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I havent heard anything about an adverse effect.  Thinking about the inline 4 just has pistons moving up and down and v-twins have pistons moving up down  and foward backward.  But it is relatively balanced so the weight really isnt moving anywhich way but really just in a circle.  And inlines and twins both have the crank running perpendicular to the bike so the weight all moves the same.  Unless you have a moto guzzi or something like that.  So really the weight movement is no different I would think.

Huh?  No.  The crankshafts on both a classic V-Twin setup and an inline 4 have their axis perpendicular to the centerline of the bike.  Some Honda's and most BMW's (to mention a few) have their crankshaft aligned with the centerline of the bike.  I have a friend with a BMW and he claims that when he rips the throttle open while cruising at speed, the bike will try and turn right.  To me...that = no good.

-Turd.

*EDIT*  Turd can't read.  I reread your question and now I feel like an ass basket.

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If you watch Superbike races, I think you will tell that all the bikes handle well. The biggest difference in a V-twin is low end torque, and a lower top RPM. The 4's make more Hp from higher revs, and the twin's make more torque. The only handeling issues I have ever heard of are what Turd mentioned with bikes like BMW's and MotoGuzzi.

Well Tad, that is actually a point.

I think Tad is reffering to the gyroscopic forces more than anything.

Are you talking about bikes like this?



Because then you would get a twisting effect similar to what you see a muscle car do when you rev it. (My Buick even does it, but it has a V-8)

Whereas inline fours are like this:



Or maybe I'm just a moron.

Quote from: TadMC on September 08, 2006, 09:51:25 AM
well, i knew that the shaft was perpendicular on both forms, so i was asking more about the movement of the pistons.

The movement of the pistons doesnt matter.  They are basically balanced well enough so it wont make a difference.  

Yep.  It is the gyroscopic effect of the crank. 
For example, in a Moto Guzzi, the crank runs perpendicular to the frame.  So when you turn a certain direction, either right or left, throttle will effect the handling.  So, on an I4 and a V-twin or a V-four, like the VFR800, the effect is the same. 
You'll also notice that on most modern sport bikes, that if you were to draw a line between the center of the wheel hubs, from front to back, it would go right through the center line of the crank.  So they are all on the same plane. 

This brings up a question I had from a friend a while back...

Why aren't there any bikes that utilize a rotary motor? like in the older RX7's. They're mad quick.

My VFR handles like a dream....but really accelerating any bike in a turn affects the handling. I would say more so in the VTwins and VFours because of the low end torque.

I don't doubt your VFR handles like a dream. 

But with the Moto Guzzi, the throttle effects the bike differently on each side, depending on which way you turn.

Really, the VFR is the ultimate ride.  I wish they had made it lighter and sportier, rather than heavier and more comfortable (in the last model change). 

Do you have any pics of your VFR?

There are some in the photo Gallery under member bikes and Scenic Views

Quote from: jazerr on September 08, 2006, 11:20:50 AM
This brings up a question I had from a friend a while back...

Why aren't there any bikes that utilize a rotary motor? like in the older RX7's. They're mad quick.

Suzuki actually made a rotary engine bike awhile back.  But I think it vibrated too much or something so they discontinued the bike. 

Quote from: jazerr on September 08, 2006, 11:20:50 AM
This brings up a question I had from a friend a while back...

Why aren't there any bikes that utilize a rotary motor? like in the older RX7's. They're mad quick.

Here's an interesting link about that, there's a link partway down the page with a sound clip too...

http://www.suzukicycles.org/RE5/RE5-Rotary.shtml

Quote from: TadMC on September 08, 2006, 09:05:29 AM
I actually have an intellegent question.

who are you and what have you done with out TAD?!?

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You're right.  You're not Tad.  Tad would have used a gun.

Anyways back to the post,

The gysroscopic effect of the engine rotatting at high RPM's does effect the bike, in your bike the crank turns the same direction as the wheels, adding to the problem.

Many other bikes(like the EX500) have the cranck turn in the opposite direction of the wheels to help reduce the gyroscopic effect of the wheels and improve the "flickability" of the bike, but it really doesn't have that much effect, even in our bikes because of the counterbalncer and all that.

So to answer questions, yes, no, but not really