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4/1/2008
Location
Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 12:03am
The USPS delivered my new copy of Roadracing World today, and the cover immediately caught my eye with "NEW TECHNOLOGY: Are Two-Stroke Engines The Future?" A very interesting, thorough, and apparently honest article by Mat Oxley.
Even if you don't give a rat's ass about asphalt burners, if you're interested in the 2-stroke vs. 4-stroke debate, or what the future may hold for 2-strokes, I think you'd find this interesting - highly recommended reading. Sounds kinda like I may more seriously consider supporting KTM in the future...
Even if you don't give a rat's ass about asphalt burners, if you're interested in the 2-stroke vs. 4-stroke debate, or what the future may hold for 2-strokes, I think you'd find this interesting - highly recommended reading. Sounds kinda like I may more seriously consider supporting KTM in the future...
Lotus is currently doing development work on a 2-stroke car engine. He quotes a Lotus engineer, saying "Ford showed big interest in the 2-stroke, but in the end the accountants didn't let it happen". Orbital, a company from Oz that deals with direct injection ("DI"), "...recently undertook research comparing a DI 450 2-stroke with a 450 4-stroke. The 2-stroke gave the same peak power, but most importantly had more peak torque and a much wider torque range than the 4-stroke. The engine used less oil and produced no more exhaust smoke, exhaust noise or HC's, CO and NO. And it also proved smaller, lighter and less costly, as well more fuel efficient and cheaper and easier to maintain."
He notes the Japanese factories commitment to the 4-stroke, and quotes Aprilia race boss Dall'Igna, "...I think the 2-stroke is dead.". He also quotes KTM race boss Kerschhaggl, "We do not see the end of the 2-stroke...", and states that recent KTM sales figures show a "large number" of MX and enduro riders returning to 2-strokes.
Lots more stuff, but I gotta get offline - long day tomorrow. Hope this whets your appetite - go pick up the new RRW and check it out
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What they found in the case of the 450cc comparison was that (I'm paraphrasing off memory here) "the 450cc DI 2 stroke had similiar peak hp to the 4 stoke 450 but it has a far superiour torque curve w/ more width and power throughout resulting in snappier and more fun power delivery. The DI 2s also produced less emissions, used less fuel, was cheaper to manufacturer, cheaper to maintain, had less moving parts, had lower lifetime CO footprint, weighed less, and proved to be more reliable than a comparable 4 stroke of the same displacement."
Carrying on this same theme the article pointed out that Polaris has completely ditched their 4 stroke division of their brand, Evinrude. They will no longer produce the 4 stroke outboard motor at all as they see the 2 strokes as CURRENTLY superior to the 4 strokes for the same reasons listed above and they are still getting better. This is amazing when you consider that emissions standards will only get more strict.
Modern technology has indeed made the 2 stroke relevant again in an energy and emissions concerned world that we live in today.
KTM has a huge opp to not only bring the rear link back, but DI off road and in racing bikes that would have the publics curiousity on its side.
MXers like things new and "trick" and would be apt to take a hard look at one.
If it ever comes to fruition. That depends on Big Daddy; AKA Feds.
p.s. Yer ghey.
No need to continue to pad your points.
Post a reply to: the future and the 2-stroke