now i know why it sounds like that

[Kham]

kinda funny.

"A Harley engine has two pistons. The difference in the Harley engine is that the crankshaft has only one pin, and both pistons connect to it. This design, combined with the V arrangement of the cylinders, means that the pistons cannot fire at even intervals. Instead of one piston firing every 360 degrees, a Harley engine goes like this:

A piston fires.
The next piston fires at 315 degrees.
There is a 405-degree gap.
A piston fires.
The next piston fires at 315 degrees.
There is a 405-degree gap.

And the cycle continues.

At idle, you can hear the pop-pop sound followed by a pause. So the sound of a Harley is pop-pop...pop-pop...pop-pop. That is the unique sound of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. It is described by aficionados as a "potato-potato-potato" sound.

"
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/harley3.htm

[RedRider]

I bet that doesn't apply to the V-Rod, which actually makes decent power, and seems to run smooth. Someone must know!!!

[RandyO]

I think the V-rod is a 60° vee like an Aprilla. my 920 is a 75° vee, the lumpyness is about halfway between a harley and a 90° vee

the uneven firing is why they have so much torque. anybody remember the old 2 cylinder John Deere put put tractors

[Kham]

Originally posted by RandyO
I think the V-rod is a 60° vee like an Aprilla. my 920 is a 75° vee, the lumpyness is about halfway between a harley and a 90° vee

the uneven firing is why they have so much torque. anybody remember the old 2 cylinder John Deere put put tractors

yep. it's liquid cool, 4 valvs over head cam and has counter balance shaft.

[Degsy]

Originally posted by Kham
yep. it's liquid cool, 4 valvs over head cam and has counter balance shaft.

...and it's STILL a piece of shit.

d

[Nikon]

I was actually taking a sip of water out of my nalgene bottle and i did actually spit it out all over my bosses desk....

[Kham]

Originally posted by Degsy
...and it's STILL a piece of shit.

d

didn't say anything about quality. just learning why that thing makes a sound like that.

[stoinkythepig]

All V-twins have a single crank pin with two connecting rods swinging on it. Even 90 degree V-twins have uneven firing. The only way to make a twin have even firing is to make it parallel (Triumph Bonneville) or 180 degrees (BMW boxer).

That distinctive V-twin sound is perfect to my ear when it comes from a 90 degree engine like TL, RC or Ducati. Anyhting less than 90 degrees sounds "funny" to me. Still like to own an aprillia Futura though...

[PinHead]

L - twin

[zx7rou812]

I asked my dog if she likes Rice Rockets...She went NUTS!!!!


I asked her for her opinion of Harleys.




Her reply :