• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

V-twin vs. Inline 4s...pros and cons?

Tripp

Tripp

New member
Joined
Jun 14, 2003
Location
Peninsulaland
Moto(s)
99 VFR 800
Not that I'm ready to buy yet, but as I begin to plan my next bike, I'm wondering about the differences between v-twins and inline 4's of the same displacement (or same power).

I'm thinking of something around 600, so the SV650s and the F4i600 both look pretty spiffy. Since the SV is a v-twin and the F4i is a inline 4 cylindar, how do they differ as far as the engines?

Thoughts?
 
Okay, so we're NOT talking about H-D twins here.


twin is narrow
I4 is wide

twin makes huge torque in low and midrange
I4 makes power at top end and needs to be revved

twin makes nice thump-thump, thump-thump noise
I4s can be whiney brats

you can just lean a twin over to make a tight turn
I4 you need to hang off to make ground clearance

twins generally have low CG
I4s have the engine higher up because the motor is so wide

twins have 1/2 as many plugs and valves to adjust

they weigh about the same

I4s tend to be a little more highly strung
Twins vibrate more.

I4s are typically faster in absolute terms- good for track
Twins can be a lot more fun to ride on the street



In case you hadn't figured it out already, I like twins :teeth
 
well, he did say I4's are faster in the absolute term. If you're going with something around 600 cc, I'd get an I4.
 
twins are sexy, especially hot italian twins
hahaha


seriously though, depends on what you are looking for in the bike. sv650, monster 620 or 800 are all great bikes, and you will have lots of fun on them in the city or in the hills, but if you go up against a modern 600I4, you will be beaten on the track.

generally a twin will have less power if you compare equal displacements. but the power is much better distributed over the entire rpm range.

and of course there is the sound. listen to a monster at WOT and then listen to a 600I4. there is no comparison.
 
Tripp said:
Anyone gonna defend the inline4?
Click to expand...

no.:laughing

I prefer twins as well. I bought an in line 4 machine because it was a great value and the overall package suited me in terms of riding position, maintenance and versatility. Not that the I4's are bad, but as mentioned above, you have to ring them out more to get at the power and the sound/vibration is not as pleasing to me as a V twins.
 
Yeah, I do like singles :)

If I could have ANY bike and not have to worry about the purchase, insurance and running costs it would be a 748 or 749.

If I wanted a good performance canyon carving V-twin at a more modest price I would look for a salvage sv650 or one that has already had some suspension work done. If Dion (SVsick50) was selling his bike, I'd be in the line.

Or a 2 valve, fuel injected Monster would be fun. The 4 valve makes more power but takes a lot more maintenance $.

For a long range sport tourer / commuter, a Superhawk would takes some beating.

These are just my thoughs based on my skills, riding style and preferences. YMMV
 
Last edited:
Tripp said:
Actually, Thump, I thought you liked SINGLEs! :shhh

Thanks though.

Anyone gonna defend the inline4?
Click to expand...

The sound of i4 and v2 is really subjective. I happen to like the sound of i4. A 600 i4 is really screaming when it goes above 8k, my friend on a R1 feels it kind of distract him when he rode mine R6. You have to see if you can live with the sound of i4. As for hanging off to make turns, it's not really necessary. Yes, i4 is wider but with all the new 600s, ie. R6, 600RR, XZ6R and GSXr600, it will be really hard to scrap any part of the bike on street. On track maybe. But I herd that F4i has a lower peg and long feeler so it can scrap the feeler. When I went on the goat trail ride with Thump at a couple tight hair pins my rpm drop to 4k when coming out of the turn even with wide open throttle I still don't have enough tourque until 7-8k. Another thing is on this ride I did not hang off at all the trail is too bumpy to do that. ;) Nothing has touch the trail besides the tires.
Go with what you like and you'll be happy. i4, v2 or one BIG piston they are all good!!!! :teeth

Tourque:
one BIG piston > v2(600) > i4
RPM:
i4 > v2 > one BIG piston
Vibration (suit your personal choice:p):
one BIG piston > v2 > i4
Screaming motor sound:
i4 > v2 and one BIG piston.

Alex:teeth
 
Thump said:
If Vince (SVsick50) was selling his bike, I'd be in the line.
Click to expand...

Hey Andrew, you must be referring to Dion (SVsic50). He has modified suspensions. I'm SVince650S :x and my suspensions are stock.

About selling the bike.... hmmm, I'll think about it. :twofinger
 
Last edited:
Feelings of low end power can be subjective.

For example, my Bandit is an inline 4, yet has awesome torque.

I have also read an account of a person who went from an R1 to a TL1000R expecting a big increase in low end but was disappointed not to find it as the R1 already is stout down low.

Be careful not to confuse V Twins with Parallel Twins. V Twins are charismatic and have gobs of soul, Parallel Twins are in my opinion somewhat soul-less and light on character.

Don't forget the V4, which, particularly with the right crank timing (ie like the second gen interceptor, not the first) has a magical, wonderful sound. VRFs and V-Maxes are good examples, the VFR being a far more rational choice than the V-Max but both sound WONDERFUL.

Some grow tired of the wail of an inline 4 as it is so common but I think that V's tend to sound cooler.

Best thing to do is try 'em out.

A nice SV 650 would be an excellent bike. I prefer the naked ones, which look SOOOOOOOO cool, but, like Thump says, if Dion were to tire of his SV that would be a most excellent bike to scoop up. If you get an SV try to find one where the suspension and preferably exhaust have already been done for you.

In the mean time, happy shopping!
 
SVince650S said:
Hey Andrew, you must be referring to Dion (SVsick50). He has modified suspensions. I'm SVince650S :x and my suspensions are stock.

About selling the bike.... hmmm, I'll think about it. :twofinger
Click to expand...


Oops :blush

Yeah- I want Dion's bike. Vince, yours seems to go straight in the corners!! :twofinger :laughing

Jason (budbandit). You have torque in your I4 because you have a 1200cc motor!!

A bigger v-twin will make even more torque. Think RC51, 996/999, Monster 900, TLR, etc.
 
I dunno about being "beaten" at the track....

Maybe a Monster would get smoked, but I doubt 99% of the sport-tweeks could pass a 748.
 
Last edited:
Thump said:
twin makes huge torque in low and midrange
I4 makes power at top end and needs to be revved

you can just lean a twin over to make a tight turn
I4 you need to hang off to make ground clearance

they weigh about the same
Click to expand...

I disagree with the above statements. I realize the original question was for 600-650 twins, and for that the statements may be valid. I myself can only judge 1000cc I4's/Twins, specifically a '99 R1 against a '99 TLR, and in that area, here are my disagreements.

1) Torque - The I4 will have plenty of torque even down low, FELT like more even, the nice thing is it actually has horse power up top also!
2) The I4 falls into the line and tracks straight while the twin needs to be muscled around.
3) Not even close in weight, the twin always weighs more. True that most of the weight appears to go away once you are moving...but not all of it!

My TLR was a fat and took more effort to ride than the R1. I love the look and sound of twins, but personally I think those are the only two area's they have I4's beat.

I doubt I'll ever go back to owning a twin, it was a nice experience, but I think I4's are for me. That being said, from all past posts comparing the two, I think I'm in the minority, most that ride twins would never go back. Guess I'm just strange like that!
 
the best thing to do on this thread to avoid conflict is to NOT post opinions... just facts...

i think you have to be a fanatic to own a twin otherwise it's not worth it. (esp HD's)

i think the louder a twin is, the cooloer it is but the louder an inline is, the louder it is... (sorry i broke the rule twice)
 
IF you think twis are fun.....which they are more fun to ride than a I4

then you should try riding a Triple. IT has the best of both worlds. I really miss mine and now that it is looking like I might need to sell my Mille R, I am thinking Triple again.
 
Maybe this will make things easier...

Comparo - 2000 R1 vs. 1998 TLR
Horsepower - 18 more in R1 (134 vs. 116)
Torque - 2 more in R1 (75 vs. 73)
Dry Weight - R1 44 LBS. Lighter (390 vs. 434)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top