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A question about the new popularity of vertical twins?
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<blockquote data-quote="exskibum" data-source="post: 942396" data-attributes="member: 383"><p>I believe that new versions of the parallel twin retain several of the advantages of the design, while adding performance and comfort previously unavailable in a parallel twin.</p><p></p><p>In particular, the biggest problem with the "old" parallel twins was bad to horrendous vibration. Modern counter-balancers, better frames and more efficient combustion tame those vibes to a level far below, say, that of the bone rattling '69 BSA 650 that numbed my hands, arms and butt in the early 70s (as well as vibration from other parallel twins such as those you mentioned).</p><p></p><p>Modern technology (e.g., ignition, water cooling, fuel mapping) also enhances performance available from a compact and comparatively light weight parallel 2-cylinder power plant. Other 2 cylinder configurations generally must be larger and heavier. A parallel twin has always provided a narrow profile (heads and case), but nowadays, it also seems to allow optimized weight distribution via better placement of the center of gravity (up-down and forward-back).</p><p></p><p>In addition, a twin generally has more low end torque than a multi-cylinder engine of the same displacement, which generally makes a compact twin a better fit for motard, dual sport and/or new riders (e.g., in avoiding stalls when feathering the clutch from a stop). Combined with the lighter weight and optimized weight distribution, that probably expands the market for which the new parallel twins are ideally suited.</p><p></p><p>My 2 cents, FWIW.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="exskibum, post: 942396, member: 383"] I believe that new versions of the parallel twin retain several of the advantages of the design, while adding performance and comfort previously unavailable in a parallel twin. In particular, the biggest problem with the "old" parallel twins was bad to horrendous vibration. Modern counter-balancers, better frames and more efficient combustion tame those vibes to a level far below, say, that of the bone rattling '69 BSA 650 that numbed my hands, arms and butt in the early 70s (as well as vibration from other parallel twins such as those you mentioned). Modern technology (e.g., ignition, water cooling, fuel mapping) also enhances performance available from a compact and comparatively light weight parallel 2-cylinder power plant. Other 2 cylinder configurations generally must be larger and heavier. A parallel twin has always provided a narrow profile (heads and case), but nowadays, it also seems to allow optimized weight distribution via better placement of the center of gravity (up-down and forward-back). In addition, a twin generally has more low end torque than a multi-cylinder engine of the same displacement, which generally makes a compact twin a better fit for motard, dual sport and/or new riders (e.g., in avoiding stalls when feathering the clutch from a stop). Combined with the lighter weight and optimized weight distribution, that probably expands the market for which the new parallel twins are ideally suited. My 2 cents, FWIW. [/QUOTE]
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A question about the new popularity of vertical twins?
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