In recent years, multi-cylinder products such as twin-cylinder, three-cylinder, four-cylinder and even six-cylinder have become popular in the motorcycle market, and single-cylinder motorcycles are in the "light of the light". When riders talk about motorcycles, they must talk about multi-cylinder, as if riding a single-cylinder motorcycle is outdated and even humiliating.
In fact, single-cylinder motorcycles have advantages that multi-cylinder motorcycles cannot match, that is, simple and reliable, compact and lightweight, low price, low fuel consumption, and simple maintenance, which are very valuable qualities. In fact, in a sense, the single-cylinder motorcycle is the closest to the essential concept of the motorcycle!
Of course, nothing is absolutely perfect, and single-cylinder motorcycles also have their own shortcomings, that is, the power is relatively weak, the riding comfort is poor, etc. However, with the advancement of concepts, technologies and materials, these deficiencies have been effectively compensated, and single-cylinder motorcycles can also burst into strong power, with a top speed of even 200km/h; At the same time, the equipment has also been continuously upgraded, equipped with an inverted fork, slipper clutch, quick shift system, electronic throttle, traction control system, anti-lock braking system in corners, driving mode, etc., making driving fun greatly increased!
Fully absorb new concepts, new technology, new materials of single-cylinder motorcycles, further highlight their comparative advantages, in the cruise, street car, sports car, adventure, off-road and other fields of full bloom, for riders to create a wonderful "single world"!
Single-cylinder sports car: a mix of passionate power and light handling
As a sports car, the necessary conditions are high revs and high power. Due to the limitation of the number of cylinders in single-cylinder engines, compared with multi-cylinder engines, there are natural defects in squeezing high-speed power, and the power output is relatively weak, so sports motorcycles with single-cylinder engines are rare. However, with the advancement of technology and materials, single-cylinder engines with smaller displacement can now burst into higher power, and with their compact structure and light weight, they provide riders with light and flexible handling performance.
KTM has a strong single-cylinder pedigree, and their light sports car, the RC390, is powered by a water-cooled, DOHC 4-valve single-cylinder engine. KTM put the most of the technology and experience gained from the competition – the input and output shafts inside the gearbox were stacked, and the overall size of the engine was exceptionally compact, weighing less than 40kg, which was amazing! Forged pistons are installed, and nickel-silicon carbide is plated on the cylinder wall, which reduces reciprocating mass, reduces friction and improves heat dissipation capacity; At the same time, it is equipped with a balance shaft to reduce vibration and effectively suppress the vibration of the single-cylinder engine.
Many riders mention high-performance motorcycles, often want two-cylinder, four-cylinder, sneering at single-cylinder, thinking that this has nothing to do with high performance, not to mention the RC390's single-cylinder engine cylinder displacement is only 373mL. However, this single-cylinder engine with a small cylinder displacement, with the cooperation of Bosch electronic fuel injection system, bursts out with surprising energy - the maximum power reaches 32kW, which not only overshadows the Kawasaki twin-cylinder sports car Ninja 300, but also catches up with the CBR500R of the twin-cylinder sports car with a much larger cylinder displacement!
The advantages of RC390 are definitely not only light and powerful, but also high-specification frames. KTM claims that the RC390's frame creates the best handling experience for the rider, both high-speed stability and steering accuracy, close to supercars!
The RC390 is armed with a WP inverted fork on the front end, a pair of stout 43 mm forks with the same outer tube diameter as KTM's supercar flagship RC8 R, which feels a bit overboard. To support a tougher, more aggressive ride, the RC390's fork setup is slightly different from the Duke 390, with 25mm less travel. At the rear, WP monotube shock absorbers are mounted directly on a light-alloy rocker arm with superior torsional rigidity to achieve efficient traction performance.
Although the RC390 is only a single-cylinder sports car, although the cylinder displacement is only 373mL, you must not be biased, based on the number of cylinders and cylinder displacement as the hero - 32kW peak power, 35Nm's maximum torque, more than 160km/h top speed, coupled with a flexible and powerful frame and a net mass of 147kg, giving the single-cylinder sports car RC390 the ability to run fast on the road!
Single-cylinder expedition vehicle: a heroic dream that can be realized
In recent years, large expedition vehicles have continued to grow in the market and are popular among hiking adventure riders. Indeed, these tall horses, burly shapes, and unruly large-scale adventure vehicles, with surging power, perfect electronic intelligent auxiliary devices, excellent riding comfort, and all kinds of luxury travel equipment, make the journey of thousands of rivers and mountains more comfortable, safer and more fun. HOWEVER, WHAT MAKES RIDERS PROHIBITIVE OF THESE BIG ADVENTURE VEHICLES IS THE HIGH PRICE AND HIGH MAINTENANCE COSTS, SUCH AS IN THE U.S. MARKET, THE YAMAHA TWIN-CYLINDER EXPEDITION CAR TÉNÉRÉ 700 COSTS $10,299, THE HONDA "AFRICAN TWIN" COSTS $14,499, KTM'S TWIN-CYLINDER 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R COSTS $19,499, BMW'S TWIN-CYLINDER R 1250 GS ADV COSTS MORE THAN $20,000!
In contrast, although the single-cylinder adventure vehicle has reduced the number of cylinders, reduced the exhaust volume and reduced high-specification equipment, it has the advantages of strong passing force, light and easy control, simple maintenance, etc., and the price has dropped to one-third or even a quarter of the large adventure vehicle, becoming a heroic adventure dream that riders can easily realize!
When it comes to classic adventure motorcycles, you can't bypass BMW's "Boxer" GS series. Since the introduction of the R80 G/S in 1980, BMW Adventure Touring Motorcycle has undergone 40 years of honing, and its exquisite technology and human-oriented design concept have made the GS series synonymous with adventure touring motorcycles, becoming the best companion for motorcycles who like wild adventures and long-distance travel.
However, what makes people stay away is the great value. The 2022 R 1250 GS ADV Basic Edition costs $20,345, and the high-end version reaches $25,164, which is really unattainable for wage earners! And, even if money isn't an issue, the R 1250 GS ADV is a bit daunting for Asian riders who are generally thin in size – this wild horse is tall and big, and when the fuel tank is filled with gasoline, it weighs up to 268kg, which is really lovers and scary!
How about reducing the weight by more than 1/3 and cutting the price by more than 2/3? This is the BMW G310GS, the "little explorer" with a single-cylinder engine. This single-cylinder engine adopts a bore and stroke of 80mm×62mm, the cylinder displacement is 313mL, and the DOHC valve train is installed to adapt to higher speeds, the roller rocker arm and piston pin treated with diamond-like film, and the cylinder liner treated with nickel-silicon carbide film reduce the internal friction coefficient, so it has a more active characteristic, and the speed red line is set at 10500r/min. According to data released by BMW, the maximum power of this single-cylinder engine is 25kW (9500r/min) and the maximum torque is 28Nm (7500r/min). Coupled with the relatively light weight, the "Little Explorer" G310GS is quite easy to run, and the top speed can exceed 140km/h, which is more than enough for ordinary riders.
This single-cylinder engine not only provides more power, but also contains a mystery: the cylinder head adopts an unusual arrangement, which rotates 180° compared to the conventional cylinder head, that is, the intake valve is in front, the exhaust valve is behind, and the spark plug is arranged in the center of the combustion chamber. In line with this unique cylinder head, the cylinder is tilted backward instead of forward, and together with the propeller shaft that adjusts accordingly, a low center of gravity structure is obtained. At the same time, this arrangement also facilitates the installation of a longer swingarm, which optimizes rear wheel traction.
To increase off-road capability to match the identity of an expedition vehicle, the G310GS is fitted with a long-travel suspension system with a 41mm inverted fork at the front end and travel up to 180mm; Mounted at the rear is a single-barrel shock absorber, which also uses 180mm travel to ensure efficient digestion of bumps from bad road conditions. The G310GS with a single-cylinder engine is relatively lightweight, with a curb weight of 169kg when filled with gasoline, which is 99kg lighter than the R1250GS ADV. Even more pleasing is the price, which costs $5,695 in the U.S. market, which is $14,650 cheaper than R1250GS ADV!
To be continued...