Why do v-twins sound like that ?

After all there's 2 cylinders firing alternately at equal intervals, the same as a BMW boxer or lots of vertical twins, but they don't have that characteristic fruity 'proper motorbike' sound. Is it more to do with the different length exhaust pipes on a v-twin ?

Originally Posted by oldjack

characteristic fruity 'proper motorbike' sound

its the pulses of the v twin that make the sound.

V twins don't fire at equal intervals. If it was equal intervals it would be one fire for every 360 degrees of rotastion of the crankshaft. With a 90 degree v-twin it fires at 270 and 450 degrees.

Hope I'm right on the degrees, but fairly sure that is it - please correct me if wrong.

Don't know if that explains the sound difference or not!

[Biker Biggles]

It's written in the Bible."And the roar of Moses Triumph could be heard throughout the land".But Moses was a Mediterranean type so he went and bought a Ducati.

On Vtwins you have 2 fast big explosions followed by a long pause !


like Bum-Bummm-pause-pause-pause-Bum-Bumm-pause-pause....

Harlers sound even better (to me...) because its something like a 60º twin , so the cylinder explosions are faster and the pause even bigger

Originally Posted by Sholay

V twins don't fire at equal intervals. If it was equal intervals it would be one fire for every 360 degrees of rotastion of the crankshaft. With a 90 degree v-twin it fires at 270 and 450 degrees.

Isnt it 270 and 360 ? 270+90 = 360

Originally Posted by dotted

Harlers sound even better (to me...) because its something like a 60º twin , so the cylinder explosions are faster and the pause even bigger

45º for a Harley. Dullville is 60º. Anorak for me.

I've got a link that explains why a Harley twin sounds different to other twins, both in words and animation. Though its a mht format so dont know if I can post it (I'm not a computer techy person)

Can send it by email though (thats how I got it) if anyone is interested

[embee]

Originally Posted by chazzyb

45º for a Harley. Dullville is 60º. Anorak for me.

Dullsville - 52deg
Firing intervals - Front - 232 - Rear - 488 - Front
It has a split/staggered crankpin with a centre flying web


Afraid my anorak's bigger than yours

Regardless of engine configuration, even power stroke twins will sound similar, they may vibe differently and be wider compared to a V though. Offset crank pins allow a narrower angle V. A 90 degree V is well balanced using the same crank pin position allegedly.

Originally Posted by embee

Dullsville - 52deg
Firing intervals - Front - 232 - Rear - 488 - Front
It has a split/staggered crankpin with a centre flying web


Afraid my anorak's bigger than yours

I bow before the master!