Dirt ad Trail Online Nov 2020

ENGINES
Turning Fuel Into Smiles:
have a unique machine, we are
All about Engines:
really spoiled for choice.
We ran a feature similar to this about
5 years ago – and we figured that it’s Will this continue?
time for a refresher course. We are We hope so. Whilst there is a push
often asked about the differences for electric tech – nothing, in our
between all of the engine types and humble opinion will replace the
configurations. This should shed sheer emotion delivered by an
some light on the topic… Specifically internal combustion engine. And
for motorcycles…
electric technology is still rather
expensive…
The engine on a motorcycle has always
been a central feature. Unlike a car’s
engine that is hidden beneath the bonnet,
it is a feature slap-bang in the centre and
sometimes even a part of the frame that
demands attention.
Think Triumph, you think Triple. Think
KTM – V-Twin. Harley – a different kind
of V, Japanese – inline four. Beemer –
Boxer, Ducati – also Twin…
Although this is changing as engine tech
evolves and emission control laws get
tighter, many manufacturers have made
their engine configuration – a kind of
trade mark or manufacture feature.
Manufacturers have always made
their engines look good…with chrome,
anodizing, polished alloy, shiny black
covers and so-on.
The Japanese, of course have always
produced everything they can think of to
build sales and establish themselves.
They have had two and four-stroke
versions of everything possible except,
ironically the BMW style opposed twin.
They had one or two attempts at it in the
60’s and they left it to the Bavarians to
thunder on with the concept.
The Japanese have, and continue, to
produce everything from single-cylinder
bread and butter bikes right up to Vee
Fours, parallel twins, three cylinders,
as well as in line four cylinders. In the
recent past they flirted with a rotary
engine, as well as a couple of exotic six
cylinder offerings.
With computer aided design, it is
reasonably quick, cheap and reliable to
design a virtual engine and produce it in
small numbers, so perhaps we will still
be able to buy motorcycles with
exotic hearts for a long time
to come. 4 stroke. 2-stroke.
Diesel.
Rotary…here is the skinny:
What is a four stroke engine?
A four-stroke engine (also known
as four-cycle) is an internal
combustion engine in which the
piston completes four separate
strokes per combustion which
comprise a single operational
cycle. A stroke refers to the
full travel of the piston along
the cylinder, in either direction.
While risqué slang among some
automotive enthusiasts names
these respectively the “suck,”
How a 2-stroke works
A single cylinder
4-stroke engine.
Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!
The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optionalequipment available at additional cost.
Brett Swanepoel OR2 National Champion (Husqvarna FX350)
WINNING
FORMULA
With the agility of a 250 and a 450-rivalling power-to-weight ratio, the FX 350
strikes a competitive balance between power and handling. This appeals to
both professional and amateur riders alike, making for a more user-friendly
riding experience in all conditions. It is this versatility, paired with intelligent
traction and launch control, which makes the FX 350 one of the most
multitalented offroad motorcycles on the market.
FX 350
Photo By: www. ZCMC.co.za
Honda once even sold an oval 4 cylinder
engine that pretended to be a V-eight!
In a world where enthusiasts strive to