Topic: What are the great street bike engines of the last 35 years?

[Juan1]

I am limiting this list to the last 35 years because I want to eliminate engines that would not impress us without "for the time" being added to the sentence.  Next, I want to add that reliability is a component as I don't want people naming powerplants that can't reach 60,000 miles.

My short list:

1. GSX-R1100 engine as tuned in the Bandit 1200 - These engines are extremely torquey and are detuned to run forever.

2. SV-650 - These compact and lightweight engines show that you can have torque in a small package.

3. VFR-750 - 100 hp, compact, smooth, and very low maintenance. I view these as what the being what the CB750 4 was relative to the competition in 1969.

4. GPZ-550 - This one is air-cooled, reliable as can be, and had one horsepower for every ten ccs back in 1981.

5. Ninja 250R - This engine that has been used since 1986, can rev to the moon, and has an actual top speed of over 100 mph.  This engine (and bike) makes scooters look pointless.

6. GS500 - I am pulling this from the list after realizing that Wiki's quoted horsepower number is 25% higher than every other publication.

[Retro Rocket]

The mid 80's and up Kawasaki water cooled 750 GPX {Ninja} and later ZXR engine, they were an absolutely brilliant engine, I've had a couple and they were excellent ...

[faux fiddy]

I would say don't leave out the sv 1000 my friend re-mapped his and loves it, and I know the the old gs 1000 with roller bearing cranks are a favorite of drag racers.

Other than that I have no experience with any of the others. bla bla bla

[krusty]

You've left out the FJ1100/1200. These are bullet proof engines with such amazing torque that once in top gear you rarely need to shift down unless coming to a stop. When overtaking there's no need to tap dance on the shift lever, just open the throttle and grin. I've had 2 1200s and still have one as well as an 1100. They can do huge miles with only scheduled maintenance.

[dave500]

any Suzuki air/oil cooled 750,i care less for horsepower numbers,plenty of crap bikes out do the good ones?

[ken65]

good onya Dave, heres my slabbie. what a sweet sounding machine . it just screams.


the engine in my fj is awesome, its just a big old lazy thing , the only thing that gets more power to the ground was my old D9. lol


have to admit my old R1 with a 150hp , ask yamaha about that,   is a real beast, the moter feels real tight ..

[DH]

Never owned one, but does the V Max fit in? Curious..

[754]

Harley Evo....

[faux fiddy]

Harley Evo....

One of the Georgia guys at Barber was talking about his recent purchase of an early '90's EVO sportster, his first Harley.


He flew to Dallas to pick it up, with plans to ride it from there to Portland, OR.  He commented on how nice the Okies were who drove him three hours to Wichita to a shop after he broke down. There he replaced a coil or coils and proceeded into the Rockies. He said it labored in the mountains to keep up with other guys on other brands he rode  with,  but other than the coils going out was dependable.

[CB750R]

The mid 80's and up Kawasaki water cooled 750 GPX {Ninja} and later ZXR engine, they were an absolutely brilliant engine, I've had a couple and they were excellent ...

Yep that basic engine is well used and abused. I have one in my ZRX.

[vfourfreak]

RC30 ! Tons of poke, reliable and just need oil changes and attention to the level to keep running sweet.

And the sound ! Music to the ear.

Kev

[MRieck]

Hayabusa engine. A pussy cat on the street that can handle 700hp

[seanbarney41]

You gotta throw a few Ducatis in that list. Pick any.

I believe the op is looking for reliability to 60,000 miles...I have not heard of one making it 1/6 of that...maybe I am just not paying attention 'cuz they are out of my price range anyway

[simon#42]

Suzuki rg500 , a gp engine for the street both honda and yamaha made a gp replica but neither where a patch on the suzuki .

[Retro Rocket]

No one has mentioned the GS or GSX in Australia, 1100, in 1982-1983 they welded the cranks and became one of the most robust engines ever built...

[seanbarney41]

You gotta throw a few Ducatis in that list. Pick any.

I believe the op is looking for reliability to 60,000 miles...I have not heard of one making it 1/6 of that...maybe I am just not paying attention 'cuz they are out of my price range anyway

Apparently they are, and you haven't. Any motor will reach 60,000 miles if properly cared for. Do a lot of Ducatis have 60k on them? Probably not. But not due to reliability issues but more likely the fact that they are often not daily rider bikes due to style and are part of a larger collection. But they are very reliable motors.

ok Calj, alls I can do is take your word for it.

[Retro Rocket]

You gotta throw a few Ducatis in that list. Pick any.

I believe the op is looking for reliability to 60,000 miles...I have not heard of one making it 1/6 of that...maybe I am just not paying attention 'cuz they are out of my price range anyway

Apparently they are, and you haven't. Any motor will reach 60,000 miles if properly cared for. Do a lot of Ducatis have 60k on them? Probably not. But not due to reliability issues but more likely the fact that they are often not daily rider bikes due to style and are part of a larger collection. But they are very reliable motors.

ok Calj, alls I can do is take your word for it.

That all depends on which Ducati's you are talking about Cal, up until recent times they were never known for reliability or ease of maintenance and were bloody expensive to keep on the road unless you were good enough to do everything yourself...

[754]

I want to see a 60,000 RG500....

[saltcitycafe]

I have an sv650 and I have to agree what a jewel of a motor and bike

[simon#42]

I want to see a 60,000 RG500....

the title of the thread is greatest street engine not which engine lasts the longest , if that was the case i would have mentioned my 330,000 mile r75

[strynboen]

kawasaki gpz 750 turbo.

.that old 750 kawa engine...can take a turbo and still run a lot of km..the turbo vas ´the veak point not the engine..like the side mounted cam chain

[Juan1]

the title of the thread is greatest street engine not which engine lasts the longest , if that was the case i would have mentioned my 330,000 mile r75

I should have been more clear about considering all street-riding related factors, including high reliability, long life, and excellent power.

BTW, I would consider the R6 and FZ6 (same engine, different tune) to have one of the worst street bike engines.  My FZ6 was a great bike in spite of the engine. If you are going to make an engine that requires extra revs to produce power, the engine shouldn't punish you with high-frequency vibration for using extra revs.

[simon#42]

best alter the title to ' best all round engine ' then juan

[eigenvector]

I would have to add in the Triumph triple either the 955 or the 1050.  I realize that I'm a bit jaded, seeing how my cooling system self-destructed - which is why I have a BMW now, but the engine was solid even after I ran it for 20 miles bone dry.

[Mtmooradian]

2v ducatis are very dependable. Monster forum has a couple 100k bikes

Rc51 should be on the list