[sportrider - features] - Stop Watch: Honda's VFR1200F Engine - Packaging

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Stop Watch: Honda's VFR1200F Engine - Packaging

It always tells a storyOne of the many interesting aspects of Honda's new VFR1200F is the engine layout, which has the rear cylinders inboard of the front pair. In a conventional V-four configuration, the front cylinder bank is staggered to one side of the rear, with the cylinders in each bank equally spaced. The left pair of cylinders share one crankpin while the right pair share another, with the front connecting rods both to the same side of the rear rods. This makes the amount of stagger between the banks the width of one connecting rod. On the VFR1200, the rear cylinders' connecting rods are both mounted inboard of the front cylinders' rods. The benefit is that the rear cylinders end up closer together than they would otherwise be, making the bike narrower between the rider's legs. The front bank ends up being wider, of course, but this is a worthwhile tradeoff.inline_mediumwraptextrightDucati's Apollo prototype from 45 years ago shares an intriguing detail in common with Honda's new VFR1200F.26514002/features/146_1003_honda_vfr1200f_engine146_1003_01_z+stopwatch+ducati_apollo_prototype_en gine.jpgTrue


Photo Gallery: Stop Watch: Honda's VFR1200F Engine - Sport Rider Magazine


Read More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us


Click here for full story...