page_title: Motorcycle engine
section_title: Other types
hierarchical_section_title: Motorcycle engine / Cylinders and configuration / Other types
caption_attribution_description: ja:楕円ピストンエンジンのピストン・クランクシャフトの周辺 ja:利用者:ux_zがホンダコレクションホールにて撮影 2007年3月25日にアップロード
context_page_description: A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle. Motorcycle engines are typically two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engines, but other engine types, such as Wankels and electric motors, have been used.
  Although some mopeds, such as the VéloSoleX, had friction drive to the front tire, a motorcycle engine normally drives the rear wheel, power being sent to the driven wheel by belt, chain or shaft. Historically, some 2,000 units of the Megola were produced between 1921–1925 with front wheel drive, and the modern Rokon, an all terrain motorcycle with both wheels driven, has been produced since 1960.
  Most engines have a gearbox with up to six ratios. Reverse gear is occasionally found on heavy tourers, for example the Honda GL1600, and sidecar motorcycles, such as the Ural. The rider changes gears on most motorcycles using a foot-pedal and manual clutch, but early models had hand-levers. More recently, some have automatic or semi-automatic gearboxes.
context_section_description: Wankel rotary
  Wankel engines produce high power outputs for their size and weight, and several attempts were made to produce Wankel powered motorcycles in the 1970s. Yamaha and Kawasaki exhibited Wankel-powered motorcycles in 1972, but neither company manufactured one. German manufacturer Hercules, a member of the Sachs-controlled Zweirad Union, produced their single-rotor W2000 from 1974 to 1977. Suzuki produced their single-rotor RE5 from 1975 to 1976. Van Veen built 38 OCR1000 motorcycles with twin-rotor Comotor engines between 1978 and 1981.
  BSA experimented with Wankel engines before they ended production in the 1970s. These experiments later led to Wankel-engined Norton motorcycles in the 1980s and 1990s, including the Classic, the Commander, the fleet-only Interpol 2, and the F1. Steve Hislop won the 1992 Senior TT on a Wankel-powered Norton.
  Oval pistons
  Honda NR
  Rotary engines
  Megola, Killinger and Freund Motorcycle
  Turbine engines
  MTT Turbine Superbike (turboshaft)
  Jet Reaction afterburning turbojet
  Other jet engine motorcycle prototypes exist, but never have been commercialized.
  Rocket
  Several rocket-powered motorcycles have been built, including:
  Fritz von Opel's 1928 "Monster" rocket bike
  Skycycle X-2 rocket developed for Evel Knievel's Snake River Canyon jump attempt
  Eric Teboul's rocket-powered dragbike that set the world record at Santa Pod Raceway in 2009
caption: The 8 valve per cylinder, two connecting rod per piston, oval piston Honda NR engine.
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