Just a curious question regarding engine and transmissions

[cusso ken]

Hi Folks!

I know some of you here are a lot more techincally inclined then I am regarding engines and stuff, but I am always trying to learn!

I was just curious about something I've noticed between my car and my bike. My Car has a 2.5L i4 in it, and my Rocket has a 2.3L i3 in int. When I drive my car, which weighs a huge amount compared to my bike, why is it able to cruise at a lot lower RPM then my bike?

For example... The car Idles at 500RPM, but my Honda Motorcycle with a V4 has to idle at 1100rpm, and the rocket at 800... why Can't they idle lower? Is it something to do with heat or fuel consumption?

Second example is on my Rocket in 5th gear at 80kph I am doing 2000rpm, but my car does 1400-1500rpm in 5th gear at the same speed. With the car being heavier, wouldnt it require a higher RPM To keep it from being in such a low power band?

I guess the question I Am really asking is why do engines of a similar size (2.3 vs 2.5) and weights between my bikes 750lbs vs my cars 2500+lbs why does the car have a much lower RPM to cruise and idle vs a motorcycle? I know that an Inline 4 can rev higher and faster but in this case, it has the same amount of gears but can cruise at a much, much lower RPM then my bike with the same size motor.

Hope that makes sense

One other thing that amazes me is a cheap little 1.6 litre car the Hyundi Exel foe example ,can and does run faultlessly for 240/250 thousand Ks with minimal servicing and a regular flogging as in My daughter one that was running like a clock after a life time of relentless abuse and countless trips to the snow and elsewhere and the bloke who bought it still drives it around today ,yet when our Rockets get a bit of age on them they are prone to expiring in an expensive way , go figure

 

[idk]

200,000 kilometres on mine and it has not expired in an expensive way yet.

 

[cusso ken]

200,000 kilometres on mine and it has not expired in an expensive way yet.

Well done! should I be surprised ,the point being modern cars even of the cheaper quality do 200,000 without hiccups does every Rocket do this

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Well done! should I be surprised ,the point being modern cars even of the cheaper quality do 200,000 without hiccups does every Rocket do this

Mine didn't

 

[mexican]

Or (heresy alert) a variable rate torque converter with lock up overdrive. And whilst we're at it - a Diesel.

Would you like fries with that?

 

[barbagris]

Would you like fries with that?

Hell no - BIG FAT BRITISH CHIPS. And peas and some curry sauce, please.

 

[Loonitick]

Chips made from big potatoes! Hacked out, getting no more than 6-8 chips per potato, depending on size. Fried in lard, with salt and malt vinegar.

(I should stop writing things like that... makes me hungry...)

 

[cusso ken]

Chips made from big potatoes! Hacked out, getting no more than 6-8 chips per potato, depending on size. Fried in lard, with salt and malt vinegar.

(I should stop writing things like that... makes me hungry...)

And mushy peas with Himalayan rock salt please

 

[barbagris]

Fried in lard, with salt and malt vinegar.

Ah a true believer.

 

[Gregger]

Forget 6th gear. How many of you, when you are ringing the bike out, ever get a chance to end up in 5th before you run out of pavement?

Just make the 5th gear ratio taller (overdrive). We should be able to ride 100kph at 1600 rpm. The bike has over a 100 ft/lbs of torque at idle???

Ricochett makes a good point.