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Motorcycle components and systems for a motorcycle are engineered, manufactured, and assembled in order to produce motorcycle models with the desired performance, aesthetics, and cost. The key components of modern motorcycles are presented below.
The chassis of a motorcycle includes the frame and suspension, along with the front forks, of the vehicle. [1]
The frame is typically made from welded aluminium or steel (or alloy) struts, with the rear suspension being an integral component in the design. Carbon fibre, titanium, and magnesium are used in a few very expensive custom frames.
The frame includes the head tube that holds the front fork and allows it to pivot. Some motorcycles include the engine as a load-bearing stressed member; this has been used all through motorcycle history but is now becoming more common.
Oil-in-frame (Oif) chassis, where the lubricating oil is stored in the frame of the motorcycle, was used for Vincent Motorcycles of the 1950s, and for a while during the 1970s on some NVT British motorcycles. It was widely unpopular and generally regarded as a bad idea at the time. Today it is a used on some "thumpers" (single-cylinder four-strokes) that usually have dry-sump lubrication requiring an external oil tank. It has since gained some cachet in the modern custom bike world too because of the space savings it can afford and the reference to an earlier era. [2]
Buell motorcycles employed a similar design with the oil held in the swingarm and fuel held in the frame.
Modern designs have the two wheels of a motorcycle connected to the chassis by a suspension arrangement, however 'chopper' style motorcycles often elect to forgo rear suspension, using a rigid frame.
The front suspension is usually built into the front fork and may consist of telescoping tubes called fork tubes which contain the suspension inside or some multibar linkage that incorporate the suspension externally. There is another type of front suspension system which is Earles type which highly used in off-road motorcycles. [3]
The rear suspension supports the swingarm , which is attached via the swingarm pivot bolt to the frame and holds the axle of the rear wheel. The rear suspension can consist of several shock arrangements:
A fuel tank (also called a petrol tank or gas tank) is a safe container for flammable fluids. Though any storage tank for fuel may be so called, the term is typically applied to part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and propelled (fuel pump) or released (pressurized gas) into an engine.
A motorcycle fork is the portion of a motorcycle that holds the front wheel and allows one to steer. For handling, the front fork is the most critical part of a motorcycle. The combination of rake and trail determines how stable the motorcycle is.
The 'fork' on a motorcycle consists of multiple components. The triple trees (also known as yokes) hold the fork tubes (which contain the fork springs), and are fastened to the neck of the frame by the steering stem. At the bottom of the fork tubes are the lower legs, often referred to as sliders. The sliders house the dampening assemblies, which vary based on the brand and type of fork. The front axle is located perpendicular and engages the sliders. [4] The handlebars are clamped to the top triple tree and allow the rider to steer the motorcycle.
Almost all commercially available motorcycles are driven by conventional gasoline internal combustion engines, but some small scooter-type models use an electric motor, and a very small number of diesel models exist (e.g., the USMC M1030 M1 version of the Kawasaki KLR650 and the Dutch-produced Track T-800CDI).
Motorcycle engines range from less than 50 cc (cubic centimetres), commonly found in many small scooters, to 5735 cc, a Chevrolet V8 engine, currently used by Boss Hoss in its cruiser style motorcycle.
Motorcycles have mostly, but not exclusively, been produced with one to four cylinders, and designers have tried virtually every imaginable layout. The most common engine configurations today are the single and twin, the V-twin, the opposed twin (or boxer), and the in-line triple and in-line four. A number of others designs have reached mass production, including the V-4, the flat 6-cylinder, the flat 4-cylinder, the in-line 6-cylinder, and the Wankel engine. Exotic engines, such as a radial piston engine, sometimes appear in custom built motorcycles, though two firms Megola and Redrup put radial-engined motorcycles into production.
Engines with more cylinders for the same displacement feel smoother to ride. Engines with fewer cylinders are cheaper, lighter, and easier to maintain. Liquid-cooled motorcycles have a radiator which is the primary way their heat is dispersed. Coolant or oil is constantly circulated between this radiator and the cylinder when the engine is running. Air-cooled motorcycles rely on air blowing past fins on the piston cylinder head and/or engine case to disperse heat. Liquid-cooled motorcycles have the potential for greater power at a given displacement, tighter tolerances, and longer operating life, whereas air-cooled motorcycles are potentially cheaper to purchase, less mechanically complex and are lighter.
An air-cooled engine contracts and expands with its wider temperature range, requiring looser tolerances, and giving shorter engine life. The temperature range of an air-cooled two-stroke is even more extreme and component life even shorter than in an air-cooled four-stroke.
As applied to motorcycles, two-stroke engines have some advantages over equivalent four-stroke engines: they are lighter, mechanically much simpler, and produce more power when operating at the high rpm power-band. But four-stroke engines are cleaner, more reliable, and deliver power over a much broader range of engine speeds. In developed countries, two-stroke road-bikes are rare, because—in addition to the reasons above—modifying them to meet contemporary emissions standards is prohibitively expensive. Almost all modern two-strokes are single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, and under 600 cc.
In November 2006, the Dutch company E.V.A. Products BV Holland announced that its diesel motorcycle, the Track T-800CDI, achieved production status. [5] The Track T-800CDI uses an 800 cc three-cylinder Daimler Chrysler diesel engine. Other manufacturers, including Royal Enfield, had been producing diesel-powered bikes since at least the 1980s. [6] Also, Intelligent Energy, an English alternative-fuel company, is developing a motorcycle powered by a detachable hydrogen-powered fuel cell, which it calls an Emissions Neutral Vehicle (ENV). [7] According to reports, the vehicle can sustain speeds of 80 km/h while making virtually no noise, and can run for up to four hours without refuelling.
Most motorcycles have a sequential manual transmission shifted by a foot lever. Some (mostly smaller) motorcycles, and many scooters use either a continuously variable transmission, or a hydraulic automatic transmission. semi-automatic transmissions are also in use; where the driver's input is still required for shifting gears, but the clutch system is controlled and operated automatically. These systems are mostly found on smaller dirt bikes (e.g., minibikes; such as pit bikes), underbones, many older mopeds and scooters, and various other types of motorcycles.
Engine power can be engaged or interrupted through the clutch, typically an arrangement of plates stacked in alternating fashion, one geared on the inside to the engine and the next geared on the outside to the transmission input shaft.
Power transfer from the gearbox to the rear wheel is accomplished by different methods.
Chain-drive uses sprockets and a roller chain, which requires both lubrication and adjustment for elongation (stretch) that occurs through wear. The lubricant is subject to being thrown off the fast-moving chain and results in grime and dirt build-up. Chains do deteriorate, and excessive wear on the front and rear sprockets can be dangerous. In a chain-drive, the power is transmitted into the rear wheel via a cush drive. Conventional roller chain-drives suffer the potential for vibration, as the effective radius of action in a chain and sprocket combination constantly changes during the revolution ("chordal action"). If a drive sprocket rotates at constant RPM, then the chain (and the driven sprocket) must accelerate and decelerate constantly. Most chain-driven motorcycles are fitted with a rubber bushed rear wheel hub to eliminate this vibration issue. Belt-drive and shaft-drive are also used.
Small budget motorcycles may have a totally enclosed drive chain, but this is rare on larger motorcycles, an exception being the Norton rotary bikes. To prevent rapid wear of the chain and sprockets, it is customary to apply an adhesive petroleum, graphite or silicon based composite chain-lube via an aerosol. Many riders also fit aftermarket chain-oilers to feed a regular supply of oil to the chain at the rear sprocket. [8] These chain oilers vary in sophistication, but all add significantly to the life of the chain. The custom of lubing by immersing the chain in a tin of hot grease ceased in the early 1970s, once most chains had rubber "O'-rings. The original Suzuki RE5 of 1975 came with a rear chain oiler, but the 1976 model had a sealed chain, and its oiler was deleted as "unnecessary".
A belt-drive is still subject to stretch but operates very quietly, cleanly, and efficiently. A toothed belt is frequently used. However, they are not as durable when subjected to high horsepower as a chain. You can not alter the length and change final drive ratios as easily as chains. They also can not wrap as closely around chains. And require larger pulleys compared to chain sprockets to get an effective final drive ratio. Replacing a drive belt typically requires removal of the swingarm, since belts cannot be split the way a chain with a master link can.
A shaft-drive is usually completely enclosed; the visual cue is a tube extending from the rear of the transmission to a bell housing on the rear wheel. Inside the bell housing a bevel gear on the shaft mates with another on the wheel mount. This arrangement is superior in terms of noise and cleanliness and is virtually maintenance-free, with the exception of occasional fluid changes. They are the most durable and usually last the life of the motorcycle. However, the additional gear sets are a source of power loss and added weight. A shaft-equipped motorcycle may also be susceptible to shaft effect.
Virtually all high-performance racing motorcycles use chain-drive because they are the most mechanically efficient transmitting power to the rear wheel.
The wheel rims are usually steel or aluminum (generally with steel spokes and an aluminum hub) or mag-type cast or machined aluminum. Cast magnesium disks, produced by one-step hot forging from magnesium alloys ZK60 and MA-14, are also used for many motorcycle wheels.
At one time, motorcycles used wire wheels built up from separate components, but, except for dirtbikes, one-piece wheels are more common now. Performance racing motorcycles often use carbon-fibre wheels, but the expense of these wheels is prohibitively high for general usage.
Motorcycles mainly use pneumatic tires. However, in some cases where punctures are common (some enduros), the tires are filled with a tire mousse which is unpunctureable. Both types of tire come in many configurations. The most important characteristic of any tire is the contact patch, the small area that is in contact with the road surface while riding. There are tires designed for dirt bikes, touring, sport and cruiser bikes.
Dirt bike tires have knobbly, deep treads for maximum grip on loose dirt, mud, or gravel; such tires tend to be less stable and noisier on paved surfaces.
Sport or performance tires are designed to provide maximum grip for street use on paved surfaces but tend to wear faster.
Touring tires are usually made of a harder rubber compound for greater durability, these may last longer but tend to provide less outright grip compared to sports tires at optimal operating temperatures. Touring tires typically offer more grip at lower temperatures and can be more suited to riding in cold or winter conditions where a sport tire may never reach its optimal operating temperature.
Cruiser and sport touring tires are designed to compromise between grip and durability. These tend to have stronger sidewalls as they are typically fitted to heavier machines.
Motorsport or racing tires offer the highest of levels of grip. Due of the high temperatures at which these tires typically operate, use outside a racing environment is unsafe, typically these tires do not reach their optimum temperature which provides less than optimal grip. In racing situations, tires are normally brought up to temperature in advance based on application and conditions through the use of tire warmers.
There are generally two independent brakes on a motorcycle, one set on the front wheel and one on the rear. However, some models have "linked brakes" whereby both can be applied at the same time using only one control.
Front brakes are generally much more effective than rear brakes: roughly two thirds of stopping power comes from the front brake—mainly as a result of weight transfer being much more pronounced compared to longer or lower vehicles, because of the motorcycle's short wheelbase relative to its center of mass height. This can result in brake dive.
Brakes can either be drum or disc based, with disc brakes being more common on large, modern or more expensive motorcycles for their far superior stopping power, particularly in wet conditions. There are many brake-performance-enhancing aftermarket parts available for most motorcycles, including brake pads of varying compounds and steel-braided brake lines.
Harley-Davidson replaced drum brakes with disc brakes on Big Twin models starting in 1972, and on Sportster models starting in 1973.
In 1981, BMW introduced an antilock braking system (ABS) on a motorcycle. Other manufacturers have since also adopted this technology. ABS is normally found on motorcycles of 500 cc or greater engine capacity, although it is available on motor scooters down to 49 cc.
Most road motorcycles have an instrument panel, usually consisting of speedometer, odometer and tachometer.
Fuel gauges are becoming more common, but traditionally a reserve tank arrangement is used with a petcock (petrol tap) on the side of the motorcycle allowing the rider to switch to a reserve fuel supply when the main fuel supply is exhausted. There is not actually a separate reserve tank: The intake for the petcock has two pipes, one extending higher into the fuel tank than the other. When fuel no longer covers the longer pipe the engine will lose power/splutter and the rider switches the petcock to the "reserve" setting, which accesses the shorter pipe. Riders whose bikes lack a fuel gauge (most machines prior to the past few years) usually learn how far they can go with a full tank of fuel, and then use a trip meter if available to judge when they must refill the tank.
| This section possibly contains original research .(July 2023) |
There should be no lights and indicators for a race bike or race machine because the bike should be less in weight.
Because of safety and vehicle laws, any motorcycle that's not for racing will have some degree of a lighting system that consists of low and high beam head lamps, brake indication and running lights and turn indicators.Lighting can vary from incandescent filament lamps, gas charged lamps with halogen or argon gas filled bulbs, and in recent years, LED's. The lighting system will always function if the ignition is turned to the ON position. The low and high beam controller and the turn signal controls are usually placed on an easily operated and accessible cluster next to the hand grips. The brake light is engaged when either the front or rear brakes are applied by the use of spring loaded contacts near the front brake lever or the rear brake peddle. The lighting system uses a simple fuse box to separate the systems components and is connected to a battery. Some large touring bikes also incorporate the use of running lights or decorative accessory lights to make them more visible to other drivers at night. Some manufacturers have added a strobe effect to the headlamps to make other drivers more aware of the oncoming motorcycle. A large percentage of motorcycle accidents occur because other drivers don't see motorcycles in traffic.
An ignition switch, starter switch or start switch is a Key switch in the control system of a motor vehicle that activates the main electrical systems for the vehicle.In vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, the switch provides power to the starter solenoid and the ignition system components (including the engine control unit and ignition coil), and is frequently combined with the starter switch which activates the starter motor.
The Kawasaki KLR650 is a 652 cc (39.8 cu in) dual-sport motorcycle intended for both on-road and off-road riding. It was a long-standing model in Kawasaki's lineup, having been introduced in 1987 to replace the 564 cc (34.4 cu in) 1984–1986 Kawasaki KLR600, and remaining almost unchanged through the 2007 model. The 2008 model was the first significant redesign of the KLR650 since its inception. It was built with a 652 cc four-stroke, DOHC, dual-counterbalanced, single-cylinder, water-cooled engine. The second significant redesign in 2022 added new features such as electronic fuel injection and an anti-lock braking system.
The Honda XR series is a range of four-stroke off-road motorcycles that were designed in Japan but assembled all over the world.
A swingarm, or "swinging arm" (UK), originally known as a swing fork or pivoted fork, is a single or double sided mechanical device which attaches the rear wheel of a motorcycle to its body, allowing it to pivot vertically. The main component of the rear suspension of most modern motorbikes and ATVs, it holds the rear axle firmly, while pivoting to absorb bumps and suspension loads induced by the rider, acceleration, and braking.
The Honda CX series motorcycles, including the GL500 and GL650 Silver Wing variants, were developed and released by Honda in the late 1970s, with production ending in most markets by the mid 1980s. The design included innovative features and technologies that were uncommon or unused at the time such as liquid cooling, electric-only starting, low-maintenance shaft drive, modular wheels, and dual CV-type carburetors that were tuned for reduced emissions. The electronic ignition system was separate from the rest of the electrical system, but the motorcycle could only be started via the start button.
The Yamaha XS650 is a mid-size motorcycle made by Yamaha Motor Company. The standard model was introduced in October 1969,and produced through 1979. The "Special" cruiser model was introduced in 1978 and produced through 1985. The XS650 began with the 1955 Hosk SOHC 500 twin. After about 10 years of producing 500 twin, Hosk engineers designed a 650 cc twin. Later the Hosk company was acquired by Showa Corporation, and in 1960 Yamaha had bought Showa with Hosk's early design of 650 cc twin.
The Killinger and Freund Motorcycle was an attempt in 1935 by a group of five German engineers from Munich to design a more streamlined and modified version of the German Megola front-wheel drive motorcycle. The work took three years to complete but the result was impressive. The engine displacement stayed the same as the Megola at 600 cc but was much lighter and more simplified than a standard 100 cc motorcycle of the time.
The Suzuki GSX-R750 is a sports motorcycle made by Suzuki since 1984. It was introduced at the Cologne Motorcycle Show in October 1984 as a motorcycle of the GSX-R series for the 1985 model year.
The Ducati 749 is a 90° V-twin Desmodromic valve actuated engine sport bike built by Ducati Motor Holding between 2003 and 2006. Designed by Pierre Terblanche, the 749 was available as the 749, 749 Dark, 749S, and 749R. It shared many of its parts with the 999, with the exception of a slightly smaller 180/55 profile rear tire, smaller cylinders, and different cylinder heads, giving it a smaller displacement of 748 cc. This smaller engine is higher revving and produces a lower peak horsepower than the larger engine used in the 999. The 749S model, like the 999, incorporates features rarely found on production motorcycles, including adjustable rake and five-position adjustable rearset mounts.
The Yamaha DT200 is a dual-purpose motorcycle manufactured during the 1980s, 1990s, and continues into the 2000s (decade) by the Yamaha Motor Company. Though never imported into the US, the rest of the world, including Canada, received some of these models. The DT200LC began production in 1983bc. It also was very similar to the DT125LC. This model continued production until 1988.Then, in 1989 a totally new model was introduced, DT200R (3ET), as well as a similar DT125R. In Canada, the DT125LC/R was never imported.
A motorcycle's suspension serves a dual purpose: contributing to the vehicle's handling and braking, and providing safety and comfort by keeping the vehicle's passengers comfortably isolated from road noise, bumps and vibrations.
The R60 and R60/2 are 600 cc boxer-twin that were manufactured from 1956 to 1969 in Munich, Germany, by BMW.
The Matchless G80 is a single cylinder 500 cc British motorcycle built by Associated Motorcycles (AMC) between 1946 and 1966. During the 1950s and 1960s, the main export product for AMC was the AJS/Matchless range – the road bikes were very similar, often with only the badges distinguishing one marque from the other; the equivalent AJS being the Model 18.
The Yamaha RD500LC is a high-performance, two-stroke sports motorcycle, also known as the RZ500 in Canada and Australia. A lightened but detuned version known as the RZV500R was developed for the Japanese home market. Strict United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations meant that the RZ500 was not available for sale in that country. Produced for a short period between 1984 and 1986 it has become a sought after collector's machine.
The Yamaha FZ750 is a sports motorcycle produced by Yamaha Motor Corporation between 1985 and 1991. The FZ750 is notable for several reasons, perhaps the most radical being the 5-valve cylinder head with a radial arrangement. This became something of a Yamaha trademark. The FZ750 would be the first bike in the Genesis design concept.
The Vincent Rapide is a line of standard motorcycles designed and built by the Vincent HRD motorcycle company at their works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. The model debuted in 1936 and was built until 1939. Production resumed in 1946 and ended in 1955. Four major versions were built, labelled Series A through D.
The Yamaha TX500 is a two-cylinder standard motorcycle built by Yamaha and sold in 1973 and 1974. Early models closely resembled the Triumph Bonneville in style. In 1975 the bike was renamed XS500 and then continued to be updated until 1978 when sales ended in the USA. In Europe, the model was available through 1980.
The BMW R65 is a light touring motorcycle introduced by BMW in 1978 to add a mid-size motorcycle to its product line. The original R65, contrary to the views of some commentators, has the same sized frame as the larger R series motorcycles. The R65 does however have a shorter swingarm than its siblings and therefore a shorter bolt-on rear sub-frame; this, along with the shorter front forks and 18" front wheel, gives the illusion that the R65 frame is smaller. The initial model R65 was manufactured until 1984. In 1985 the R65’s engine was put into the same frame and suspension as the R80 which featured a single rear shock absorber (mono-shock). Additionally, between 1981 and 1984, the R65LS was manufactured. This R65 variant has a small triangular fairing that was designed by Hans Muth.
The Kawasaki KR-1 and KR-1S are road-orientated 249 cc (15.2 cu in) two-stroke sports bikes introduced between 1988 and 1992 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The G450X is an Enduro-class motorcycle that was produced by BMW Motorrad between 2008 and 2011.
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