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Why Dirt Bike Have Single Cylinders Rather Than Multi
By dirt bike mike | May 25, 2009
So what's the big difference? Why do street legal motorcycles have multi-cylinders and dirt bikes have only one? Is it just to control vibration? If it's simply to spread out the power stroke around the crank, why isn't that good for dirt bikes too?
The answer to this question is two fold. First it's about weight. A dirt bike needs to be able to maneuver. Being light weight is essential. But with a bike you drive through traffic and on the open road you need that extra weight for stability and to cut through wind.
And single cylinder engines have an insane amount of low end torque, and this perfect for off-roading. However multi-cyclinder engines have slightly less low end, but more high end torque - great for driving in traffic. Driving on dirt means no traction . . . If you had the weight of a street bike engine on a dirt bike you would be a crash test dummy.
Topics: Dirt Bikes, General | No Comments »
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