Parallel Twins

[Bob_Defly]

Parallel twins seem to be the go-to engine right now, from a cost and efficiency perspective. I don't think I've ridden one, but have a friend who despises them as having no character at all. I have no idea if he is right.

So are they all crap, and built to hit a cost / emissions target, or are there any good characterful ones out there?

[Drabbesttunic]

Bob_Defly said:

Parallel twins seem to be the go-to engine right now, from a cost and efficiency perspective. I don't think I've ridden one, but have a friend who despises them as having no character at all. I have no idea if he is right.

So are they all crap, and built to hit a cost / emissions target, or are there any good characterful ones out there?

All engines have their own character, the MT07 is a peach. Likewise the TRX850.

[Tribal Chestnut]

I rode an ER6 once, quite enjoyed it. Would happily commute on similar, maybe even turn one into a silly
track bike (edit: not proper super-twins style, just a few mods to a standard ER6N)

Edited by Tribal Chestnut on Wednesday 8th March 16:32

[KTMsm]

ER6 is a great starter bike but I wouldn't say it's a great engine

MT07 has a lot of punch for urban riding but again it's not a great engine

The BMW twins are dull as ditchwater

Although I don't go crazy over the KTM LC8 V twin either

I like triples, particularly the 1050, which I've heard others say is dull - if we all agreed there wouldn't be such choice on offer

[RizzoTheRat]

Saying all parallel twins are crap suggests he hasn't ridden many as as they all have different character. My old 1991 TDM 850 was a 360 crank, my current TDM 900 is a 270 crank and they're noticeably different. Although if your mate's a fan of high reving 4's then maybe he just doesn't like twins of any configuration, as they tend to be lower revving but torquier.

[STe_rsv4]

RS660 owner

Never had a parallel twin prior to this
Had 400/600/1000cc IL4s, V twins, a triple and a V4.

Only had it 9 month but loving it so far.
Lovely sound, more than enough power (100bhp), excellent engine response, pretty frugal considering the performance (averaging 65mpg).

I understand Parallel twins had abit of a bad rep years ago for being boring & soulless.
definitely try one of the new breed.

[Krikkit]

A good primer for crank angles and what differences they make in twins:



The only one I've ridden is a Kwak ER6N which was a 180° and very boring motor. The exciting ones all seem to be 270° cranks, and very well reviewed.

[Steve Bass]

Bob_Defly said:

Parallel twins seem to be the go-to engine right now, from a cost and efficiency perspective. I don't think I've ridden one, but have a friend who despises them as having no character at all. I have no idea if he is right.

So are they all crap, and built to hit a cost / emissions target, or are there any good characterful ones out there?

Not really no... pretty much as boring as it gets

[conkerman]

Going from a GS500e to a TRX 850 back in the day, it was hard to believe that they were both parallel twins.

the 270° crank makes a huge difference. See also Yamaha R1.

[RizzoTheRat]

See also:
I rode a Deauville, V-twins are crap
I rode a Diversion, IL4's are crap
etc

[gareth_r]

I like 360° and 270° vertical twins, and probably 315° but there was only one of those and I've never ridden a Nuda.

I'd never buy a 180° twin, though.

[carinaman]

I never knew that about the Nuda.

[BlackG7R]

Personal taste I suppose, but I've had singles, fours, and now a 700 twin in the Tenere. I reckon the engine is an absolute peach, and has plenty of character. I was originally impressed by its low down torque, but had assumed it wouldn't also rev that freely at the top end. But I was wrong, now it's "run-in" I've found it is also very free revving, I also like the sound it makes.

[iidentifyaswoke]

My last bikes have been
I4
V4
I2

Have tried a few V2s

Honestly, I think the difference between a 4 cylinder and a 2 cylinder is much, much bigger than the difference between a I2 and a V2.

Some V2s get a bad wrap as they are cheaper to make so they are often used in budget bike. Those bikes are crap because they are budget bikes, not because they have an I2 engine.

[chris4652009]

Bob_Defly said:

Parallel twins seem to be the go-to engine right now, from a cost and efficiency perspective. I don't think I've ridden one, but have a friend who despises them as having no character at all. I have no idea if he is right.

So are they all crap, and built to hit a cost / emissions target, or are there any good characterful ones out there?

The ones with 270deg crank are much more characterful in my experience...MT07 and the old TRX850 for example
180deg crank engines are horrible but given the choice I'd prefer a 270 if it was a choice at the point of purchase for the same model/bike

[carinaman]

iidentifyaswoke said:

Some V2s get a bad wrap as they are cheaper to make so they are often used in budget bike. Those bikes are crap because they are budget bikes, not because they have an I2 engine.

KTM Duke 890R - parallel twin without the budget brakes and suspension to the extent that Neeves said don't get the vanilla Duke 890 as the not so good chassis parts make the MT-09 and something else a better proposition. Street Triple maybe?

[airsafari87]

The Aprilia Tuono 660 / RS660 are brilliant, and likely the Tourag too, but I haven’t ridden one of them yet.

[stang65]

I've ridden quite a few BSA Twins, they were very characterful...but guessing you mean more recent even though they're all rubbish?

I had a '96 CB500 as a first bike and that was great. Really didn't have the low down torque everyone refers to in a twin but once it hit 7000rpm it was entertaining. Having said that it had 57hp and now 500cc twins only have 47hp due to licencing restrictions, despite fuel injection and 25 years of "progress", so I guess they might be bland.

Not sure why the TRX850 is getting approval, I rode a mate's and found it lacked low down and high up with a very mediocre middle. I didn't like it at all, but maybe that was a bad example (although it ran fine, and was maintained properly).

As has been said, I don't think an engine configaration can be considered bland as charater is determined by so much more than just layout of the cylinder. Also everyone has different taste, the BSA Twins I found characterful others would just think were old crap.

[gareth_r]

carinaman said:

I never knew that about the Nuda.

Oddly, it mimics the firing intervals of a Harley 45° v-twin.

[Biker9090]

Love my old cbf500. Thrash it and it has a real noticeable power surge at 8,000rpm ish that reminds me of my old two strokes.