Two stroke, four stroke...

[Shiv]

red stroke blue stroke...

Ok that last part didn't make sense but regardless...what does a 'stroke' mean in the motorcycle engine world? Is it just a different word meaning cylinder (IE V4 V6 V8 in the car world) or is it something else? I know it has something to do with the engine, and that a four stroke is a lot more complex than a two stroke (and that a six stroke bike they made a while ago failed horribly).

Aside from that, no idea.

[kabob983]

Strokes have to do with how many..."steps" an engine goes through for 1 full rotation.

www.dansmc.com/basics1.htm

[gsJack]

red stroke blue stroke...

Ok that last part didn't make sense but regardless...what does a 'stroke' mean in the motorcycle engine world? Is it just a different word meaning cylinder (IE V4 V6 V8 in the car world) or is it something else? I know it has something to do with the engine, and that a four stroke is a lot more complex than a two stroke (and that a six stroke bike they made a while ago failed horribly).

Aside from that, no idea.

Time to start reading.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/inside-en ... oundup.htm

[storysunfolding]

Oh the differences between the weed wacker and the auto engine.

Of course rotary engines are where it's at.

boo yeah

[gsJack]

2 stroke or 2 cycle

http://science.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke2.htm

4 stroke or 4 cycle

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine4.htm

[Ham Hock]

As far as bikes are concerned, 2 strokes are preferred for dirt bikes and motocross. A 40 HP 2 stroke engine will be significantly lighter than an equivalent HP 4 stroke engine. Its a power to weight ratio thing.

The drawback is that 2 strokes tend to be not friendly to the environment as far as emissions go (for those concerned with that sort of thing).

If I am wrong, maybe some dirt bikers can chime in.