V-twin
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A V-twin engine, also called a V2 engine, is a two-cylinder
piston engine A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common featu ...
where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. Although widely associated with
motorcycles A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, ...
(installed either transversely or longitudinally), V-twin engines have also been used for industrial engines and in several small cars. The V-twin design dates back to the late 1880s.


Origins

One of the first V-twin engines was built by
Gottlieb Daimler Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler (; 17 March 1834 – 6 March 1900) was a German engineer, industrial designer and industrialist born in Schorndorf (Kingdom of Württemberg, a federal state of the German Confederation), in what is now Germany. He was a ...
in 1889. It was used as a stationary engine, for boats and in the
Daimler Stahlradwagen The ''Stahlradwagen'' (or "steel-wheeled car") was Gottlieb Daimler's second motor car. After seeing Panhard's Daimler-designed V-twin engine demonstrated at the Paris Exposition of 1889 and inquiring into the engine's weight and power, Arman ...
("steel-wheeled car"), Daimler's second car. The engine was also manufactured under licence in France by
Panhard et Levassor Panhard was a French motor vehicle manufacturer that began as one of the first makers of automobiles. It was a manufacturer of light tactical and military vehicles. Its final incarnation, now owned by Renault Trucks Defense, was formed b ...
. An early V-twin engined motorcycle was produced in November 1902 by the Princeps AutoCar Company in the United Kingdom. The following year, V-twin motorcycles were produced by Eclipse Motor & Cycle Co in the United Kingdom (the ''XL-ALL'' model),
Glenn Curtiss Glenn Hammond Curtiss (May 21, 1878 – July 23, 1930) was an American aviation and motorcycling pioneer, and a founder of the U.S. aircraft industry. He began his career as a bicycle racer and builder before moving on to motorcycles. As early ...
in the United States, and
NSU Motorenwerke NSU Motorenwerke AG, or NSU, was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and pedal cycles, founded in 1873. Acquired by Volkswagen Group in 1969, VW merged NSU with Auto Union, creating Audi NSU Auto Union AG, ultimately Audi. The nam ...
in Germany. Peugeot, which had used Panhard-built Daimler V-twins in its first cars, began producing its own V-twin engines in the early 20th century. This Peugeot engine powered a
Norton Norton may refer to: Places Norton, meaning 'north settlement' in Old English, is a common place name. Places named Norton include: Canada * Rural Municipality of Norton No. 69, Saskatchewan *Norton Parish, New Brunswick **Norton, New Brunswick, a ...
motorcycle that won the first
Isle of Man TT The Isle of Man TT or Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event is often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world ...
race in 1907.


Typical design


Crankshaft configuration

Most V-twin engines have a single
crankpin A crankpin or crank pin, also known as a rod bearing journal, is a mechanical device in an engine which connects the crankshaft to the connecting rod for each cylinder. It has a cylindrical surface, to allow the crankpin to rotate relative to the ...
, which is shared by both
connecting rod A connecting rod, also called a 'con rod', is the part of a piston engine which connects the piston to the crankshaft. Together with the crank, the connecting rod converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into the rotation of the cranksh ...
s. The connecting rods may sit side-by-side with offset cylinders, or have fork and blade connecting rods which avoids the twisting forces caused by having offset cylinders. Some notable exceptions include a 180° crank pin offset used by the 1935
Moto Guzzi Moto Guzzi is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer and the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company is noted for its historic role in Italy's motorcycling ma ...
500cc, a dual-crankpin configuration used by the 1983
Honda Shadow The Honda Shadow refers to a family of cruiser-type motorcycles made by Honda since 1983. The Shadow line features motorcycles with a liquid-cooled 45 or 52-degree V-twin engine ranging from 125 to 1,100 cc engine displacement. The 25 ...
750, and the 75° crank pin offset (45° offset in the United States) used by the 1987
Suzuki VX 800 The Suzuki VX800 is a road motorcycle shaft-drive V-twin bike from Suzuki. The VX800 was designed at U.S. Suzuki's Design Studio in Brea, California from 1986 to 1989, and produced in the years 1990 to 1997. Lackluster sales in the United States ...
.


V angle

Although any 'V angle' (the angle between the two banks of cylinders) between zero and 180 degrees is theoretically possible for a V-twin engine, in practice angles smaller than 40 degrees are rarely used. The most common V angle for a V-twin engine is 90 degrees, which can achieve a perfect
primary balance Engine balance refers to how the forces (resulting from combustion or rotating/reciprocating components) are balanced within an internal combustion engine or steam engine. The most commonly used terms are ''primary balance'' and ''secondary bala ...
(if the correct
counterweight A counterweight is a weight that, by applying an opposite force, provides balance and stability of a mechanical system. The purpose of a counterweight is to make lifting the load faster and more efficient, which saves energy and causes less wea ...
is used) like most Ducatis, most Moto Guzzis, the Honda RC51,
Suzuki TL1000S The Suzuki TL1000S was a Suzuki V-twin roadster sport bike made from 1997–2001. General background The Suzuki TL1000S was introduced by Suzuki in 1997 and was produced until 2001 and is frequently referred to as the TLS or Suzuki TLS. I ...
and TL1000R. However, this arrangement results in an uneven firing order, with the second cylinder firing 270 degrees after the first cylinder, then a 450 degrees interval until the first cylinder fires again. 90 degree engines are sometimes called L-twin (like the "L" in TL1000R or TL1000S) rather than V-twin. The alternating longer and shorter gaps between firings produce a characteristic V-twin alternating engine noise "phutphut phutphut phutphut phutphut". When a V angle of less than 90 degrees is used, perfect primary balance can only be achieved if offset
crankpin A crankpin or crank pin, also known as a rod bearing journal, is a mechanical device in an engine which connects the crankshaft to the connecting rod for each cylinder. It has a cylindrical surface, to allow the crankpin to rotate relative to the ...
s are used. If not, balance shafts are usually required to reduce the vibration. Vehicles which use engines with V angles of less than 90 degrees include: * 20 degrees: 1889
Daimler Steel-wheel car The ''Stahlradwagen'' (or "steel-wheeled car") was Gottlieb Daimler's second motor car. After seeing Panhard's Daimler-designed V-twin engine demonstrated at the Paris Exposition of 1889 and inquiring into the engine's weight and power, Arman ...
* 42 degrees: 1916-1923
Indian Powerplus The Indian Powerplus is a motorcycle that was built from 1916 to 1924 by the Indian (motorcycle), Hendee Manufacturing Company. Designed by Charles Gustafson, the Powerplus's engine was Indian's first flathead engine, flathead. Origin Charles Gu ...
, 1920-1949 Indian Scout, 1922-1953
Indian Chief A tribal chief or chieftain is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribe The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of western Afroeurasia. Tribal societies are sometimes categorized as ...
* 45 degrees: 1909–present
Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson, Inc. (H-D, or simply Harley) is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depressi ...
V-twin , 1990-1997
Suzuki VX 800 The Suzuki VX800 is a road motorcycle shaft-drive V-twin bike from Suzuki. The VX800 was designed at U.S. Suzuki's Design Studio in Brea, California from 1986 to 1989, and produced in the years 1990 to 1997. Lackluster sales in the United States ...
, 2001-present
Suzuki Boulevard C50 The Suzuki Boulevard C50 (VL800) is a cruiser motorcycle made by Suzuki Motor Corporation since 2001. Prior to 2005, the model was named the ''Volusia'' for Volusia County, Florida, where it was unveiled at the 2001 Daytona Bike Week. In 2005, S ...
, 1985-2007
Honda VT1100 The Honda VT1100 is a motorcycle engine used in the Honda Shadow 1100 motorcycle line since its debut in 1985 until production ended in 2007. In this 22-year run, there were minimal changes. It is a liquid cooled, , 45 degree V-twin. It has a bo ...
* 48 degrees: 2005-2012
Yamaha MT-01 The Yamaha MT-01 is a MT series motorcycle made by Yamaha from 2005 to 2012, available in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, India, Japan and parts of North America. But Yamaha Motor Corp. USA declined to import it to the United States, citing a sm ...
, 1999-present
Yamaha XV1600A The Yamaha XV1600A is a cruiser-style motorcycle. It is also called the Yamaha Road Star or in Europe the Yamaha Wild Star. It was produced from 1999 through model year 2014 when the Roadstar model line was discontinued. The 1999-2003 models wer ...
* 50 degrees: 1919-1924 BSA Model E, 1924-1936
Brough Superior SS100 The Brough Superior SS 100 is a motorcycle which was designed and built by George Brough in Nottingham, England in 1924. Although every bike was designed to meet specific customer requirements—even the handlebars were individually shaped—s ...
, 1929-1940 Matchless Model X, 1936-1955 Vincent Rapide, all Victory Freedom engines * 52 degrees: 1997–present
Honda Shadow The Honda Shadow refers to a family of cruiser-type motorcycles made by Honda since 1983. The Shadow line features motorcycles with a liquid-cooled 45 or 52-degree V-twin engine ranging from 125 to 1,100 cc engine displacement. The 25 ...
, 1987-present
Honda Transalp The Honda Transalp is the XL400V, XL600V, XL650V, XL700V, and XL750 series of dual-sport motorcycles manufactured in Japan by Honda since 1987. With the exception of XL750, the Transalp bikes series feature a liquid-cooled, four-stroke 52° V ...
, 1998-2013
Honda Deauville The Honda Deauville, also designated the NT650V and NT700V, is a mid-range touring motorcycle manufactured and marketed by Honda over a fifteen-year production run (1998–2013) spanning three generations — and named after the French seasi ...
, 2002-2008
Honda VTX is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a producti ...
, 2004-2010 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 series * 54 degrees: 2008–present
Suzuki Boulevard C109R The Suzuki Boulevard C109R motorcycle was introduced in 2008 as Suzuki's V-Twin Cruiser. The same model is sold in Europe as the Suzuki Intruder C1800R. The engine is a , four-valve DOHC, 54-degree, liquid-cooled, fuel injected V-twin. Each bor ...
, 2006-present
Suzuki Boulevard M109R The Suzuki Boulevard M109R motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a r ...
* 55 degrees: 1985-2006
Kawasaki Vulcan 750 The VN750, also known as the Vulcan 750, is a 750 cc class Cruiser (motorcycle), cruiser-style motorcycle made by Kawasaki motorcycles, Kawasaki from 1985 to 2006. The Vulcan 750 was Kawasaki's first cruiser and first V-twin engine, introduc ...
, 2006-present
Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic motorcycle (Model VN900B) is a mid-sized motorcycle cruiser made by Kawasaki, first introduced in 2006. The cycle follows the formula of a smaller yet capable engine fitted into a one-size up frame, a popular com ...
* 60 degrees: 2001-2017
Harley-Davidson VRSC The Harley-Davidson VRSC (V-twin racing street custom), or V-Rod, is a line of V-twin cruiser motorcycles made by Harley-Davidson from 1999 until 2017. They are often called muscle bikes for their relatively high power output. The V-Rods are th ...
, 1998-2003
Aprilia RSV Mille The Aprilia RSV Mille is a sport motorcycle manufactured by Aprilia from 1998 to 2003. It was offered in three versions, RSV Mille, RSV Mille R, and RSV Mille SP. The first RSV Mille (ME) was made from 1998 to 2000, the updated RSV Mille (RP) fro ...
, 1988-present
Yamaha XV250 The Virago 250 is an entry-level cruiser motorcycle built by Yamaha Motor Company. It has claimed a top speed of 85 mph. V Star 250 (2008–present) In the 2008 model overview, the Virago 250 has been replaced with the V Star 250, but the specs ...
, 2001–present
Yamaha DragStar 250 The Yamaha DragStar 250 ''(also known as the V Star 250 and the XVS250)'' is a motorcycle produced by Yamaha Motor Company. V Star 250 Replaces Virago 250 In the 2008 model overview, the Virago 250 has been replaced with the V Star 250, but th ...
, 2015-present Indian Scout * 70 degrees: 1988-1998
Suzuki RGV250 The Suzuki RGV250 was a Suzuki high performance sport bike which had a great number of its features and design cues based on Grand Prix technologies and ideas. It is a race-replica based on Suzuki's GP bikes from 1987 to 1998, the RGV V-2 race ...
, 1987-2004
Yamaha Virago 535 The Yamaha Virago 535 is a motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha Motor Corporation. It is one of several in the Virago line and is positioned as mid-size metric cruiser with an engine displacement Engine displacement is the measure of the cyl ...
, 1997-present
Yamaha DragStar 650 The Yamaha DragStar 650 ''(also known as the V Star 650 and the XVS650/XVS650A)'' is a motorcycle produced by Yamaha Motor Company is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of motorcycles, marine products such as boats and outboard motors ...
* 72 degrees: 1974-1989 Moto Morini 350 & 500 V-twins Voxan 1997-2010 * 75 degrees: 2005–present Hyosung GT250, 2008-2015
KTM 1190 RC8 The KTM 1190 RC8 was a supersport bike made by KTM. The first generation 2008 model had a V-twin engine and was the Austrian manufacturer's first-ever Superbike design. The RC8 model was supplemented with RC8 R models one year later in 2009 an ...
, 1981-2007
Yamaha Virago The Yamaha Virago was Yamaha's first V-twin cruiser motorcycle, and one of the earliest mass-produced motorcycles with a mono-shock rear suspension. Originally sold with a ' engine in 1981, Yamaha soon added ' and ' versions. The bike was redes ...
, 1998-2008
Yamaha DragStar 1100 The Yamaha XVS 1100 DragStar, sold as the V-Star 1100 in North America, is a motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha Motor Corporation. It comes in two versions, the XVS1100 Custom and the XVS1100A Classic, the former a more modern style, and the latte ...
* 80 degrees: 1978-1983
Honda CX series 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 tech ...
, Rotax 810/660/490 engines Vehicles which use engines with V angles of greater than 90 degrees include the 1934
Moto Guzzi Moto Guzzi is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer and the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company is noted for its historic role in Italy's motorcycling ma ...
500cc (120 degrees) and the 1940-1948
Zündapp KS 750 The Zündapp KS 750 is a World War II-era motorcycle and sidecar combination developed for the German Wehrmacht (armed forces) before and during the Second World War, by the German company Zündapp G.m.b.H. After entering service in 1941, over 18 ...
(170 degrees).


Motorcycles

As per other motor vehicles, the terms
longitudinal engine In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back. Use This type of motor is usually used for rear-wheel drive cars, except ...
and
transverse engine A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the direction of travel. Many modern front-wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration. Most rear-wheel drive vehicles ...
are most often used to refer to the crankshaft orientation relative to the frame. However, some companies use the opposite terminology, stating that a "transverse" V-twin engine has the cylinders mounted on each side of the motorcycle (therefore with the crankshaft running in line with the frame) and that a "longitudinal" V-twin engine has the cylinders at the front and rear. * * * * * The latter terminology is used by the Italian manufacturer Moto Guzzi. To avoid such ambiguity, some people use descriptions of "transverse crankshaft engine", "longitudinal crankshaft engine", or "transversely mounted cylinders".


Transverse engine

The most common arrangement is to mount the engine with the crankshaft oriented transversely to the frame. The advantage of this mounting is that the width of the motorcycle can be smaller than a longitudinally-mounted V-twin. A disadvantage of this configuration for air-cooled engines is that the two cylinders receive different air-flows and cooling of the rear cylinder tends to be restricted (although the uneven cooling isn't as pronounced as a parallel-twin engine, where the inner faces of the cylinders are not exposed to any airflow). Some transverse V-twins use a single carburettor in the middle of the V-angle to feed both cylinders. While this avoids the need for two carburettors, it creates further cooling problems for the rear cylinder by placing its hot exhaust port and pipe at the back of the cylinder, where it may be exposed to less cooling airflow. Transverse V-twin engines have been used by
Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson, Inc. (H-D, or simply Harley) is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depressi ...
,
Ducati Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. () is the motorcycle-manufacturing division of Italian company Ducati, headquartered in Bologna, Italy. The company is directly owned by Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini, whose German parent company is Au ...
and many recent Japanese motorcycles, such as the Suzuki SV650. Some Ducati V-twin engines have been marketed as "L-twin" engines, due to the front cylinder being vertical and the rear cylinder being horizontal, thus forming an "L" shape. File:Princeps V-Twin Motorcycle 1902.jpg , 1902 Princeps V-Twin File:Sokol 995 cc zijklep v-twin.jpg , 1933-1939 Sokół 1000 File:Ducati Monster 620 Dark.jpg, 2002 Ducati Monster 620 File:Honda VTR250 2009 Engine Radiator.JPG, 2009
Honda VTR250 The Honda VTR250 is a 90° V-twin motorcycle produced by Honda that has had one major revision. The original VTR250 was a faired sport bike sold only in the United States and Canada from 1988 to 1990. The next VTR250 model is a naked bike, produce ...


Longitudinal engine

A less common arrangement is to mount the engine longitudinally. An advantage of this arrangement is that both cylinder heads can protrude into the air stream, so they can each receive the same amount of cooling (for air-cooled engines). Also, the transmission being located behind the engine is easier to fit within a typical motorcycle frame and, for shaft-drive motorcycles, a 90°
bevel gear Bevel gears are gears where the axes of the two shafts intersect and the tooth-bearing faces of the gears themselves are conically shaped. Bevel gears are most often mounted on shafts that are 90 degrees apart, but can be designed to work at oth ...
is not needed at the start of the driveshaft. As per all longitudinal engines, a disadvantage is that the torque reaction will twist the motorcycle to one side (such as on sharp acceleration/deceleration or when opening the throttle in neutral) instead of shifting the weight balance between the front and rear wheels. However, many modern motorcycles reduce this effect by rotating flywheels or alternators in the opposite direction to that of the crankshaft. Longitudinal V-twin engines have been used by the
Honda CX series 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 tech ...
and several
Moto Guzzi Moto Guzzi is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer and the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company is noted for its historic role in Italy's motorcycling ma ...
motorcycles. File:Honda Longitudinal V-twin.JPG , 1978-1983 Honda GL500 Silver wing File:Moto Guzzi V-twin.JPG , 2000 Moto Guzzi Jackal


Automobiles

Most cars are powered by engines with three or more cylinders, however several small cars have been produced with V-twin engines particularly during the period from 1912 to c1920 when
cyclecar A cyclecar was a type of small, lightweight and inexpensive car manufactured in Europe and the United States between 1910 and the early 1920s. The purpose of cyclecars was to fill a gap in the market between the motorcycle and the car. A key c ...
s were made by many companies (due to a favourable tax position). Almost all of these used proprietary engines, either adapting the larger motorcycle engines used for sidecar work (large singles or V-twins), or using engines specifically made for cyclecars such as those made by
JA Prestwich Industries JA Prestwich Industries, was a British engineering equipment manufacturing company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which was formed in 1951 by the amalgamation of J.A.Prestwich and Company Limited and Pencils Ltd. History John Pres ...
('J.A.P.' engines) or
F.E. Baker Ltd F. E. Baker Ltd was a British motorcycle engine and cyclecar engine manufacturer based in the Precision Works, Moorsom Street, Birmingham, England. Founded in 1906 by Frank Edward Baker, the company produced motorcycle engines under the Precisi ...
('Precision' engines). In 1912 Humber produced a light car called the Humberette with a Humber-made V-twin side-valve engine of 998cc. The engine had directly attached clutch, 3-speed gearbox and prop shaft output to a rear differential. A water cooled version of this engine was made available in 1914, but WW1 ended Humberette production in 1915. From 1911-1939, various Morgan 3-wheelers three-wheeled
cyclecar A cyclecar was a type of small, lightweight and inexpensive car manufactured in Europe and the United States between 1910 and the early 1920s. The purpose of cyclecars was to fill a gap in the market between the motorcycle and the car. A key c ...
models were powered by V-twin engines. Production of three-wheeler models then resumed with the 2012–present
Morgan 3-Wheeler The Morgan Motor Company announced that they would launch the 3 Wheeler in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. Technical The 3 Wheeler was initially said to have a Harley-Davidson ''Screaming Eagle'' V-twin engine and a Mazda 5-speed ma ...
. Also in the United Kingdom,
Birmingham Small Arms Company The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA) was a major British industrial combine, a group of businesses manufacturing military and sporting firearms; bicycles; motorcycles; cars; buses and bodies; steel; iron castings; hand tool, hand, po ...
(BSA) produced several cars powered by their V-twin motorcycle engines. These were produced from 1921-1926 (four-wheel models) and 1929-1936 (three-wheel and four-wheel models). Several manufacturers have produced models inspired by the original Morgan three-wheeled car, such as the 1978–present Triking Cyclecar (using a Moto Guzzi engine), the 2006–present Ace Cycle Car (using a Harley-Davidson engine) and the 1990–present
JZR Trikes JZR Trikes is a UK producer of traditionally-styled, motorcycle-engined trikes in kit form. History From their workshop in Darwen, Lancashire, John Ziemba Restorations began to market the JZR in 1990. Some 320 JZR's were produced up until 1998 w ...
kit car (using engines from several manufacturers). Mazda's first car, the 1960-1966
Mazda R360 The Mazda R360 is a kei car manufactured and marketed by Mazda as the company's first passenger car — a two-door, four-seat coupé. Introduced in 1960, the R360 featured a wheelbase, weighed and was powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled ...
rear-engined
kei car Kei car (or , kanji: , "light automobile", ), known variously outside Japan as Japanese city car or Japanese microcar, is the Japanese vehicle category for the smallest highway-legal passenger cars with restricted dimensions and engine capacit ...
, was powered by the
Mazda V-twin engine Mazda's first automobile engine was the V-twin family. This tiny air-cooled engine was only produced for a few years in the early 1960s before Mazda introduced a more common inline-four engine configuration. BA (356 cc) The first automobile ...
. The 1961-1962 Mazda B360 front-engined light commercial vehicle used a version of this engine. File:HumberetteVtwin1912.jpg, V-Twin Humber engine used in the 1912 Humberette File:1934 Morgan Super Sports.jpg , 1934 Morgan Super Sports (using a
JAP ''Jap'' is an English abbreviation of the word "Japanese". Today, it is generally regarded as an ethnic slur. In the United States, some Japanese Americans have come to find the term very offensive, even when used as an abbreviation. Prior to t ...
engine) File:Mazda R360 Coupe V-twin engine 003.JPG , 1960-1966
Mazda R360 The Mazda R360 is a kei car manufactured and marketed by Mazda as the company's first passenger car — a two-door, four-seat coupé. Introduced in 1960, the R360 featured a wheelbase, weighed and was powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled ...
engine


Industrial engines

Various V-twin engines have been produced for industrial uses such as pressure washers, lawn and garden tractors, tillers, generators and water pumps. The engines are usually air-cooled with a 90° V angle. Depending on the application, the engine's orientation can be either have a horizontal or vertical crankshaft. Manufacturers of commercial V-twin engines include
Briggs & Stratton Briggs & Stratton Corporation is an American manufacturer of gasoline engines with headquarters in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Engine production averages 10 million units per year as of April 2015. The company reports that it has 13 large facilit ...
with its Vanguard, Professional and Intek V-twin series,
Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
with its V-twin series engines, Kawasaki with its FD, FH, FR, FS, and FX series,
Subaru ( or ; ) is the automaker, automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate (company), conglomerate Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries), the Automotive industry#By manufacturer, twenty-first ...
with its EH series,
Tecumseh Tecumseh ( ; October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American confederacy and ...
with its OV691EA and TVT691 engines, and
Kohler Kohler is a surname of German origin. The name was first found in Saxony. It means, "charcoal burner" so the first "Kohlers" were most likely of that occupation. Notable people with the surname include: *Alan Kohler, Australian journalist *Anton ...
.


See also

*
Flat-twin engine A flat-twin engine is a two-cylinder internal combustion engine with the cylinders on opposite sides of the crankshaft. The most common type of flat-twin engine is the boxer-twin engine, where both pistons move inwards and outwards at the same ti ...
*
List of motorcycles by type of engine List of motorcycles by type of engine is a list of motorcycles by the type of motorcycle engine used by the vehicle, such as by the number of cylinders or configuration. A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's c ...
*
Motorcycle engine A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle. Motorcycle engines are typically two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engines, but other engine types, such as Wankels and electric motors, have been used. Although some moped ...
*
Straight-twin engine A straight-twin engine, also known as an inline-twin, vertical-twin, or parallel-twin, is a two-cylinder piston engine whose cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. Straight-twin engines are primarily used in motorcycles; ot ...


References

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