How Motorcycles Work

Video Transcript

"Did you know that motorcycle engines are as varied in operations as automobile engines? My name is Jeff Jannett, certified Harley Davidson master technician, South Side Choppers. Today, we're going to be discussing how motorcycles work. Motorcycles work in various different ways just as automobiles do. Harley motorcycles normally are V-twin motors, but you have other motorcycles by manufacturers that have a single cylinder, as well as some that have up to eight cylinders. Some are varied as far as their valve train design and their transmissions, but all work basically the same as any internal combustion engine. You're going to have cylinders, some form of intake; whether it's carburetion or throttle body for fuel injection. You're going to have exhaust, you're going to have a crankcase for your flywheels, which is also output for the power of the bike. You're going to have some form of transference from the crank shaft to your transmission, which is where you're going to change your gears. And again, gears could be anywhere from three, four, to six speed bikes. And then, from the transmission output to the final drive of the bike. Final drive could be chain, belt, or shaft, depending on the manufacturer and the year of the bike or the type of the bike. But again, they're all basically the same as any internal combustion engine. You're going to have a valve operating system for intake and exhaust. You're going to have pistons that are moving up and down, power strokes and exhaust strokes. You're going to have oil pumps that are driven off the motor. You're going to have an air cleaning system of some type for your intake, and then you're going to have a pipe or exhaust system of some type. This is a little radical, but it works. And then, of course, the transmission, and transmissions; again, numerous speeds for the transmissions, and as far as the shift patterns go, the clutch patterns go, there are all different styles and types out there. For example, a company called Ridley makes an automatic transmission, and there's no clutch lever to pull in whatsoever. So, for any more information on how motorcycles work in general I recommend if you're interested in a specific model I actually go to their website, but the Internet has beaucoup information on different styles and different brands of motorcycles. I'm Jeff Jannett, South Side Choppers, St. Pete. Keep the rubber side down."