Master Outline / Sitemap

• Motorcycle Basics
• Body / Frame / Chassis
• Engine - Basics
• Engine - Advanced
• Engine Top End
• Engine Lower End
• Intake / Fuel / Exhaust
• Electronics / Ignition
• Transmission / Clutch / Primary Drive
• Final Drive
• Wheels / Suspension / Brakes
• Other Articles

Motorcycle Basics

Layout of Different Components Operation / Riding Stability through Gyroscopic Wheel Theory

Body / Frame / Chassis

Types of Frames Steel Perimeter Steel Trellis Alloy Twin Spar Alloy Monocoque Determines Shape of Motorcycle Determines Handling Characteristics Steering Stem Angle Rake / Trail Swingarm Geometry Frame Rigidity / Flexibility Weight Distribution / Bias

Engine - Basics

2-stroke engine principles of operation 4-stroke engine principles of operation 8-phase motor: How 4-strokes really work (Part One) 8-phase motor: How 4-strokes really work (Part Two) 8-phase motor: How 4-strokes really work (Part Three) Engine - external view Crankshaft Piston Connecting Rods One-Piece Connecting Rods Split Connecting Rods Valves Function They Perform Valvetrain / Camshafts Fuel / Air Mixture Ignited by Spark Plug Creates Pressure on top of Piston Piston is Pushed Downward, Rotating Crankshaft Crankshaft Transfers Power to Transmission via the Clutch

Engine - Advanced

Engine Mathematics Compression Ratio / Pressure Displacement Calculation Torque Horsepower Mechanial Tolerances - Thermal Expansion / Oil Lubrication Piston-to-Cylinder clearance Piston Ring end gap Crankshaft / Camshaft Journal clearance Valve Lifter clearance Piston-to-Valve clearance Methods of Valve Actuation Sidevalve and Pushrod OHV (Over Head Valve) OHV (Over Head Valve) Shim-Under-Bucket Shim-Over-Bucket and Rocker Arm Variations Chain Driven Camshafts SOHC (Single Over Head Cam) DOHC (Double/Dual Over Head Cam) Belt Driven Camshafts Ducati Desmodromic - Part 1 Ducati Desmodromic - Part 2 Oil Lubrication Principles Trochoid Oil Pump - Theory of Operation (page 1) Trochoid Oil Pump - Theory of Operation (page 2) Trochoid Oil Pump - 3-D view Oil Pump Types Crankshaft Bearings Connecting Rod big-end / Crankpin bearings Connecting Rod / Wrist Pin bearings Piston Rings / Cylinder Wall Camshaft bearings Cam lobe / Valve lifter Camchain / Sprockets Engine Performance Tuning Modifying Air / Fuel Mixture / Exhaust Flow Porting Camshaft Profiles Valve Face Diameter Intake Manifold Length Engine Balancing Crankshaft / Piston / Connecting Rod Balancer Shafts

Engine Top End

Head Common Valve Arrangements 2-valve and 3-valve 4 - valve 5 - valve 5 - valve (continued) 8 - valve (Honda) Ports Intake Exhaust Flow Characteristics Valvetrain Valve Faces Valve Seats Valve Stems Valve Springs Valve Spring Seats Valve Keepers / Cotters / "split shots" Pushrods Rocker Arms Buckets / Tappets / Lifters Valve Stem Shims Camshaft Lobes / Profiles / Custom Ground

Engine Lower End

Crankshafts Built-up Bolt-up Oil Pressure Lubrication Theory Plain Bearing Operation Oil Pump Operation Trochoid Rotor / Gear Pump Relief Valve / Pressure Regulator Pickup Screen / Oil Filter Common Engine Configurations / Crankshaft Designs Single Cylinder Parallel Twin Triple V-Twin Inline-Four V-Four with pistons Opposed

Intake / Fuel / Exhaust

Air Intake Fuel Carburetion Various Types of Carburetors Downdraft CV Carburetor Sidedraft CV Carburetor Cable-Controlled-Slide Caburetor Butterfly Valve Carburetor How Carburetors Work Fuel Injection How Fuel Injection Works Fuel Pump ECU or ECM (Engine Control Unit or Engine Control Module) - a.k.a.: "computer" Fuel Injector Exhaust Gas Oxygen Sensor (O2 sensor) Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Manifold Air Pressure sensor (MAP) Manifold Air Temperature sensor (MAT) Crankshaft Position Sensor (CPS) Camshaft Position sensor (CMPS) Tachometer RPM (revolutions per minute) - engine speed Fuel Tanks Fuel Petcocks Standard - On / Off / Reserve Vacuum Operated - On / Reserve / Prime Exhaust

Electronics / Ignition

Ignition Points-Type Ignition Electronic Ignition Transistorized Point-less Ignition Capacitor Discharge Ignition Ignition Timing Battery / Charging System Flywheel / Rotor Stator Regulator / Rectifier Electric Starter Motor Lighting System Engine Sensors

Transmission / Clutch / Primary Drive

Primary Drive Methods Gear Chain Belt Clutch Types Wet / Dry Multiplate Multiple Coil Springs Diaphragm Spring Transmission Designs / Types Constant Mesh / Sliding Gear Shift Drum / Shift Forks Shift Drum Location Shift Drum Rotation Mechanism Input Shaft (a.k.a.: Main Shaft) Output Shaft (a.k.a.: Lay Shaft, Counter Shaft) Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Drive Clutch Driven Clutch

Final Drive

Types of Final Drive Chain Drive Chain & Sprockets Front & Rear Sprockets Drive Dampener Belt Drive Shaft Drive 90° gearsets

Wheels / Suspension / Brakes

Suspension Front Forks How Shock Absorbers Work Hydro Dynamics (Liquids in Motion) Types of Suspension Hardtail Dual Shock Absorber / Spring sets (Struts) Monoshock Types of Linkage Brakes Brake Master Cylinders Brake Pads Brake Calipers Single Piston Floating Brake Caliper Dual Piston Floating Brake Caliper Dual Opposed Piston Caliper Brake Rotors Types of Wheels / Tires Spoked Wheels Steel Wheels Cast Alloy Wheels Forged Alloy Wheels Carbon Fiber Wheels

Other Articles

Tools Essential Tools Measurement How to Read a Vernier Caliper How to Read a Dial Caliper How to Read a Digital Caliper How to Use a Torque Wrench How Torque Wrenches Work Beam Type Clicker Type Dial Type Motorcycle Maintenance Installing a Carburetor Jet Kit / Cleaning Carburetors / Synchronizing Carburetors Installing new Steering Stem bearings Installing new Spark Plugs / Fogging Cylinders for storage Wheel Removal / Tire Mounting Wheel Balancing Changing Brake Pads Cleaning Brake Caliper Pistons Repairing Damaged Crankcase ** Coming Soon: Adjusting Chain Tension ** Coming Soon: Installing new Chain / Sprockets ** Coming Soon: Adjusting Throttle freeplay