Editing V-twin engine (section)

==Typical design==
===Crankshaft configuration===
[[File:Forked connecting rods (Autocar Handbook, 13th ed, 1935).jpg|thumb|[[Connecting rod#Compound rods|"Fork & blade" connecting rods]] ]]
Most V-twin engines have a single [[crankpin]], which is shared by both [[connecting rod]]s.  The connecting rods may sit side-by-side with offset cylinders, or have [[Connecting rod#Compound rods|fork and blade connecting rods]] which avoids the twisting forces caused by having offset cylinders.

Some notable exceptions include a 180° crank pin offset used by the 1935 [[Moto Guzzi]] 500cc,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.motorcycle.com/events/i-coulda-had-a-v8-so-i-did-12730.html| title = I Coulda Had a V-8.... so I Did| first = Paul | last = Garson| author-link = Paul Garson|date = 2005-03-20| work = Motorcycle.com | publisher = Verticalscope| access-date = 2010-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821151644/http://www.motorcycle.com/events/i-coulda-had-a-v8-so-i-did-12730.html |archive-date=2008-08-21|url-status=live| quote = By 1934 Guzzi offered a range of 175, 250 and 500cc models including full touring machines. The next year they raised the ante once again, challenging the all-vanquishing Norton at the legendary Isle of Man TT, basically a course the British racer owned lock, stock and single barrel thanks to a phenomenal rider, Scotsman Jim Guthrie. Moto Guzzi went to a Brit for riding skills, one Stanley Woods. They gave him a new racer featuring a 120-degree V-twin with offset cranks firing at 180 degrees with bevel gears and shafts driving the SOHC, good enough for 44&nbsp;hp at 7500&nbsp;rpm and 112 mph, on equal standing with the Norton. It had an ace up its sleeve so to speak in that it incorporated a type of pivoted-fork rear suspension while the frontend was a springer, a design that had never won a Senior TT due to its handling deficiencies, or so was thought. Guzzi had done some tweaking in that department as well. It also came equipped with a massive twin-leading shoe front brake, a 4-speed gearbox, and alloy wheels, another innovation to cut down unsprung weight. When the dust had settled and the calculations determined, the wreath of victory went to Woods and Moto Guzzi, leaving Norton as they say, gobsmacked. Not only that, the Guzzi had smashed the track lap record. The next day Moto Guzzi was world famous.}}</ref> a dual-crankpin configuration used by the 1983 [[Honda Shadow]] 750,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://powersports.honda.com/the_story/heritage/heritage_milestone.asp?Decade=1980&TargetUrl=Milestone/Milestone_Model_0102.asp&PrevPageTitle=TimeLine| title = Honda: 1983 Shadow 750| access-date = 2008-05-20| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080519233200/http://powersports.honda.com/the_story/heritage/heritage_milestone.asp?Decade=1980&TargetUrl=Milestone%2FMilestone_Model_0102.asp&PrevPageTitle=TimeLine| archive-date = May 19, 2008| url-status = dead}}</ref> and the 75° crank pin offset (45° offset in the United States) used by the 1987 [[Suzuki VX 800]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Suzuki VX800|journal = Cycle World|date=July 1990|pages = 36–37|quote = At some point in the motorcycle's development, the company changed the crankpin offset from 45 to 75 degrees in hope of creating a smoother-running motor. But just as production began, American Suzuki engineers decided that the new offset resulted is less mid-range power as well as a too-sanitized exhaust note, one that didn't sound very V-Twin-like. Presto, now the US models come with the 45-degree offset, while the rest of the world gets the 75-degree staggered crankpins.}}</ref>

===V angle===
Although any 'V angle' (the angle between the two banks of cylinders) between zero and 180 degrees is theoretically possible for a V-twin engine, in practice angles smaller than 40 degrees are rarely used. The most common V angle for a V-twin engine is 90 degrees, which can achieve a perfect [[Engine balance#Primary balance|primary balance]] (if the correct [[counterweight]] is used) like most [[Ducati]]s, most [[Moto Guzzi]]s, the [[Honda RC51]], [[Suzuki TL1000S]] and [[Suzuki TL1000R|TL1000R]].<ref name="Shaking">{{cite web|url=http://www.sense.net/~blaine/twin/twin.html|title=Shaking forces of twin engines|author=Vittore Cossalter|access-date=2010-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724060837/http://www.sense.net/~blaine/twin/twin.html |archive-date=2011-07-24|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Physics of: Engine Cylinder-Bank Angles |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15126436/the-physics-of-engine-cylinder-bank-angles-feature/ |website=www.caranddriver.com |access-date=18 August 2019 |date=14 January 2011}}</ref> However, this arrangement results in an [[Firing order#Even and uneven firing order|uneven firing order]], with the second cylinder firing 270 degrees after the first cylinder, then a 450 degrees interval until the first cylinder fires again. 90 degree engines are sometimes called L-twin (like the "L" in [[Suzuki TL1000R|TL1000R]] or [[Suzuki TL1000S|TL1000S]]) rather than V-twin.

The alternating longer and shorter gaps between firings produce a characteristic V-twin alternating engine noise "phutphut phutphut phutphut phutphut".

When a V angle of less than 90 degrees is used, perfect primary balance can only be achieved if offset [[crankpin]]s are used. If not, [[balance shaft]]s are usually required to reduce the vibration.<ref name="Shaking"/> Vehicles which use engines with V angles of less than 90 degrees include:
* 20 degrees: 1889 [[Daimler Steel-wheel car]]<ref name="VVC13" />
* 42 degrees: 1916–1923 [[Indian Powerplus]], 1920–1949 [[Indian Scout (motorcycle)|Indian Scout]], 1922–1953 [[Indian Chief (motorcycle)|Indian Chief]]
* 45 degrees: 1909–present [[Harley-Davidson]] V-twin {{Verify source|date=November 2022}}, 1990–1997 [[Suzuki VX 800]], 1985-2005 [[Suzuki VS series]], 2001–present [[Suzuki Boulevard C50]], 1985–2007 [[Honda VT1100]]
* 48 degrees: 2005–2012 [[Yamaha MT-01]], 1999–present [[Yamaha XV1600A]]
* 50 degrees: 1919–1924 [[BSA Model E]], 1924–1936 [[Brough Superior SS100]], 1929–1940 [[Matchless Model X]], 1936–1955 [[Vincent Rapide]], all Victory Freedom engines
* 52 degrees: 1997–present [[Honda Shadow]], 1987–present [[Honda Transalp]], 1998–2013 [[Honda Deauville]], 2002–2008 [[Honda VTX Series|Honda VTX]], 2004–2010 [[Kawasaki Vulcan#2004–2010: Vulcan 2000 series|Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 series]]
* 54 degrees: 2008–present [[Suzuki Boulevard C109R]], 2006–present [[Suzuki Boulevard M109R]]
* 55 degrees: 1985–2006 [[Kawasaki Vulcan 750]], 2006–present [[Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic]]
* 60 degrees: 2001–2017 [[Harley-Davidson VRSC]], 2014–2021 [[Harley-Davidson Street]], 1998–2003 [[Aprilia RSV Mille]], 1988–present [[Yamaha XV250]], 2001–present [[Yamaha DragStar 250]], 2015–present [[Indian Scout (motorcycle)#2015 Scout|Indian Scout]]
* 70 degrees: 1982–1983 [[Yamaha XZ 550]], 1988–1998 [[Suzuki RGV250]], 1987–2004 [[Yamaha Virago 535]], 1997–present [[Yamaha DragStar 650]]
* 72 degrees: 1974–1989 [[Moto Morini#Moto Morini 350 & 500 V-twins|Moto Morini 350 & 500 V-twins]] Voxan 1997–2010
* 75 degrees: 2005–present [[Hyosung GT250]], 2008–2015 [[KTM 1190 RC8]], 1981–2007 [[Yamaha Virago]], 1998–2008 [[Yamaha DragStar 1100]]
* 80 degrees: 1978–1983 [[Honda CX series]], [[Rotax|Rotax 810/660/490]] engines

Vehicles which use engines with V angles of greater than 90 degrees include the 1934 [[Moto Guzzi]] 500cc (120 degrees)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Motorcycle Classics {{!}} Exciting and evocative articles and photographs of the most brilliant, unusual and popular motorcycles ever made!|url=https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-italian-motorcycles/moto-guzzi-bicilindrica-history-zmcz13sozbea/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=motorcycleclassics.com|date=5 August 2013 |language=en-US}}</ref> and the 1940–1948 [[Zündapp KS 750]] (170 degrees).<ref>{{cite book |title=The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence|first1= Peter |last1=Gantriis |first2=Henry |last2=Von Wartenberg |publisher=MotorBooks International |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-76033-315-0 |page=80|quote= The Zundapp (sic) was powered by an air-cooled 170-degree V-twin that was very similar in design that was very similar in design to the BMW boxer twins}}</ref>