There are lots of different engine configurations available out there - from singles to all kinds of twins, triples, inline-fours, V-4s, flat six and now even BMW's inline 6, a repeat of the old Hondas, Kawasakis and Benellis of the seventies.
Now we could debate the merits and disadvantages of these configurations, but I'm mainly interested in the sound.
I like singles. I loved my XR650L with a Supertrapp, and the intake sounded even better. One mechanic told me that he could hear "the angry beaver" in the air box. But singles also sound a bit 'simple'.
Inline-fours can sound great but I don't care much for them because they are everywhere and I grew up with the sound of four cylinders - in cars.
Triples are cool! I had a K75S and put a Supertrapp on it. But the sound wasn't really what I wanted, it only sounded cool at low revvs around 3000rpm; then it sounded like an old 6 cyl inline english roadster, like a Triumph or a Healey. Here in Phuket I hear triples every day; unfortunately they are 900cc Daihatsu engines in the little tuk-tuks and sound lame.
I had lots of expectations when Honda came out with the flat six - with a cool exhaust system I expected it to sound like a Porsche. But it didn't even come close.
V4s have potential; I had an old 750 Sabre which sounded quite impressive. Not many V4 on the market these days.
That leaves us with twins, and there are lots of them. BMWs boxers come to mind. But I've never heard a BMW that sounded as cool as an old brit-bike. V-twins are my favorite engine configuration, but no narrow-angle cruisers, even though Harleys sound good. Nope, it's got to be 90 degrees. Great sounds from Ducati and Moto Guzzi! But Suzuki SVs and Honda's 1000cc bikes never sounded as good, even with after market exhausts.
Parallel twins I like the least, sound-wise. Sorry, Kawasaki Versys owners, but even with a cool can the short-stroke parallel twin may sound better than stock, but doesn't pull the fish off the plate. You may disagree, but I'd leave the stock muffler alone and spend the money on other accessories.
Only the older long-stroke parallel twins sound alright, like Triumphs, Nortons, even an old XS650. The new W800 sounds promising with its way long stroke.
Which configuration sounds best to you?
Now we could debate the merits and disadvantages of these configurations, but I'm mainly interested in the sound.
I like singles. I loved my XR650L with a Supertrapp, and the intake sounded even better. One mechanic told me that he could hear "the angry beaver" in the air box. But singles also sound a bit 'simple'.
Inline-fours can sound great but I don't care much for them because they are everywhere and I grew up with the sound of four cylinders - in cars.
Triples are cool! I had a K75S and put a Supertrapp on it. But the sound wasn't really what I wanted, it only sounded cool at low revvs around 3000rpm; then it sounded like an old 6 cyl inline english roadster, like a Triumph or a Healey. Here in Phuket I hear triples every day; unfortunately they are 900cc Daihatsu engines in the little tuk-tuks and sound lame.
I had lots of expectations when Honda came out with the flat six - with a cool exhaust system I expected it to sound like a Porsche. But it didn't even come close.
V4s have potential; I had an old 750 Sabre which sounded quite impressive. Not many V4 on the market these days.
That leaves us with twins, and there are lots of them. BMWs boxers come to mind. But I've never heard a BMW that sounded as cool as an old brit-bike. V-twins are my favorite engine configuration, but no narrow-angle cruisers, even though Harleys sound good. Nope, it's got to be 90 degrees. Great sounds from Ducati and Moto Guzzi! But Suzuki SVs and Honda's 1000cc bikes never sounded as good, even with after market exhausts.
Parallel twins I like the least, sound-wise. Sorry, Kawasaki Versys owners, but even with a cool can the short-stroke parallel twin may sound better than stock, but doesn't pull the fish off the plate. You may disagree, but I'd leave the stock muffler alone and spend the money on other accessories.
Only the older long-stroke parallel twins sound alright, like Triumphs, Nortons, even an old XS650. The new W800 sounds promising with its way long stroke.
Which configuration sounds best to you?