1. 5
   4
2. 2
   1

For a long time, the V-twin was the standard in the automotive industry. While some brands like Harley-Davidson used a 45-degree angle in the configuration, others chose different angles in pursuit of smoother operation.

1. Piston
   Engine can
2. Camshaft
   Cammies

As the fuel and air mixture combusts in the cylinder, it places pressure on the piston, forcing it downward. That motion is transferred to the crankshaft, so the motorcycle can move forward.

1. Striker
   Match
2. Lighter
   Spark plug

The spark plugs screw into motorcycle engines, with the electrode end entering the cylinder. As the spark plug receives electrical pulses, it sparks at the tip, which burns the air and fuel, creating energy.

1. Rocker shaft
   Camshaft
2. Controller
   Blinker fluid reservoir

As the camshaft spins inside the cylinder head, the lobes on it push the intake and exhaust valves to open them, and then release them so the valves close. Some people will install a performance camshaft, which has more aggressive lobes that open the valves wider or for longer, changing how the engine runs.

1. Number of cylinders, combustion chamber capacity, or number of strokes in the power cycles
   Finish, fit and flash point
2. Make, country and configuration
   Configuration, fuel and length

Of course, there are a lot of engines and types of motorcycles these days, but many people still use these three methods of classification to compare different options. That's why you'll hear someone refer to a 500 cc engine or a four-banger.

1. Fire, water, oil
   Faith, hope, love
2. Spark, fuel, air
   Cool air, hot boots, a key

Without any of these three elements, your motorcycle engine won't run. If you have little of one, it might not run, or it could run rough and struggle. You need to constantly address any issues that could affect this balance.

1. One engine
   An engine with one camshaft
2. An engine with one cylinder
   A single slice of cheese

As the most simple engine setup out there, singles are still a thing today, because they're easy to fix and maintain. That makes sense, since a lot of dirt bikes, adventure bikes and other rides use them, meaning the owners can take care of issues when they're far away from help.

1. Low-end torque and vibrations
   Top-end horsepower and squealing
2. Pollution
   Awesome colors

Because of their design, especially one big cylinder, singles generate a ton of vibration. A large flywheel and balancers can help calm things down some. With so much low-end torque, these are perfectly suited for trail runs and racing on short tracks.

1. High RPM
   Low RPM
2. Mid-range RPM
   Pretty much any RPMs

The way most inline-4 engines are tuned gives them excellent power at high RPMs. That means you really need to rev the engine to take full advantage, but these engines deliver gobs of power for their displacement.

1. Put on your hazards
   Pump your brakes
2. Turn the key
   Flip up the kickstand

It might seem like a given, but you need to turn the ignition key to the "On" or "Run" position before you try to start a motorcycle. You wouldn't believe how many people have absentmindedly forgotten this one detail, and struggled for some time to figure out what was wrong.

1. Foot massage
   They warm the seat in cold weather
2. Narrow profile
   They really scream

A V-4 engine is definitely considered a luxury, partly because they make the bike a little narrower, so you don't have to spread out your legs as much. This type of engine is also more complex and therefore more expensive to make than quite a few others, which adds to their luxurious nature.

1. Connector piece
   Serial bridge
2. Cam
   Connecting rod

At either end of the connecting rod is an opening, allowing it to attach to the crankshaft and piston securely. This part needs to be incredibly tough; it's constantly put under extreme force by the combustion process.

1. 3
   4
2. 2
   1

Many people consider triples to be the ultimate in motorcycle engines. They offer the kind of horsepower you get with an inline-4, but are narrower. In addition, you benefit from the amazing kind of torque found in twin engines, making for a well-balanced offering.

1. It uses less gas
   The fuel injectors are ruined
2. Parts seize
   The cam becomes water

Just like in any other engine, running the oil too low in your motorcycle can cause parts to rub against each other, generating incredible levels of friction. Eventually, those parts will fuse and not move anymore, which is when the engine seizes and is done for.

1. Make it run rich
   Hurt power and fuel economy
2. Run quieter
   Make it smell more

The air filter is an essential component since without it, your motorcycle engine could suck in all kinds of debris like dust, which would cause serious problems. On some motorcycles, you need to replace the filter regularly, while others you can clean and put back on. If you drive where's the air is particularly dusty, you'll need to clean or replace the filter more often.

1. 90 degree angles
   45 degree angles
2. All lined up
   Flat or horizontal

This truly unique design gives motorcycles with a boxer engine a distinct advantage, because the center of gravity sits lower to the ground. In addition, boxer twins have a linear power band and delivery power smoothly, plus they produce lots of torque, making them the perfect setup for a shaft-drive motorcycle.

1. Oil
   Antifreeze
2. German chocolate
   Dirt

All kinds of problems can cause what they call 'oil fouling' of your spark plugs. Among the possibilities is that you overfilled the engine with oil, or that the valve seals are failing and allowing oil into the combustion chamber. You need to replace the spark plugs and fix the underlying problem, whichever one it is.

1. V-twin
   V-4
2. Inline-4
   Boxer

Known for its prowess both on and off the track, the Honda CBR600RR is on the wishlist of many riders. It uses a 599 cc liquid-cooled inline-4 to complement the tight handling and excellent brakes, making this bike perfect for carving up a canyon road.

1. Swamp
   Pond
2. Sump
   Dump

When you pour oil into your motorcycle engine, much of it ends up in the sump at the bottom. Of course, by nature, the oil does collect on the different parts in the engine, but the pump recirculates the oil from the sump, so the cylinder head and other areas don't dry up.

1. 1340 cc
   500 cc
2. 1500 cc
   750 cc

While not the largest it could be, the Hayabusa's engine is plenty potent to get this motorcycle moving in a hurry. It boasts electronic fuel injection, liquid cooling and two ram-air intakes for a setup that has become the topic of many, many discussions.

1. Second
   First
2. Neutral
   Reverse

You need to push the bike so it's moving at least 5 mph before trying to start it. If it's in first gear, the sudden power from the engine could cause the bike to jerk forward, potentially throwing you off, so it's best to use second gear for the job.

1. Melted injectors
   Melted engine
2. Blown blinker fluid reservoir
   Blown fuel pump

If you do happen to run your bike dry, shut it off using the kill switch immediately, otherwise, the fuel pump could continue to run. The gas acts as a lubricant in the pump, so without any in there as the pump tries to run, you could do some serious damage. One time might not hurt too much, but don't make it a habit to run out of gas.

1. 1500
   500
2. 425
   41

Like a true scrambler, this bike is lightweight and pretty simple, and has a smaller engine. The 399 cc L-Twin not only doesn't kick out a ton of power, it's air-cooled, which helps keep the weight down. Still, it's pretty sporty, but can be handled by a new rider.

1. Low power
   Lots of vibration
2. Not much torque
   Unreliable design

Quite a few cruisers, standards, and even some sports bikes have used a parallel twin engine. It has fallen out of favor with quite a few people, partly because the design is known for producing more vibrations than V-twin engines of similar size and performance capabilities.

1. Rear cylinder
   Cylinder head
2. Oil sump
   Blink fluid overflow

Because most V-twins are air cooled, the rear cylinder doesn't cool off as much as the front one, thanks to aerodynamics. Still, for many, that iconic V-twin sound more than makes up for this weakness, which is why this engine has been highly popular in all kinds of cruisers, Ducatis, and more.

1. Hemispherical 4
   Oval-piston V-4
2. Rotunda 6
   Boxer 8

Expensive and daring, this engine powered the Honda NR, and was studied as a highly advanced design. Not only did it have four oval-shaped cylinders, but also two connecting rods and 8 valves per cylinder.

1. Backfiring
   Regular operation
2. Nothing
   Uncontrolled burning of the fuel

You might have heard of detonation, which is an event that can seriously damage your motorcycle's engine. The fuel ignites early, pushing down on the piston as it's being forced up by the crankshaft. The connecting rod, piston, valves, and other components can be ruined by detonation, which is caused by a number of potential factors.

1. More reliable
   Quieter
2. More efficient
   All of these

While some people absolutely don't like liquid cooling for motorcycles, it has some undeniable benefits. That being said, it adds weight to a bike, and sometimes finding a coolant leak can be vexing.

1. Too much oil
   Cold pistons
2. Worn piston rings
   Sticky throttle

Without proper compression, the air and fuel mixture won't combust properly, and your motorcycle will run rough, or maybe not at all. If it's not worn piston rings, the root of the problem can also be the head gasket, crank seal or scored pistons.

1. Liquid
   Air
2. Nitrogen
   Power

This powerful cruiser has a big, inline 6-cylinder engine and 24 valves, which produces 160 horsepower and 129 lb ft of torque, so you can really get moving when you need to. To keep all that running smoothly, a liquid cooling system is part of the setup.

1. Low oil level
   Dirty oil filter
2. Loose cam chain
   Sticking valve

While most people automatically assume the worst when they hear a ticking sound coming from an engine, the truth is a whole range of issues could be the cause. Start with the simplest possibility, low oil, and rule that out before pursuing more expensive and complicated remedies.

1. You're about to stop the engine
   The first Sunday in July
2. You're going downhill
   You just fired the engine up

Engine oil doesn't flow quite as well when you first start up the engine, so you need to take things a little gentle at first. Once the engine heats up and the oil is flowing normally, rev away.

1. Wait until you can't start your bike
   Tap on the motor while you're traveling 50 mph and see if the power fluctuates
2. Have it tested by a shop
   Pour water on it and watch for sparks

Really, the only way to know for sure that your battery isn't holding a charge is to have it tested. You might notice the engine is struggling to crank, or that your battery looks old, which is the perfect time to swing by the shop and rule out that possibility.

1. The engine is running rich
   The blinker fluid has leaked
2. The engine is running lean
   You need a new clutch

In normal conditions, the mixture of fuel and air that makes it to your engine's cylinders is balanced just right, so you get plenty of power, while most, if not all of the gasoline burns up. A strong smell of gas in the exhaust means too much gasoline is making its way into the cylinders. That, or not enough air is coming into the cylinders, or the spark isn't hot enough.

1. Air filter is clogged
   Piston rings are leaking oil
2. Coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber
   The engine is on fire

A number of issues could cause coolant to leak into the combustion chamber. One of the most common is a blown gasket, but damage to the engine block from overheating in rare cases could also be the source. Mechanics put the piston atop and dead center in the compression stroke, then force air into the cylinder to listen for where the air escapes, indicating the leak's source.