Best-sounding motorcycle engine?

[Jeremy Z]

For me, this one was tough, between Option 1, 2, and 6.

I went with Option 1 in the end though. That old Suzuki GS850 was a dog of a bike for me, but the engine sound was just beaitiful. It was much more throaty than today's fours. I could hear the intake growl, and it was just sweet.

The sound of a big sport twin, like a piped SV1000 or Ducati is great too.

Some Honda Valkyries with louder pipes were real head-turners for me as well.

[Sport-Touring]

[MuddDawg]

I voted V-4 because my 5th Gen VFR with the Gear Driven Cams and Staintunes is pure music to my ears.

[jsanford]

There's no desmo-valve V-twin option, so I can't vote.

[atypical1]

V-four. But not the VFR. I'm talking Desmosedici.  

james

[kevin_stevens]

Triumph 675

KeS

[Magnarider]

V-four. But not the VFR. I'm talking Desmosedici.  

james

+1!

[Orson]

I'm torn between by big Guzzi lump and my Thruxton  

as much as I hate to admit it, the Thruxton with Triumph accessory peashooters sounds a bit more melodious while the Guzzi is more mechanical.

both are gorgeous, but the Triumph might have an edge for being more musical sounding...old school

wait...let me think about this some more.  

[Bjorn Toulouse]

Because the bestest motorcycles have an odd number of cylinders...............

































...everything else sounds, well, mundane.  

You should have allowed 2 picks from the list.


Rex

[Bad Dad]

I voted for the boxer six, the Valky with the six pipes and no baffles just has this certain awesome sound around 4500 rpm and up     The RC 51 has a sound all it's own too  

[Jeremy Z]

There's no desmo-valve V-twin option, so I can't vote.

That would be under the big sport twin option. The poll results would mean nothing if we start putting specific engines in.

[CoolWhip]

Some Honda Valkyries with louder pipes were real head-turners for me as well.

Ahhh yes, now this is the way to do up the big Valk (gone street fighter):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqgrBnrm4Ak

That said…too dam hard to vote on just one,  so I voted “other“ as in diversity is best.  I dig twins, triples, screaming inline 4s, V-4s, opposed 6 packs…and let’s not forget those beautiful exotic Italian V-8s etc.   Ah yes, like the MG V-8 a blast from the past:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O_7zwGFGwI

[Canuck]

I think the voters so far must be too young to remember the sound of a British vertical twin like a Triumph or Norton. Motorcycling's greatest symphony.

[DrMikey]

Nothing sounds better than a Ducati with an aftermarket exhaust.

[Galo]

I think the voters so far must be too young to remember the sound of a British vertical twin like a Triumph or Norton. Motorcycling's greatest symphony.

Not moi...I remember  
But, my Sprint ST with the TOR sounds even more glorious....

[mxvet57]

i had to vote other b/c there was no box for 2 strokes.

nothing never sounded better than Steve Lamson's 82 CR125 2stroke at the red bud national just holding it wide open and shifting through the gears.
that was one sweet sound.

[forester]

I'm glad to see at this time, the numbers have it right: There is nothing that tops the V-4 when "volume" is the value.

[R Doug]

I very much like the sound of a V4, but sporty twins have a deeper more sinister sound.  

[Rustydust]

Oh man, this one is SO easy! A RC166 Honda 250cc six (with Mike Hailwood aboard, natch) winding through the gears is the most glorious sound of any mechanical thing EVER!

[keppyou812]

Well, having been around bikes since the 70's, and working on race cars of all venues, and an aircraft mechanic. I have to say, there is one bike that gets my heart pumping, and the drool flowing!
 The new Aprilia RSV4.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzse-bvS55Q&feature=related

Nothing on the street, and very few on the track, get me like this does.

[Orson]

 The new Aprilia RSV4.  

ok...that was pretty nice  

but it's a little too complex sounding for my tastes.

for me, the parallel twin offers a purer, unadultered sound of internal combustion music.

I sound like a poofter wine connossieur