Yamaha Crossplane vs. Yamaha Triple

[High_Side]

Yamaha seems to be taking a new direction with the three cylinder engine in the new FZ9, and it's one that they have said will grow to an entire range of motorcycles. I think that it is great that they are switching it up, however I have to wonder what ever happened to growing the range of Crossplane engined bikes? The Crossplane R1 with Two Brothers cans on it that I heard running today sounded like music, and not far off what a nice sounding V4 would sound like. I had fully expected an updated FZ1 with this engine but now it is sounding more likely to be a 3 cylinder. So - anyone have an opinion on why they did not put the Crossplane engine in more bikes?

Seems like a missed opportunity to me...

[Gummiente]

The hell is a "Crossplane"? For a minute there I thought Yamaha went and made a copy of Victory's copy of the Street Glide, but it appears you meant some kind of motor. Guess I'll need to do some research.

[High_Side]

The hell is a "Crossplane"? For a minute there I thought Yamaha went and made a copy of Victory's copy of the Street Glide, but it appears you meant some kind of motor. Guess I'll need to do some research.

A long-winded explanation is here:

http://www.ashonbikes.com/cross-plane_crank

Or here is a video of how it works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvTXMtTTKQw

And a video of how it sounds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Om-rrPGI0k

Basically they have offset the crankpins and changed the firing order of an in-line 4 cylinder engine. Yamaha had developed this type of engine at the beginning of Rossi's first tour with them and used it with great success in Moto-GP. They then put it in to a production version of the R-1 which immediately won the World Superbike championship. Beyond the racing success however there is an added benefit: They sound freaking cool. Not like every other inline 4 cylinder engine, but more like a tuned up V4, and much better than any triple that I have heard. It would have put them in a unique position in the market place, unlike the new triple, as both Triumph and MV Agusta are well established in this area.

[Wrider]

I personally love triples. I hope Yamaha and triumph get into a great battle of the triples...

[Gummiente]

Both my '95 Thunderbird and '01 Tiger sounded amazing at full wail. The Tiger especially, as it had the factory "off road (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)" can on it. At a bike event several years ago there was a dyno set up in a trailer, so on a whim I let them strap down the bike and let 'er rip. The noise of that triple brought a crowd to the back of the trailer within seconds, where they all stood slack jawed at the sight of a mud spattered Tiger with Givi top box, saddlebags, crash guards and driving lights being put through its paces.

[HYPERR]

Big Bang > Triple

Gummiente, yeah the T-Bird Triple that came out around 1995 sounded awesome. Looked great too, unlike the monstrosity that they build today with the same name.

[BRUMBEAR]

I had a Tbird loved that little bike, I will bet it comes down to money the cross plain probably just costs to much to produce, I love em they are fantastic even the cross plain twin of the tenere is awesome but so is the thought of a triple it's a win win

[jmillheiser]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2B4bNds5ts

^^This is the new Yamaha. Sounds pretty much the same as the street triple. Big question, will it match the street triple's induction sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3GkaO1moWI (this video gives you some idea of how nice the street triple's induction sound is)

Looks like the Yamaha might be a little cheaper than the ST too.

An FZ-1 with a detuned version of the R1 engine would be pretty hot too.