Top Ten Best Sounding Motorcycle Engines

[Tom Roderick]

Originally Posted by 12er

Here is my #1

MOTO GUZZI 8 CILINDRI SOUND - YouTube

The Guzzi V8 was one of our "obvious omissions." The only reason we didn't include it is because it was a motorcycle none of us had ever heard in person (which was one of the few qualifications needed to be on this list).

[sarnali2]

Originally Posted by Buzglyd

Hard to argue with the list but no 2 strokes?

I can think of a certain inline 6 that could make the list as well.

You would, lol


Harley's before the twin cam sound good, afterwords not so much. The best sounding HD I've ever heard was my cammed up '78 Sportster with drag pipes, pure wood everytime I started it up..

Agree with the RC166, Mike the Bike made that one wail, also the TZ750. I remember hearing Barry Sheene's screaming Suzuki at Oultan Park dicing it up with Kenny Roberts back in the 70's, also Roger DeCoster and Joel Roberts on Suzuki's mixing it up with Ake Jonsson and Hans Maisch of Maico's..Bengt Aaberg's Husqvarna keeping pace....

I guess I'm kind of a two stroke fan myself..

[Gerwin]

I agree with all of the entries, and I understand the list is only 10 long, but number 11 would be the Norton Manx. I've heard them on numerous occasions, racing past in historic events, or warming up in the paddock. I don't particlarly like single cylinders, but the sound of the Manx is unique and can not only be heard, but also felt through the chest

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by Gerwin

I agree with all of the entries, and I understand the list is only 10 long, but number 11 would be the Norton Manx. I've heard them on numerous occasions, racing past in historic events, or warming up in the paddock. I don't particlarly like single cylinders, but the sound of the Manx is unique and can not only be heard, but also felt through the chest

That would be much like a dozen BSA Goldstars hotshoeing it around a 1/2 mile oval dirt track. Mechanical Music.

[2doorcinema]

I would have to say a boxer engine should have made that list.. absolutely unique, and for those who like em, the most beautiful sound in the world..

[valleycat001]

Sorry, but why has nobody mentioned the Kawasaki triples? Totally unique, awesome sound and VERY worthy of top 10, if not top 5!

[backroadbob.com]

Here, here for the Kaw Two-Stroke Triples and an honorable mention for a throaty, well-tuned mid-displacement thumper. I'd knock the parallel twin and drag bike off the list to make room.

[rvfrules]

The street-going VFRs featured gear-driven cams until 2001. How about some cleanup editing to get the facts right?

[Duken4evr]

Originally Posted by backroadbob.com

Here, here for the Kaw Two-Stroke Triples and an honorable mention for a throaty, well-tuned mid-displacement thumper. I'd knock the parallel twin and drag bike off the list to make room.

Agreed. When ridden off road, a mid bore thumper at work sounds awesome. I had not thought about it before buying the bike, but my Husaberg FE450, with it's downdraft intake trumpet sitting in the rider's lap makes the coolest combo of intake song and exhaust bark. Makes the rider want to find a big gnarly hill to let it eat and bathe in the sounds emanating from that thing.

I agree about the Kawi triples too. My buddy has a modded H2 750 with expansion chambers on it. If Satan likes bikes, he has one of these in Hell, because it sounds demonic!

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by Duken4evr

Agreed. When ridden off road, a mid bore thumper at work sounds awesome. I had not thought about it before buying the bike, but my Husaberg FE450, with it's downdraft intake trumpet sitting in the rider's lap makes the coolest combo of intake song and exhaust bark. Makes the rider want to find a big gnarly hill to let it eat and bathe in the sounds emanating from that thing.

I agree about the Kawi triples too. My buddy has a modded H2 750 with expansion chambers on it. If Satan likes bikes, he has one of these in Hell, because it sounds demonic!

I knew a guy in LA in the 70s who had the H2, ported with chambers. It made an insane amount of horsepower in the most unpleasant manner possible. But it sounded like nothing else.