seems crazy that that old Norton Manx air cooled 500cc 4 stroke makes around the same power as modern racing (or at least street legal) water cooled 450cc/500cc thumper engines
This only comes to a surprise for people who are not in the deep know about ICEs, from a mechanical perspective everything was done and known by the end of second world war. I would invite you to go to an airplane museum and look at those aircraft engines from WW2, they had everything intercooled turbocharging, fuel injection, double overhead camshaft four valve piston. If you buy a comprehensive book about piston engines from the fifties there wouldn't be a lot you'd miss compared to today. So it's no wonder that they reached similar power densities. What we did improve in a lot is efficiency, weight, longevity and just overall perfection.
I think it's a very hard list to do, as Singles usually sound very similar. But one thing is for sure, I will take the lion bark of a Motocross 450 over that four cylinder screech of modern Sportsbikes everyday
hard to beat the spound of a big bore 4 stroke, just screams tourque. had a 92 DR350 before i got my XR650, thing had boats of tourque, absolute tractor
Thanks for the video. It's good to see younger people getting into the history of theses bikes (okay I'm 75 so I am assuming you are younger since you know what "merch" is LOL!). And regarding the Dakar DR 800, I remember that year. But, wow, over 500 lbs and still only a single so that's probably saying a lot as to why there were no more.
With the right pipe, the Suzuki LS650 (652cc Savage/S40) sounds mean as hell! like some angry, pissed off roid-raiging bicep, and torque to back it up.
i can't be the only one that thinks they all sound terrible comparatively.. yesterday i watched a video about a bike that sounds better than a supercar and didn't believe it but ended up being surprised that it actually did sound really good. these did not sound good imo
I think you missed the point... Best SINGLE cilinder sound. That thing has 6. You used the word comparatively, but in this case that is imposible. You try to compare a Cesna to a F16?! I personaly love the sound of singles, maybe because i used to ride dirtbikes, a bit of nostalgia.
Single cylinder 4 strokes are the worst sound in the automotive world. They sound like Diarrhea farts. None sound good. Single cylinder 2 strokes can sound amazing though.
@@Killaclan1696 correct. Single cylinder 4 strokes sound universally awful. Every other configuration sounds better. I'd rather hear fingernails on a blackboard!
@@brodiejones2028 We have a saying here '' Le couloir et le gout nes discute pas." It means we dont argue about colour or taste. To each his own, i prefer the sound of a thumping single to that of a twin or multi anytime.
I think it's also important to really put into perspective how central to human activity today and in the past the single cylinder is. If one was asked which engine layout powered the world, most would probably quote the inline four, being the common choice for cars. But the production numbers of these cars are completely eclipsed by the number of moped-, tuck tuck-, generator-, outboard-, and applience single cylinder engines.
One that comes to my mind is the Royal Enfield Classic (or Bullet). I love the sound and also the character of single cylinder motorcycles. I travelled all over Europe on my BMW F650 Funduro, love that bike and will never sell it.
I have four thumpers in my collection. 1974 Honda XL125 2016 Royal Enfield Classic 500 1989 Honda GB500TT 2023 Honda XR650L I love the sound of all of them.
Think you would be disappointed in the SZR660 the engine is very lumpy under 3,000 r/m and gasps after 5,500 r/m - I much preferred my SRX600 which pulled clean from 2,000r/m to 6,000 - it was altogether a more mellow bike may be due to its 8.5 :1 lower I compression - both had similar acceleration - the roll on from 50-80mph in top gear was delightful in the SRX600 while the SZR660 had better rear suspension
My last 2 m/cycles were thumpers. A Ducati 450cc and BMW GS 650 single. I’m sold on singles. The new BSA Goldstar single looks impressive too. Fast enough and low maintenance. You can’t beat em.
Not really a fan of the single sound, but thats when most are idling or plodding about. I actually like the sound of them once they go on pipe and stop sounding like garbage.
Randomly clicked on this link and was surprised. The first footage of you leaving the tunnel is actually 50m from my apt lol, I ride it every day. Antwerp!
Personally, I say the best single cylinder in history is KTM's LC4. Since 2016 with the Duke V, the LC4 has achieved a level of performance and versatility never before seen on this architecture. a 693cc of 38kg, flexible as a twin and capable of exceeding 100hp with an ultra simple preparation that KTM could do tomorrow if the Euro standard would allow it. and in addition, it has, at its disposal, frames that are part of the best of production. the Chassis of the Duke III/IV/V and SM Prestige/R for the road (and supermotard use in general, ultra rigid and ultra resistant with a very contained weight), offering in addition the maximum power of the LC4 thanks to the box has air located at the back the Chassis of the Enduro 690/701, just the last ultimate Rally Trail chassis, which won the last Dakar in unlimited capacity. capable of cashing gigantic jumps with tens of kilos of onboard mass. The Chassis of the Kraemer HKR EVO 2, a pure sports car as we can see, it is directly derived from the Moto3 chassis of KTM. absolutely ridiculous weight and just perfect rigidity and mass balance
Best sounding single I ever heard was my highly modified SR500 race bike from the 1980's. Open reverse cone megaphone that sounded like the hammers of hell! Used to scare the shit out of riders when I passed them. Stronger and faster than my current 2017 KTM 690 Duke. Would power wheelie in 3rd. At 8800 rpms sounded like it was going to explode, but never did. Wish I had kept it.
Ah, my Harley Sprint is on the list. Number one even. I always loved the sound of my ERS 350 flattracker. Just phenomenal when I was racing a short track or TT. My street Sprint was almost as good. The shop where I purchased it replaced the quiet 1 into 2 pipe for a single pipe with a Sportster "shorty" muffler. It sure was loud. Good memories.
I owned a 99 Yamaha SZR660 ,TZR125 chassis with big 660 motor . Brought it new, what fun bike, but it is under braked....ahhh the brakes. needs to have the 2nd disk up front and dump the stock pads for a racing compound, nearly killed myself riding hard to find I had no brakes when I needed them, got too hot and faded....but still a fun bike to ride, I regret trading it in
Check out the best sounding twin cylinder motorcycles: th-cam.com/video/iUXSOX05YvE/w-d-xo.html
seems crazy that that old Norton Manx air cooled 500cc 4 stroke makes around the same power as modern racing (or at least street legal) water cooled 450cc/500cc thumper engines
Engineers in the metallurgy and manufacturing got their things spot on. Back in the '60s!!
Maybe the difference is the wheith
This only comes to a surprise for people who are not in the deep know about ICEs, from a mechanical perspective everything was done and known by the end of second world war. I would invite you to go to an airplane museum and look at those aircraft engines from WW2, they had everything intercooled turbocharging, fuel injection, double overhead camshaft four valve piston. If you buy a comprehensive book about piston engines from the fifties there wouldn't be a lot you'd miss compared to today. So it's no wonder that they reached similar power densities. What we did improve in a lot is efficiency, weight, longevity and just overall perfection.
they had no catalytic converters and emission laws back then, mechanically not much has changed, still a 4 stroke engine
There are 130cc engines with about 50-60hp. But they’re tuned
I love Single cylinder air cooled its cheap, easy to mod, and low maintenace.
I owned an SZR660 new for 3 years then bought another one 15 years later, I love them. I've owned two SRX-6 as well.
Finally someone who knows how to pronounce Husqvarna!!! Good job
I use big Husqvarna chainsaws. Keep your ear protection on!
I think it's a very hard list to do, as Singles usually sound very similar. But one thing is for sure, I will take the lion bark of a Motocross 450 over that four cylinder screech of modern Sportsbikes everyday
hard to beat the spound of a big bore 4 stroke, just screams tourque. had a 92 DR350 before i got my XR650, thing had boats of tourque, absolute tractor
where is the ktm lc4 ?
Thanks for the video. It's good to see younger people getting into the history of theses bikes (okay I'm 75 so I am assuming you are younger since you know what "merch" is LOL!). And regarding the Dakar DR 800, I remember that year. But, wow, over 500 lbs and still only a single so that's probably saying a lot as to why there were no more.
The Rotax 500/600/650 as used in a variety of bikes. Jawa, MZ, Aprilia, BMW (and my old DCM race bike)
re 350 is good sounding bike
The Moto Guzzi Falcone in idle kinda sounds like a bored drummer goofing around
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is missing
you missed the greatest. Royal Enfield
With the right pipe, the Suzuki LS650 (652cc Savage/S40) sounds mean as hell! like some angry, pissed off roid-raiging bicep, and torque to back it up.
Would love to see 1k . 2 stroke. Make a class.
1956 MV Agusta Turismo
KTM Duke 640 with double Acrapovic exhaust.
I miss my 701 🥲
Nice!
Thanks!
XS500 8 valve
hahaha vegetable oil when you're in a pinch!!
I actually own Yamaha SZR 660 and its for sale :D
Awesome bike! I would love to own one someday!
I prefer the sound of my XR650R SM over my 19' 690 SMC R. The 690 engine is a bit soulless.
Ducati supermoan UwU
cool
Rx100 Yamaha ?
Mahindra mojo XT
Honda CR80 sounds better than all of these 10.
Not mt03 that is 300cc inline rwin, it was the mt01 with the 660 engine...
Do your research again what MT03 was
@@DersNoNem I was un aware of the older mt03 with 660 engine, MT01 also was a huge 1600cc v twin 🤣🤣🤣
Ktm 660 SMC lc4
nooo
Be realistic man...half of motos isnt on the streets but at some collections or wharehouses..
That doens't change the fact that they are awesome sounding!
Ktm 660 husky 610
i can't be the only one that thinks they all sound terrible comparatively.. yesterday i watched a video about a bike that sounds better than a supercar and didn't believe it but ended up being surprised that it actually did sound really good. these did not sound good imo
it was the cbx 1050
I think you missed the point... Best SINGLE cilinder sound. That thing has 6. You used the word comparatively, but in this case that is imposible. You try to compare a Cesna to a F16?!
I personaly love the sound of singles, maybe because i used to ride dirtbikes, a bit of nostalgia.
🙈⚡️
Single cylinder 4 strokes are the worst sound in the automotive world. They sound like Diarrhea farts. None sound good. Single cylinder 2 strokes can sound amazing though.
Hater
@@Killaclan1696 correct. Single cylinder 4 strokes sound universally awful. Every other configuration sounds better. I'd rather hear fingernails on a blackboard!
@@brodiejones2028 We have a saying here '' Le couloir et le gout nes discute pas." It means we dont argue about colour or taste. To each his own, i prefer the sound of a thumping single to that of a twin or multi anytime.
i have to be honest the norton ist the worst sounding bike ive ever heard
Ignorance.
Coincidentally it's my favorite on this list!
I think it's also important to really put into perspective how central to human activity today and in the past the single cylinder is. If one was asked which engine layout powered the world, most would probably quote the inline four, being the common choice for cars. But the production numbers of these cars are completely eclipsed by the number of moped-, tuck tuck-, generator-, outboard-, and applience single cylinder engines.
One that comes to my mind is the Royal Enfield Classic (or Bullet). I love the sound and also the character of single cylinder motorcycles. I travelled all over Europe on my BMW F650 Funduro, love that bike and will never sell it.
you could have mentioned the Yamaha 500 xt, 600 Ténéré and honda 600 xrr
I have four thumpers in my collection.
1974 Honda XL125
2016 Royal Enfield Classic 500
1989 Honda GB500TT
2023 Honda XR650L
I love the sound of all of them.
I fully restored little1980 Honda XR80. I also have a Husqvarna TE310. A neighbour has the same Enfield, they sound great.
@@andyroo3022 Good stuff! 🔧
I would like to see every low rpm single cylinder 4stroke bike getting too much air
Single cylinder is very good even today because it can keep the kerb weight very low
Yamaha TT 500 with that lovely 2 valve pop
Yeah, and the XT, trench digging thumpers.
Think you would be disappointed in the SZR660 the engine is very lumpy under 3,000 r/m and gasps after 5,500 r/m - I much preferred my SRX600 which pulled clean from 2,000r/m to 6,000 - it was altogether a more mellow bike may be due to its 8.5 :1 lower I compression - both had similar acceleration - the roll on from 50-80mph in top gear was delightful in the SRX600 while the SZR660 had better rear suspension
I've owned two of each and agree, the 5 valves didn't achieve much benefit off the Dyno. My best SRX was a 608cc import from Japan.
The LS 650 Savage was my first Bike and i loved her sound - especialy the "big bang" she made at each engine-shutdown :D
My 1981 GN400 does that all the time
My last 2 m/cycles were thumpers. A Ducati 450cc and BMW GS 650 single. I’m sold on singles. The new BSA Goldstar single looks impressive too. Fast enough and low maintenance. You can’t beat em.
Best sound is that amazing 800cc single cylinder!!!!!
Leaving KTM out of a video like this, that's basically a crime.
lol they'd have to get a video of one running first and the husq supermoto is a ktm engine
Not really a fan of the single sound, but thats when most are idling or plodding about. I actually like the sound of them once they go on pipe and stop sounding like garbage.
Ducati 350 Scrambler, 1968. Factory straight pipe, OEM equipment.
My boy, you forgot the Yamaha XT660R!
We call it "Meiota" here in Brazil.
Cheers!
Listen this 8:38
the xt doesn't really sound all that good...
@@jls.mp4 th-cam.com/video/CR37I9CyziQ/w-d-xo.html
the yamaha 660 is very very far from being an exceptional engine
You are missing Suzuki savage !!!
"Royal Enfield Bullet" from India sold world wide ....
I had a yamaha szr 660 with a two brothers exhaust taken from a hornet 900. Beat sound in town hands down!
Randomly clicked on this link and was surprised. The first footage of you leaving the tunnel is actually 50m from my apt lol, I ride it every day. Antwerp!
I ride through that tunnel every day!
600 CC matchless single
Personally, I say the best single cylinder in history is KTM's LC4.
Since 2016 with the Duke V, the LC4 has achieved a level of performance and versatility never before seen on this architecture.
a 693cc of 38kg, flexible as a twin and capable of exceeding 100hp with an ultra simple preparation that KTM could do tomorrow if the Euro standard would allow it.
and in addition, it has, at its disposal, frames that are part of the best of production.
the Chassis of the Duke III/IV/V and SM Prestige/R for the road (and supermotard use in general, ultra rigid and ultra resistant with a very contained weight), offering in addition the maximum power of the LC4 thanks to the box has air located at the back
the Chassis of the Enduro 690/701, just the last ultimate Rally Trail chassis, which won the last Dakar in unlimited capacity.
capable of cashing gigantic jumps with tens of kilos of onboard mass.
The Chassis of the Kraemer HKR EVO 2, a pure sports car as we can see, it is directly derived from the Moto3 chassis of KTM.
absolutely ridiculous weight and just perfect rigidity and mass balance
No Honda XBR500 😔
xr600 …
The XR650R and any 450 motocross bike...
250 too. It's sweet music.
Stick an after market can such as an Arrow on the BMW F650 and it sounds great. Also the P&M Panther 600 is a nice bike. I had a 1951 model.
Well you can make any bike sound good if you modify the exhaust. I think the point of this vid was stock single bikes.
when you come here to hear some single cilynder and instead you have to endure this guy for 14 minutes.
1:23 engker
Ktm390 bs3 brooo best single cylinder sound ever
Royal Infield 350,500 you can include in this list
Yamaha TT500
Try checking suzuki raider 150
Enggkerr.....!!!!!
Ill take the yamaha tt500 and the sr500.
DKW 125cc 2 cycle dirt bike
It's Ducati not ducaDi
👌👌👌🔥🔥🔥🏍️🏍️🏍️
Great video, a nice choice of varied motorcycles. The Motto guzziwith it;s big flywheel, low idle did sound pretty special.
a straight pipe honda amogo is best
I agree with the Manx as number 1 , but i think you hurt the feelings of BSA Goldstar fans .
It was hard selecting 10 bikes. Alot of good ones have been left out sadly.
I think I prefer my own home built 600 single, same weight as the Ducati but more hp and a lot less cost
4:25 Twin Cylinder Sound
Listen to a crf150r
Best sounding single I ever heard was my highly modified SR500 race bike from the 1980's. Open reverse cone megaphone that sounded like the hammers of hell! Used to scare the shit out of riders when I passed them. Stronger and faster than my current 2017 KTM 690 Duke. Would power wheelie in 3rd. At 8800 rpms sounded like it was going to explode, but never did. Wish I had kept it.
CCM Stelth Bobber.
1969 Bultaco Metralla 250
Ah, my Harley Sprint is on the list. Number one even. I always loved the sound of my ERS 350 flattracker. Just phenomenal when I was racing a short track or TT. My street Sprint was almost as good. The shop where I purchased it replaced the quiet 1 into 2 pipe for a single pipe with a Sportster "shorty" muffler. It sure was loud. Good memories.
I owned a 99 Yamaha SZR660 ,TZR125 chassis with big 660 motor . Brought it new, what fun bike, but it is under braked....ahhh the brakes. needs to have the 2nd disk up front and dump the stock pads for a racing compound, nearly killed myself riding hard to find I had no brakes when I needed them, got too hot and faded....but still a fun bike to ride, I regret trading it in
Ok😊
Royal Enfield bullet classic 500
Ktm exc 450
I love the Moto Guzzi and Yamaha's sound. It's also funny how Harley-Davidson sounds like "potato-potato" even with a single cylinder 😂
SR500
FT500
GN400
GB400
All ok with an after market pipe
Just off the top of my head.
Cheers from New Zealand
nx650?
Yamaha Szr engine was nt used in the Mt03 it was used also in MZ 660 Skorpion range Baghira and Mastiff. Note this is a cool 5 valve engine.
I loved my Yamaha SR 500 ' Thumper '. Only 29 HP, but handled great on twisty mountain roads.
my 62 Matchless 500 sounds better than most of what you showed,and when it comes on the pipe,it's glorious.
Honda Dominator NX650, especially early versions, sounds better than most of your examples shown
I love the sound of a Briggs and Stratton single cylinder at low rpm. They just purr
I like the sound of 701 Husqvarna but you missed out on the Beta 300 2t road legal low sound
I've ridden a couple of Yamaha SZR660s. Heaps of fun, especially in the twisties.
I have a SZR660 and looking for a good exhaust... any recommendations?
Hengker hengker lur 🤣
Mirip herex
Nice video dude 🔥😤🔥
nice levers u got there :)
@@Pikachu-om4pc Ayy thanks mate! You're breaks are looking just as fine!