Motorcycle Engine Configurations - The Art of Sound

[High_Side]

There's just sound, no video. For motorcycle sound junkies it covers a lot of ground. An older VFR and an opened up version of the RC8 is all that they are missing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zxB4AN1 ... r_embedded

[HYPERR]

An older VFR and an opened up version of the RC8 is all that they are missing

The only VFR that ever sounded good was the '98-'02 with the gear driven quad lumpy cam and no VTEC. I don't understand why the VTEC sounded so good in the Integra GSR/Type-R or the NSX but sounded so sh!tty on the VFR...

Not a bad effort on the video creators part but why oh why would he use a rotax single to represent a thumper?

[High_Side]

An older VFR and an opened up version of the RC8 is all that they are missing

The only VFR that ever sounded good was the '98-'02 with the gear driven quad lumpy cam and no VTEC.

We've been down this road before, and I'm a little biased but my '96 sounds pretty fn awesome to my ears. I still think that my old VTR1000 sounded better than any Ducati that I have ever owned and certainly better than the 1198 that was in the video.

[Wrider]

An older VFR and an opened up version of the RC8 is all that they are missing

The only VFR that ever sounded good was the '98-'02 with the gear driven quad lumpy cam and no VTEC.

We've been down this road before, and I'm a little biased but my '96 sounds pretty fn awesome to my ears. I still think that my old VTR1000 sounded better than any Ducati that I have ever owned and certainly better than the 1198 that was in the video.

While the VTR1k sounded good, you've gotta love the thump of a TL1KR.

[HYPERR]

We've been down this road before

Yes I know & I was busting your balls.

and I'm a little biased but my '96 sounds pretty fn awesome to my ears. I still think that my old VTR1000 sounded better than any Ducati that I have ever owned and certainly better than the 1198 that was in the video.

For some reason the Ducs in the video didn't sound all that good. Even the Desmosedici didn't sound anything as intoxicating as it does in real life. As for the 1198, I like the sound of the 2V engine over the 4V engine. Even the 2V sounds so different different depending on which incarnation. Despite being a far superior motor in just about every respect, the DS1100 engine in the Hypermotard sounds more low performance than the 900 engine in my 900SS. I don't know whether the fact that mine has the high-compression 944 pistons in it makes a difference but it has that hi-performance '98-'02 VFR sound while the DS1100 in the Hyper sounds far less high performance and a little more crude and tractor like a 45 degree V-Twin. Strange as in reality the DS1100 engine spanks the 944 engine beyond belief in torque, HP, refinement, and smoothness.

[JC Viper]

I'd rather the sound of the Honda NR750 which has 32 Valves in a V4 config.

[High_Side]

We've been down this road before

Yes I know & I was busting your balls.

I figured but I may end up on the other side of the argument soon. There is a silver '01 for sale in the neighborhood that I'm taking a look at today They look to be a bit better suited to "two-up" riding and my 12 year old son wants to come along next year. Maybe they just seem like they are better suited to 2-up riding because they sound like a tractor.....I dunno

and I'm a little biased but my '96 sounds pretty fn awesome to my ears. I still think that my old VTR1000 sounded better than any Ducati that I have ever owned and certainly better than the 1198 that was in the video.

For some reason the Ducs in the video didn't sound all that good. Even the Desmosedici didn't sound anything as intoxicating as it does in real life. As for the 1198, I like the sound of the 2V engine over the 4V engine. Even the 2V sounds so different different depending on which incarnation. Despite being a far superior motor in just about every respect, the DS1100 engine in the Hypermotard sounds more low performance than the 900 engine in my 900SS. I don't know whether the fact that mine has the high-compression 944 pistons in it makes a difference but it has that hi-performance '98-'02 VFR sound while the DS1100 in the Hyper sounds far less high performance and a little more crude and tractor like a 45 degree V-Twin. Strange as in reality the DS1100 engine spanks the 944 engine beyond belief in torque, HP, refinement, and smoothness.

It seems like new Ducks sound worse the more over-squared the cylinders get. Your old 900SS would be one of the best sounding ducks ever......almost as sweet as my '96 VFR

[High_Side]

While the VTR1k sounded good, you've gotta love the thump of a TL1KR.

Indeed. The TLR was a great sounding bike.

[HYPERR]

I'd rather the sound of the Honda NR750 which has 32 Valves in a V4 config.

My '98 VFR800FI with the high mount Two Bros 4 into 2 into 1 exhaust sounded very similar to the oval piston bike.

[HYPERR]

I figured but I may end up on the other side of the argument soon. There is a silver '01 for sale in the neighborhood that I'm taking a look at today They look to be a bit better suited to "two-up" riding and my 12 year old son wants to come along next year. Maybe they just seem like they are better suited to 2-up riding because they sound like a tractor.....I dunno

You think the '01 is better for two-up than the '96? I always thought the '98-'01 was sportier than the prev. gen 750. I think Honda did too as they brought back the Interceptor name.

It seems like new Ducks sound worse the more over-squared the cylinders get. Your old 900SS would be one of the best sounding ducks ever......almost as sweet as my '96 VFR

Yeah my 900SS engine has hi-comp 944 pistons and the sound is intoxicating. It sounds like a high performance twin which I love. The Hyper still sounds good but it has more of that low performance lumpy sound of a 45 degree V-Twin. It's really deceiving because the 1100DS engine is a much better engine. The 900SS also makes all sorts of additonal noises like rattle, thump, grunt, snort, buzz, & growl. The Hypermotard is so much more refined, almost Japanese-like. The 900SS has more character....but then again character is just another word for flaw isn't it? Either way, I love both bikes and they are both so fun to ride!