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+5 ^^
Who here has ridden the CrossPlane I4? I rode an R1 and was very surprised at how it simply made a different vibration. I really thought it would be smoother but its not. Its power delivery is great but its far from vibration free.
I had an 09 R1 crossplane crank. I totaled it in 2010. Yes I was injured.
The R1 was geared high and for good reason. It produced torque down low and that bike was always out of the gate at a surprising rate. If I could afford another I'd be on one again. The bad thing about that bike is the introduction to a different way of making power. It makes it hard to go back to the standard I4 feeling. That's why I opted for a short stroke V-twin instead of another I4 bike. If I could afford to have an FZ6 and keep my SV I would certainly do it because of the great performance features as well as the do it all character of the FZ6.
People talk about the crossplane engine having less oomph in the top revs. I guess you could say your cargo shorts are great except they're not long enough to keep your ankles warm. The fact is it does not have less. It produces power the way it's supposed to with torque early on and less inertial torque interference from the crank and awesome throttle control. It's oomph is bottom and midband torque that is much wider than a conventional I4. So it's work is done early in the game.
Ask Hildo about torque! Lol! His Rat Harley is 70 HP and the Honda is 180 HP.
The Rat produces torque that overcome the static inertia of a much heavier bike. Yes. If the Honda was given enough distance it would overtake the Rat and leave the Rat in the dust but the idea is how torque give an advantage.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myGMlgk3PuI"]Rat Bike Harley vs Fireblade - YouTube[/ame]
You really can't compare metric or American cruiser V-twin engines to the Ducati, SV/Widowmaker, RC51 and Superduke/RC8 V-twin engines. No I didn't forget Eric Buell's/Rotax V-twins. They are all V-twins but the design likeness stops there which is evident when you twist the throttle. Now we're seeing 1200cc V-twins producing 180 HP. and with the advantage of inherent V-twin torque.
Here's a twin working out on Pikes Peak.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiTPAusog4"]Greg Tracy's under 10:00 race run at Pikes Peak! - YouTube[/ame]
What about V-4's!? This is another great engine that I don't think we see enough of. RSV4, Tuono V4, and Honda is making the VFR again! Not as economical to produce or service?
I think we'll see a half faired I3 in the near future but then again shareholders are in boardrooms listening to marketeers! :tard:
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