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MOTOBRICK.COM => The MBdotCOM Community Center => Topic started by: billday on January 12, 2017, 07:11:22 AM

Title: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: billday on January 12, 2017, 07:11:22 AM



http://www.ebay.com/gds/A-Brief-History-of-the-Inline-4-Cylinder-Motorcycle-/587497fc7471131f8ff61b51/g.html?roken2=ti.pSmFtZXMgTWNCcmlkZQ==
Title: Re: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: Laitch on January 12, 2017, 09:15:10 AM
Thanks for the link, billday!
Title: Re: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: billday on January 12, 2017, 09:20:49 AM
You're welcome, Laitch.

When they get to the K, they leave out one of my favorite details about BMW's decision to go with the inline 4.

With all their experience (and brand identity) with boxers, you'd think they would have gone for a water-cooled boxer 4, right? But they were also committed to creating a motorcycle unlike any other, and Honda already had the Gold Wing on the market. (And the Gold Wing was shaft drive, too . . . .) My understanding of the story is: if not for the Gold Wing, our K's would be boxers.
Title: Re: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: Chaos on January 12, 2017, 11:18:28 AM
Thanks for the link, nice read.  I had heard BMW was designing a boxer 4 but trashed it when Honda came out with the Goldwing.  Interesting to fantasize how that might have evolved if they had gone that route. 
Title: Re: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: billday on January 12, 2017, 11:22:18 AM
Thanks for the link, nice read.  I had heard BMW was designing a boxer 4 but trashed it when Honda came out with the Goldwing.  Interesting to fantasize how that might have evolved if they had gone that route.

For one thing, there would never have been a 3-cylinder BMW.
Title: Re: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: thecableguy on January 12, 2017, 11:25:59 AM
For one thing, there would never have been a 3-cylinder BMW.
Sure there would.... Two on the left and one on the right.


Jim
Title: Re: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: billday on January 19, 2017, 08:02:19 AM
Sure there would.... Two on the left and one on the right.


Jim

According to this,

http://www.ebay.com/gds/a-brief-history-of-the-triple-cylinder-motorcycle-engine/587c9da7399d3101c5a7a134/g.html?roken2=ti.pSmFtZXMgTWNCcmlkZQ==

some guy has stuck a third cylinder onto a Harley V twin.

(Don't bother reading this article if you want to learn anything about K75 history.)
Title: Re: A brief history of the inline-4 motorcycle
Post by: Laitch on January 19, 2017, 11:24:03 AM
(Don't bother reading this article if you want to learn anything about K75 history.)
The writer could only manage to mention it in one sentence. He must have run out of words.