In your opinion, is it possible to ride a I4 like a V-twin?

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icariz83
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In your opinion, is it possible to ride a I4 like a V-twin?

#1 Unread post by icariz83 »

I've rode 2 stroke's like 4 stroke's before but I've got a feeling it's not quite the same transition. Just looking to see what everyone thinks.

I'm not talking insanely low RPM's, just enough to not be winding it above 13k all the time.

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DivideOverflow
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#2 Unread post by DivideOverflow »

Depends on the bike and the bike's power curve.

My KZ650 has an I-4 with a very linear power band and makes good power at low RPM's. Most of the more standard bikes will have better low end and midrange than their sportbike counterparts. Something like the FZ6 would be much easier around town then an R6...
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onlinesmurf
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#3 Unread post by onlinesmurf »

lots of i4s will pull way before powerband of 10+k for some 600s and around 8500 for bigger i4s. Basically they start off pulling weak but you get the rpms up (above 5k and they start getting ready for take off). You can't ride them like V twins because they are bikes made for the most power when needed. That means you need to shift and keep the rpms in that peak to get the max out of them. They are the fastest when ridden as designed. If you just want to pull throughout the entire gear and not have to shift as much v twins are better.

I4s like kawi zx10 and gixx1k pull hard thoughout the range.

Remember its peak power has nothing to do with how powerful it is even when it isn't in its peak as it is all relative to what you are comparing it to.

Supersports are powerful regardless and when they are in the powerband its just ridiculous (read: way more than you need).

So the answer is yes you can ride them just like a V twin, just depends on what you are trying to do. If you are looking to just go as fast as the bike can you have to wind them up.

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Sev
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#4 Unread post by Sev »

My I4 was retuned to ahve more power down low. It hits hard at 6k and again at 10k... Dunno, I'm not complaining.
Of course I'm generalizing from a single example here, but everyone does that. At least I do.

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#5 Unread post by jmillheiser »

A lot of old 4 cylinder UJMs had a good amount of power down low and pretty linear powerbands.

the bike coming into its powerband at 6k is pretty normal for short stroke v twins like an SV650 or my CX500. My CX comes on hard at 6000 and pulls to 9000, still has decent grunt under 6k.

IIRC most of the 750+cc UJMs would come into their powerband sooner around 4500rpm iirc.

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#6 Unread post by secgeek »

I don't think so... but yeh it depends on the powerband... I don't have a tach on my spirit but I guess its powerband starts in the lows (800-1500) whereas my hawk the powerband is 1500+

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