Why only 1 cylinder?

Scooter · 05-06-2009, 05:43 PM

I have to ask why does the GZ250 only use 1 cylinder? Wouldn't a twin be more effective? ( I had to ask)

patrick_777 · 05-06-2009, 05:55 PM

Simplicity. It's also a lot cheaper to build and design around one cylinder.

music man · 05-06-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooter

I have to ask why does the GZ250 only use 1 cylinder? Wouldn't a twin be more effective? ( I had to ask)

Not Necessarily, the Rebel and the Virago both are twin cylinders, the Virago is a V-twin, and as far as I know neither one of those bikes are gonna run off and leave the GZ in the dust in the performance department.

Easy Rider · 05-06-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooter

I have to ask why does the GZ250 only use 1 cylinder? Wouldn't a twin be more effective? ( I had to ask)

Why NOT ??
A LOT of small engines have only one.
Simpler, easier, lighter and cheaper.

dannylightning · 05-06-2009, 06:45 PM

Call and ask suzuki why they did this. i dont think any of us know why a company designs something a cretin way. only the people that design it are really gonna be able to answer that question. it is a simple engine and it runs fine with only one cylinder. i don't think the Honda rebel with 2 cylinders is really any faster from what i remember when i took one for a test ride. the rebel sounded better but i wouldn't say it ran any better. i think they have a slightly higher top speed but i wouldent want to do much highway driving on one of those either. i think the single cylinder is quite adequate for a little 250cc.

burkbuilds · 05-06-2009, 06:55 PM

Suzuki even uses a single cylinder in the S40 which has about 650cc's if I remember correctly. I like the fact that I have less mechanical parts to maintain, wear out and so forth. It was one of the deciding factors in my purchase of the GZ over the Rebel or the Yamaha. I don't know Suzuki's reason for it, but I like it! Two cylinders would be two more sets of valves to adjust, more spark plugs to maintain, more gaskets to potentially fail and need replacing. It seems to work great and I don't think there's any significant horsepower difference in the 250cc's from the GZ vs the 250cc's in the other company's bikes that use twin cylinders. As somebody pointed out there may be a little top end speed difference but not much if any.

primal · 05-06-2009, 07:39 PM

Sorry, but that's like saying why they don't make a 2 cylinder engine with 4 cylinders. Everyone knows a 500cc inline-4 would be more efficient (power wise) than a 500cc twin, but that doesn't mean it's the best design for a given bike.

Scooter · 05-06-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primal

Sorry, but that's like saying why they don't make a 2 cylinder engine with 4 cylinders. Everyone knows a 500cc inline-4 would be more efficient (power wise) than a 500cc twin, but that doesn't mean it's the best design for a given bike.

I was understanding the posts in this thread pretty much until this one. Making a 2 cylinder engine with 4 cylinders makes no sense to me. Being new to motorcycles I don't quite understand all the enngineering factors that go into building a bike. I guess you're more than one up on me there.

Moedad · 05-06-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooter

I was understanding the posts in this thread pretty much until this one. Making a 2 cylinder engine with 4 cylinders makes no sense to me. Being new to motorcycles I don't quite understand all the enngineering factors that go into building a bike. I guess you're more than one up on me there.

He's just saying there's more than one way to skin a cat. The GZ is what it is. The single cylinder design has proven to be an efficient, economical means to an end, which is to produce a 250cc bike that will appeal to a certain, hopefully large, segment of the market. For folks wanting something more or different, there are other fine choices in a bike.

Scooter · 05-06-2009, 08:28 PM

I wasn't trying to be a smart a$$ in my comment, the post just went over my head. I know that this bike and others like it in the same CC range are timeless in their design. I think that having less parts makes the bike more economical to run. I think I did read that only having the one cylinder did affect top end. But if your looking for a top end bike why would you be looking at this engine size? I was just curious why the design team settled on one cylinder instead of the normal 2.

I guess I won't ask why it only comes in black.

05-06-2009, 05:43 PM	#1
Scooter Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	Why only 1 cylinder? I have to ask why does the GZ250 only use 1 cylinder? Wouldn't a twin be more effective? ( I had to ask) Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-06-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
patrick_777 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,763	Re: Why only 1 cylinder? Simplicity. It's also a lot cheaper to build and design around one cylinder. __________________ ]I am hiding in Honduras. I am a desperate man. Send lawyers, guns and money. The shit has hit the fan.
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05-06-2009, 06:45 PM	#5
dannylightning Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: akron ohio Posts: 893	Re: Why only 1 cylinder? Call and ask suzuki why they did this. i dont think any of us know why a company designs something a cretin way. only the people that design it are really gonna be able to answer that question. it is a simple engine and it runs fine with only one cylinder. i don't think the Honda rebel with 2 cylinders is really any faster from what i remember when i took one for a test ride. the rebel sounded better but i wouldn't say it ran any better. i think they have a slightly higher top speed but i wouldent want to do much highway driving on one of those either. i think the single cylinder is quite adequate for a little 250cc. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-06-2009, 06:55 PM	#6
burkbuilds Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shannon, Georgia Posts: 1,268	Re: Why only 1 cylinder? Suzuki even uses a single cylinder in the S40 which has about 650cc's if I remember correctly. I like the fact that I have less mechanical parts to maintain, wear out and so forth. It was one of the deciding factors in my purchase of the GZ over the Rebel or the Yamaha. I don't know Suzuki's reason for it, but I like it! Two cylinders would be two more sets of valves to adjust, more spark plugs to maintain, more gaskets to potentially fail and need replacing. It seems to work great and I don't think there's any significant horsepower difference in the 250cc's from the GZ vs the 250cc's in the other company's bikes that use twin cylinders. As somebody pointed out there may be a little top end speed difference but not much if any.
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05-06-2009, 07:39 PM	#7
primal Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hurricane, WV Posts: 446	Re: Why only 1 cylinder? Sorry, but that's like saying why they don't make a 2 cylinder engine with 4 cylinders. Everyone knows a 500cc inline-4 would be more efficient (power wise) than a 500cc twin, but that doesn't mean it's the best design for a given bike.
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05-06-2009, 08:28 PM	#10
Scooter Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	Re: Why only 1 cylinder? I wasn't trying to be a smart a$$ in my comment, the post just went over my head. I know that this bike and others like it in the same CC range are timeless in their design. I think that having less parts makes the bike more economical to run. I think I did read that only having the one cylinder did affect top end. But if your looking for a top end bike why would you be looking at this engine size? I was just curious why the design team settled on one cylinder instead of the normal 2. I guess I won't ask why it only comes in black.
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