, that is, dual-purpose, which reflects their essence a little more accurately. The fact is that in this class there are several more branches - light enduro, more focused specifically on off-road, heavy models intended for tourism on roads of all directions. A striking representative of light enduro is the Honda XR250 and its opposite, the Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere, a heavy touring enduro. It is curious that the camp of heavy touring enduros also has its own antagonists: the Honda CRF1000L AfricaTwin with frankly off-road geometry: 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels and the asphalt-proof Ducati Multistrada.

Until last year, the latest model was generally a thing in itself, when in 2009 the Italians presented a new product in the Canary Islands, it was announced to the press that this was not an enduro at all, but a motorcycle for any direction, which is reflected in the name - Multistrada. However, the market dictates its conditions, and last year Ducati finally had the long-awaited Multistrada Enduro modification for bad roads: on spoked wheels, with advanced engine protection and a number of other important changes that allow you to move not only on the ideal gravel of a cottage village. Here it is quite possible to draw an analogy with the Porsche company, which “held out” for a very long time against the backdrop of its competitors embarking on all the heavy “crossover” deeds, but, in the end, gave up and launched one of its best-selling models on the market - the Porsche Cayenne.

Crossovers

This automotive term most accurately defines this type of motorcycle: endowed with features of both enduro and powerful road motorcycles, these creations of a mixture of classes, with rare exceptions, behave equally poorly both on and off the pavement. Cast wheels become a guaranteed connection only to good roads, and the wide and high handlebars (the key to a comfortable riding position for the rider), coupled with derated engines, finally make such motorcycles universal - that is, they are not the same. A striking example is the Kawasaki Versus, a mid-ranger that is successful in all disciplines, that is, a real crossover.

Choppers

The word chopper comes from the English to chop – to chop. In the post-war years, Americans began to have a tendency to remake stock motorcycles (often these were not Harley-Davidsons at all, but English Triumphs). During the “modernization” process, the fork rake mercilessly increased; the front wheel had to be narrow and at least 19 inches, but better -21! The rear, on the contrary, is 15, maximum 16 inches. The most orthodox owners got rid of the rear shock absorbers, resulting in a so-called hardtail frame - that is, without shock absorption for the rear wheel. The front brake was also sent to the landfill, sometimes along with the wing.

The tank is drop-shaped and has minimal volume! Facilities? This is secondary for the chopper - the main thing is style! If you've seen the movie EasyRider at least once, then you don't need to explain what a chopper looks like. Of course, over time, companies realized the elusive benefits and began to mass-produce such models; one of the modern representatives of this culture is the HarleyDavidsonDynaWideGlide. Of course, the guys from Milwaukee aren't the only ones basking in this theme. In addition to the Indian company, the Japanese quartet of motorcycle manufacturers also have similar motorcycles; the matter was not without the Koreans and the ubiquitous Chinese.

Cruisers

If we “groom” the chopper, return it to the normal fork offset, as well as the wheel sizes, make a large fuel tank and a natural, upright rider position, in other words, prepare the motorcycle for travel (cruise in English – travel, cruise), then we will get a cruiser class motorcycle , not to be confused with choppers and tourists! Sometimes cruisers, in terms of the number of amenities on board and size, grow to full-fledged tourists, then the result is cars such as the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra. However, the same Koreans, I’m not at all embarrassed, make motorcycles in the cruiser format with a ridiculous capacity of 250 cm3, an example is the Hyosung GV250.

Dragsters

Initially, dragsters were specially created vehicles exclusively for ¼ mile racing - a predominantly American pastime. However, over time, very powerful motorcycles began to be called this, where the manufacturer prioritized exclusively power and brutality and, preferably, no plastic. Subsequently, motorcycles appeared that only mimicked this style. It is generally accepted that the founder of this class in the world of civilian vehicles is the Yamaha V-Max 1200, a motorcycle created in 1985 by the Japanese that had a very decent 145 hp even by modern standards. and... not provided in the form of handling and any decent brakes. However, this in no way affected the model’s popularity and the army of its fans is still very numerous. The modern V-Max is equipped with a 2000 cm3 engine and develops 200 hp.

Baggers

Baggers are the fruit of marketers’ games to attract new customers. If the “tourist” is cut along the top line of the silhouette, the top case is removed and lowered as low to the ground as possible, then you will get a bagger. The style that Americans characterize as long & low, that is, low and long. Here a picture can be worth a thousand words, take a look, for example, at the Honda F6B Bagger or BMW K1600B Bagger.

Bobbers

Bobber (from the English bobber - “short-haired”) is a motorcycle that is as lightweight as possible from “extra” parts. The wings are either cut off or removed altogether, everything that can be permanently removed from the equipment, but in such a way that it moves at the same time, is removed. A distinctive feature is a bicycle-type seat (a true bobber is always single). The style originated in the 40-50s of the last century in the USA, and came to us relatively recently. As a rule, bobbers are built on the basis of large-capacity models.

Cafe racers

At the end of the 1950s, a “race track” appeared in London: from the Ace Cafe, the British organized races directly on the streets of the city, with an obligatory return to what later became a famous establishment, where they boasted about each other over a cup of the traditional 5 tho’ clock tea. friend with his exploits. Over time, the movement became popular and owners began to modify motorcycles. In general, the concept of changes was similar to bobbers, but with significant differences - low handlebars or clip-ons, fairings to reduce drag, that is, less shocking and more speed. Initially, cafe racers were predominantly British-based: Triumph Bonneville, Norton 500 Manx, Norton 30M; over time, motorcycles of this class began to be mass-produced, and other manufacturers also entered the new consumer clearing. A typical modern cafe racer is the Triumph Street Cup.

Scramblers

In the 50-70s, motorcycle manufacturers began to make their road models more universal: they installed engine protection, raised mufflers, and the wheels of such machines, as a rule, were spoked with rubber that had some claims for off-road use. Sometimes, in the manner of motocross motorcycles, the front wing was raised and the suspension travel was increased. Over time, interest in such machines gradually faded away, but in the last decade it has been revived again. Now there are several companies in our market that offer their vision of this class. Triumph Street Scrambler, Ducati Scrambler Icon, BMWR Ninet Scrambler... At its core, a scrambler is a vintage device, a nostalgic reading of the past in the refraction of the present, where today the tradition of such machines is continued by much more powerful and versatile crossovers.

Custom

From English – custom, made to order. Strictly speaking, any motorcycle made individually or to specific customer requirements, either in a single copy or in an extremely limited quantity.

As a rule, they are built on the basis of choppers, but they can also be made on any other basis, even a sportbike or scooter.

Mokicks and Mopeds

Small-capacity equipment up to 50 cm3, with a manual gearbox, either motorcycle type (foot-operated) or manual. Mokik is a derivative of motor + kickstarter, example – Delta or ZID 50 Pilot. Moped: motor + pedals, for example, Riga 13. Not to be confused with bicycles with outboard motors. In Soviet times, mini-mokies were also produced, Riga 26 “Mini”.

Scooters

From English – to scoot, to run away. A distinctive feature of most scooters is an opening for the driver’s feet, a developed hood that provides greater comfort than on a motorcycle, a CVT transmission and a motor-wheel unit located under the driver’s seat. However, there are exceptions. One of the most popular scooters of all time, which created an entire subculture, produced from 1946 to the present, Vespa is equipped with a manual gearbox. On the other side are huge maxi-scooters, in no way inferior to large touring motorcycles in terms of convenience and comfort. There are scooters designed for light off-road use, say, the Yamaha BWS 50, there are versions with two wheels in the front (Piaggio), and scooters with a roof over the driver's head.

Starting this year, the BMW C Evolution electric scooter has been introduced to our market (1,029,000 rubles for the basic version!), the electric motor of which produces 48 hp, and the manufacturer promises a power reserve of up to 160 kilometers... Until recently, the most common and popular class of scooters in our country there were cars with a volume of up to 50 cm3, since a driver’s license was not required to drive them. However, the legislation has changed and now category “M” is required for such equipment. In the Soviet past, a large number of scooters were produced, then they were usually called motor scooters: “Vyatka” (in many ways a copy of the “Vespa”), “Electron”, “Tula”, “Tulitsa”, “Tourist”...

There were also cargo modifications, for example, the Ant three-wheeled scooter, with a large cargo platform at the rear. Nowadays, numerous Chinese manufacturers have such options. Among the modern “trucks” of this format on our market, in addition to the countless “Chinese” ones little known to science, one can name the Indian Bajaj Avenger.

Scooteretta

An intermediate link between a scooter and a motorcycle. There are two main differences from a scooter: large, 17-inch wheels (on most scooters, the wheel diameter almost never exceeds 15 inches) and a manual transmission, albeit with an automatic clutch. The ancestor of the class is considered to be the Honda Cub, which has been produced since 1958 to the present! Even without taking into account numerous clones and fakes, about 90 million have already been released! This type of transport is most developed in Asian countries.

Pitbikes

It is believed that pit bikes came to us from the States, and they appeared thanks to... the laziness of mechanics and riders who did not want to move in technical areas on foot! Over time, this class has grown to quite serious proportions, where there are already options with engines with a displacement of 160 cm3 and a power of 30 hp. Such mini-motorcycles easily break the barrier of 100 km/h and require serious driving skills. In this format there are also mini-motards and mini-motos. The latter come in very tiny sizes, with engines of 40 cm3 and a curb weight of 25 kilograms. It should be noted that there are no fewer varieties in this category than there are illegal immigrants in Europe.

Motorcycles with sidecars

The once very popular motorcycles of this class have now completely lost their relevance. And what was not available in this format then: Jawa with the fantastically beautiful Velorex 562 stroller, the Izhevsk plant also made versions of its “Planets” and “Jupiters” with strollers. Nowadays Nezalezhnaya produced Dnepr, but all this is the past. Only the gentlemen from Irbit managed to survive in the dramatically changed market priorities, and now import about 1,500 units of products abroad per year. The export geography is wide: from Australia to America. Despite 3 modifications - Ural Retro, Ural Retro M70 and Ural CiTi - this is practically the same motorcycle. There are also options in the production line with a sidecar wheel drive, a real 2WD: Ural GearUp and Ural Patrol. The cost in Russia is in the range of 600,000 – 700,000 rubles, which largely explains the almost zero demand in the domestic market. Now motorcycles with sidecars are the lot of true connoisseurs of such machines.

Trikes

Roughly speaking, a trike can be called any vehicle with three wheels, but in our classification these will be three-wheeled motorcycles, where there will be one wheel in front and two in the back. Trike designs often rely heavily on automotive ingredients, down to the engines and suspension assemblies (for the rear of the car). It turns out to be a kind of centaur.

So all owners of the “regular” “B” can quite legally operate trikes. It should be noted that there are such very exclusive devices on our market, the prices are appropriate, for example, the Rewaco RF1 LT3 trike costs 2.5 million rubles. There are also designs where there are already two wheels in front and one in the back. In this field, one of the most successful manufacturers is the Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) with a whole line of machines of this class, for example the Can-Am Spyder F3. Sometimes such cars are also called roadsters, in fact, this is how BRP itself designates them, but technically they are still a trike.

At the junction of classes

Of course, all existing motorcycles cannot be fit into the classification framework, where do you put such exclusives as the Dodge Tomahawk with a 10-cylinder engine from a Dodge Viper or the absolutely insane Y2k with a gas turbine engine (made by Rolls-Royse) from a helicopter with a power of 420 (!) Horse power. There are also much more prosaic options, however, that do not fit into a certain class - I would not be surprised if soon the so-called howerbikes (flying motorcycles) become a reality, and in which class should we write the KTM 990 SMT, where SM is a supermoto, and T – tourism? The world is not static, which means that the gender tree of motorcycles will soon grow even more.

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Educational program

What exactly does “high mileage” mean to you?

Final question: what costs are you willing to spend for a good motorcycle? Stop buying new tires? Or will you go further - overhaul the engine, rebuild the suspension, repaint everything down to the screw? In terms of used motorcycles, “hitting the jackpot” is becoming more and more difficult, and for the vast majority of devices the ratio of purchase price to maintenance and repair costs is always more towards the latter. If you choose a cheap, lightweight two-stroke bike, you will repair it often, regularly, but little by little, and if you buy a “liter” tourer with dropsy, you will avoid repairs for a long time, but if it happens, you will have to fork out quite a bit.

The mileage completely loses its relevance if you are offered a completely complete legendary motorcycle. Like the Old Lady Java, Lend-Lease Harley WLA, or BMW R35 - for which the very fact of serviceable existence is already a feat, and a large number on the odometer is a natural sign of venerable age. Even if you are not a fan of oldtimers - tell me frankly - in what order should you look at the odometer when considering a “cult” model, or a copy of a bike that once touched you to the core? A truly “own” motorcycle is chosen with your heart, not your wallet. I'm sure a true motorcycle fan will agree with me.

Single cylinder

• Armstrong MT500
• BMW R2
• BMW R25
• BMW R26
• BMW R27
• BMW F650CS
• BSA Blue Star
• BSA C15
• BSA B44 Shooting Star
• Cagiva 350 SST
• DKW RT 125
• Ducati Mach 1
• Ducati Supermono
• Harley-Davidson Topper
• Harley-Davidson Baja 100
• Harley-Davidson MT350E
• Honda CB125
• Honda CBR250R/CBR300R
• Honda CRF series
• Honda Dream Yuga
• Honda Thunder
• Honda NF110i/125i
• Honda Rebel 300 (single cylinder, after model change in 2020)
• Honda Super Cub
• Honda Winner
• Honda XBR500
• Honda XL250
• Honda XL350R
• Husqvarna Vitpilen / Svartpilen 401
• Husqvarna Vitpilen / Svartpilen 701
• Honda XR250
• Kawasaki Z125 Pro
• Kawasaki KLR650
• Kawasaki Ninja 250SL
• KTM 200 Duke
• KTM 390 Duke
• KTM 690 Duke
• Langer's single "NSU Bison 2000" 2 liters
• Moto Guzzi Cardellino
• MV Agusta 125 SOHC
• MZ SM 125
• New Werner
• Norton CS1
• Peugeot Jetforce
• Royal Enfield Bullet
• Royal Enfield Himalayan
• Sachs MadAss
• Suzuki Boulevard S40
• Suzuki DR-Z400
• Suzuki DR650
• Suzuki Gixxer 150, 250, SF250
• Suzuki LS650 Savage
• Suzuki TU250
• Triumph Ricardo
• Tiger Cub Triumph
• Yamaha MT-03
• Yamaha SR400, SR500
• Yamaha T-150
• Yamaha XT225, XT250 (Serow)
• Yamaha XT 500, XT 600 (Ténéré)
• Hyosung GD250N
• Werner Dienstkrad 1440 cc single cylinder steampunk motorcycle. Cm
• Wilkinson T.M.C.