How to Choose the Right Type of Bike Engine for Your Use

The engine is the heart of a two-wheeler. The type of engine used determines, to a great extent, the performance and mileage of a motorbike. Whether you use your bike for daily commuting or your annual road trip to the mountains, knowing about the different types of motorcycle engines and the key distinctions between them is important. This will not only allow you to get more out of your bike but will also help you in deciding if the bike you are using is ideal for you or not.
 

Different Types of Bike Engines

How many types of bike engines are available with bike manufacturers? This may not be a common question, but it is relevant nonetheless. You may be surprised to know that there are five different types of engines.
 

• Single-cylinder engine
• Twin-cylinder engine
• Triple cylinder engine
• Four-cylinder engine
• Straight six engine (rarely found in India)

 
Let us look at each one of them in detail.

kes have a single-cylinder engine. Easy to maintain and affordable in terms of cost, single-cylinder engines are ideal for commuter bikes. You may find this engine in almost every budgeted bike such as Hero Splendor.
 
The key features of this type of motorcycle engine are its thundering power pulse and high bottom end torque at lower rpm.
 

Suitable for

• Almost all commuter bikes 
• Some dual-sports bikes 

 

Strengths

• Lightweight and narrow-body structure
• Easy to maintain
• High torque at low rpm

 

Weaknesses

• Vibrations are severe. To mitigate them, you will need balancers as well as a larger flywheel.

 

• This type of motorcycle engine is not ideal for bikes with larger displacements. 

 
Also Read: A ready guide on how to buy the best motorcycle
 

Twin-Cylinder Engines 

 Before you choose bikes with single-cylinder engines, it is recommended that you thoroughly understand the single-cylinder vs. twin-cylinder engines features. Twin-cylinder engines are equipped with two cylinders, resulting in increased weight and cost. However, they are known for generating more power. 
 

Types of Twin-Cylinder Engines

 

Parallel Twin

Under this type of two-wheeler engine, the two cylinders are lined up side by side, and the single crankshaft is shared by them. Parallel twin motorcycle engines are noted for their high performance and fast-revving. 
 

Suitable for

• Motorbikes with medium and high displacements
• Iconic cruiser motorbikes and standards

 

Strengths

• Lightweight and narrow structure
• Easy to repair
• Lower manufacturing costs
• Ideal for daily commuting

 

Weaknesses

• You can feel some serious vibrations while riding.

 

V-Twin Engine

The V-twin engine gets its name from the V-shaped configuration of twin cylinders. Under this type of motorcycle engine, the common crankshaft is shared by both cylinders. 
 

Suitable for

• Almost all Ducatis and some cruiser bikes

 

Strengths

• Narrow-body structure
• High torque with a wide powerband
• Low gravitational centre

 

Weaknesses 

• High vibration issues
• Such a two-wheeler engine finds it difficult to cool the rear cylinder
• It produces lower power per unit of displacement than bikes with three or four cylinders

 

Boxer Twin Engine

Such a type of engine is also referred to as a flat-twin engine. It features a boxer type configuration that looks like two boxing gloves being punched together. Under this arrangement, each opposing piston pair moves inwards and outwards at the same time. 
 
This type of bike engine is distinguished by its high torque, smooth performance, and well-balanced engine that creates minimal vibrations.
 

Suitable for

• Ideal for shaft-drive bikes

 

Strengths

• High torque
• Low gravitational centre 
• Seamless power generation along with a linear powerband

 

Weaknesses

• The engine's protrusion gives a limited lean angle
• Wide structure with a complex arrangement 

 

Triple-Cylinder Engine

Such a type of engine is also referred to as inline-three and inline-triple. Under this configuration, the cylinders are placed in such a manner that they share a crankshaft. In the context of V-twin and inline-4, it is designed as a middle ground between them. Compared to V-twin and inline-four, the inline-three forms an ideal middle ground between them.
 

Found in

• Triumph range motorcycles

 

Strengths

• This engine comes with a perfect blend of traits of both twins and inline fours
• Lightweight
• Narrow and compact body structure
• High on performance 

 

Weaknesses

• Compared to inline fours, vibration is slightly higher in triple-cylinder engines

 
Also Read: The Ultimate Guide for Selecting the Desired Two-Wheeler
 

Four-Cylinder Engine

Do you love the sound of sporty motorbikes? Four-cylinder engines are the reason behind it. Four-cylinder engines come in two variants—inline-four and V-4. To learn more, keep reading. 
 

Types of Four-Cylinder Engines

 

Inline-4 Engine

This type of bike engine is equipped with four cylinders, and the engine architecture is such that all cylinders are lined in a single row with no offset. The overall dimensions of an inline-4 engine are substantially less, and it can be positioned in any direction.
 

Suitable for

• Sports bikes

 

Strengths

• Simplified engine architecture
• Seamless power generation
• Inline-4 produces high horsepower and even more power at high rpm

 

Weaknesses

• Large and wide dimensions
• Inline-4 is heavier than twin and triple-cylinder engines

 

V-4 Engine

Under this, the four-cylinder piston is configured in a V-shape pattern, with a common crankshaft. V4 features a shorter length. When utilised at a 90-degree V-angle along with the optimal firing interval, the V-4 lowers the vibration while also offering perfect balance.
 

Suitable for

• High-end sports bikes
• Sport-touring models 

 

Strengths

• High on performance
• Perfect balance 
• Low vibration
• Engine dimensions

 

Weaknesses

• Complex architecture 

 
Also Read: These 7 Cutting-Edge Hero Bikes Are Perfect For Indian Roads
 

To Conclude

 
A motorbike enthusiast must understand every aspect of his/her bike. If you understand the heart and pulse of your motorcycle engine properly, you will never be disappointed by its performance. A bike loan or no bike loan, pick the perfect two-wheeler only after assessing if its engine type will suit your needs and expectations.