Summary

• Twin-cylinder engines supply quicker revs, much less vibration, and higher torque unfold, making them a well-liked alternative for bikes globally.
• Small V-twin engines just like the Suzuki VL 125LC Intruder and Honda VT125 Shadow supply a cheap choice for European markets.
• The Keeway V Cruise 125, the final of the 125 cc v-twins, boasts mature styling and fashionable options, interesting to newbie riders.

When it involves motorcycles, two cylinders are higher than one. You can have a flywheel with lighter mass, that means the engine revs faster, you may have much less vibration as a result of the facility strokes are unfold out among the many 360 levels of crank rotation, and that’s additionally why the torque unfold is best. This is why the twin-cylinder has turn out to be the engine of alternative for many bikes globally.

For the cruiser, it’s the v-twin that has taken priority over every little thing else. Over the many years, the noise it makes has turn out to be synonymous with Americana, identical to the burble of a big displacement cross-plane V8. This want for extra has given rise to bigger and bigger V-twins, considerably taking focus away from small-capacity V-twins. Such engines are fairly uncommon these days, however prior to now, small V-twins have been fairly the riot. Particularly within the European market, the place the craze for big V-twins just isn’t as prevalent. So at present, we’re diving deep into the world V-twins to current you among the smallest ones ever.

To guarantee accuracy, the knowledge compiled on this article was sourced from the respective producers, in addition to different authoritative sources equivalent to Visordown.com, Motorcycle.com, Motorcyclenews.com, and Cycleworld.com. While the title says the smallest V-twin engine on a manufacturing bike, we truly discovered an assortment of small-capacity V-twins throughout our analysis, all with an identical capacities. So beneath you will discover not one however 5 tiny V-twin engines.

Yamaha XVS 125 Virago/Dragstar

Manufacturing: 1997/2000 onward

These are literally two distinct fashions by Yamaha, with the Virago being the older mannequin. The 1997 mannequin made a mere 10 horsepower, however the 2000 mannequin added 3 horsepower and the flexibility to almost attain 60 MPH. This was apart from a number of different enhancements like a bigger tank and entrance brake disc, a greater saddle, and an improved high quality. As with the opposite cruisers right here, it weighed in at roughly 300 lbs dry, however you bought a high quality machine with no frills or fuss. If this child Yam appears acquainted, it’s as a result of it shared its chassis with a sibling that had a 250 cc engine. That mannequin lives on to this very day because the V Star 250 available in the US market.

Suzuki VL 125LC Intruder

Manufacturing: 1999 onward

We’re all conscious of Suzuki’s large displacement cruiser named ‘Intruder’. But are you aware the corporate had a 125cc V-twin too? Enter the VL125C Intruder, the smallest V-twin by Suzuki. Again, it was primarily for the European market and shared its parts with a 250 cc sibling, however being the bottom mannequin, it went as low-tech as attainable. Fuel supply was by way of a carburetor, cooling was by way of air, and the one nod to tech was a 3-valve per cylinder format that supplied two consumption valves.

With a high velocity of simply 58 MPH, it wouldn’t have been a lot use within the US market. It was a cheap choice for these seeking to get one thing just like the Honda Shadow however on a funds. Still, its 300+ lbs dry weight would have supplied blunted efficiency in comparison with different single-cylinder powered cruisers. So the VL 125LC Intruder is a puzzling mannequin altogether.

Honda VT125 Shadow / XL 125V Varadero

Manufacturing: 1999 onward

Honda’s Shadow line of cruisers stays common to this present day, however approach again in 1999, it launched a Shadow powered by a 125 cc v-twin engine. It had a sequence drive as a substitute of a shaft drive like its elder siblings. It weighed in at a portly 320 lbs, which implies efficiency was blunted, and the highest velocity was 70 MPH. Not sufficient for a freeway commute, however the Shadow 125 made a very good case for itself round city.

Honda additionally manufactured a mini-adventure bike called the XL 125V Varadero primarily based on the identical engine and chassis. Of course, it had a half-fairing, suspension with an honest quantity of journey, and a tall seating place, making it seem like a mini Transalp. The Varadero 125 additionally was a bodily giant bike for a 125, which meant tall riders have been comfy on it. Again, it wasn’t as much as freeway jaunts or any lengthy rides for that matter, but when your commute concerned unhealthy roads, it was a greater choice than the cruiser. The Shadow 125 was on sale from 1999 to 2007, whereas the Varadero 125 was offered from 2001 to 2009 within the European market.

Hyosung GT125R/Comet/Aquila GV125S

Manufacturing: 2001 onward

In the early 2000s, Hyosung made the monetary resolution to make a variety of bikes by mixing and matching engines and chassis. This gave us, amongst different fashions, a trio of 125 cc V-twin-powered Hyosungs: the sports activities bike GT125R, the bare Comet, and the cruiser Aquila GV125S. The similar chassis was shared by the 250 cc and 650 cc fashions, and subsequently, these turned out to be fairly heavy bikes for the small 125 cc engine.

The GT125R, for instance, weighed practically 400 kilos when fueled up–a lot of weight for the 14.2 horsepower engine. It wasn’t a really complicated engine, eschewing water cooling for an air/oil-cooled setup. The Aquila GV125S is on sale to this present day within the European market, due to the 125 cc-friendly learner legal guidelines. However, the Hyosung vary within the US market begins from the 250 cc displacement.

Sachs Roadster 125V

Manufacturing: 2001 onward

Sachs is kind of a widely known identify in fanatic circles, as of one of many corporations to go to in order for you actually good suspension to your automobile. Plus, as a part of ZF Sachs, it manufactures a variety of OEM in addition to efficiency parts for each vehicles and bikes. Back within the day, although, it used to manufacture motorcycles just like the Sachs Roadster 125V.

If you appreciated the thought of a small V-twin however didn’t like a cruiser or an journey touring bike, you could possibly select this charming providing. The Roadster 125V used the very same engine because the Yamaha cruiser talked about above however tweaked into streetbike type. It managed a number of extra MPH than the Yamaha’s high velocity and would run without end in the event you stuffed up its 5.2-gallon tank to the brim.

Benda Fox/Keeway V Cruise 125

Manufacturing: Ongoing

Keeway is a Hungarian model that’s now owned by the Qianjiang Group, the identical Chinese mum or dad firm that owns manufacturers like Benelli. If you go down the possession rabbit gap, you’ll discover that Geely owns a controlling stake within the Qianjiang Group – Geely being the proprietor or co-owner of manufacturers equivalent to Smart, Proton, Volvo, and Lotus. Anyway, coming to the bike, the V Cruise 125 is constructed on the identical chassis because the Keeway V302C that is sold in the US market.

In flip, the V Cruise 125 shares every little thing however its badging with the Benda Fox (offered in China), and the 2 ‘different’ bikes are offered in several markets. The V-Cruise’s styling is notably mature, giving off good muscle cruiser vibes in a lot the identical approach as a Harley-Davidson Iron collection bike. You additionally get good options like an all-digital instrument cluster and all-LED lighting. The V Cruise 125 might be the final of the 125 cc v-twins within the fashionable period, as novices proceed to get lured by larger capability bikes. In reality, we wouldn’t be stunned to see the 250 cc v-twin die out quickly as nicely.