Why are Italian liter bikes generally not as fast/powerful?

[jmillheiser]

I have seen boxer engines listed as F, B, H, and O. F seems to be the most common term.

Porsche and VW have always used the F abbreviation, subaru uses the H abbreviation. the O abbreviation is commonly used on aircraft engines

[Mintbread]

There's also MV Agusta that has an F4 1000 S 1+1. It has a 4 popper and it competes with the other litre bikes no problem. Does that and looks better than the japanese bikes.

You forgot to mention the price...

[jmillheiser]

yeah the italian bikes tend to be pricey

[Ninja Geoff]

yeah the italian bikes tend to be pricey

That MV is worth it to me.

[kabob983]

Define "more powerful." You mean horsepower? Torque? Top speed? Sure, put an I4 on a straightaway and it'll outrun a V-Twin pretty easily. Put some curves on that road though and that V-Twin is gonna start to eat that I4 up. They benefit from not having to be at really high revv's to hit the powerband like the I4's do, hence the really quick cornering (where RPM's aren't going to be sky high).

I read that they actually had to change the AMA Superbike rules a few years ago because the V-Twins were winning waaaaaaaaaay too easily.

Plus, there's the sexiness factor. Italian V-Twin's = sexy

[Sev]

I'd also like to point out that you can have ALL the power in the world 1000hp even, but if you can't get it to the pavement in a continuous, controllable, predictable fashion then your bike is a sure-fire loser to almost anything out there once you need to turn.

[earwig]

Check out the "V-Twin Engine The Power of Torque" video at this URL, it sorta explains what is being discussed here: http://www.buell.com/en_us/buell_way/bu ... ciples.asp

Of course Buells are American made with V-twins but it's the same concept.

Check out the other vids on that page too they explain why I bought a Buell XB12S.

Here are vids about all the Buells: http://www.buell.com/en_us/buell_way/bu ... /bikes.asp

[The Grinch]

I wonder why ducati calls it an L-Twin?

Probably because most Americans equate V-Twin with Harley and that's not the association Ducati wanted.

[earwig]

People associate V-Twins with cruisers... They are called V-Twins because they are 45 degrees in shape (45 degree angle)... which makes a V.... a 90 degree angle makes an L shape it has nothing to do with Harley associations. Clearly anyone can see a difference between a V and an L right?

Probably because most Americans equate V-Twin with Harley and that's not the association Ducati wanted.

[dieziege]

But it is only an L if one side has a shorter stroke. The bore can be the same I guess.