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An internal combustion engine (300) for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle (20), includes a crankcase (380), two banks of cylinders (320a, 320b) projecting from the crankcase (380) in a V-configuration, a plurality of pushrods (364), and a plurality of camshafts (360a, 360b, 360c) supported by the cran

An internal combustion engine (300) for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle (20), includes a crankcase (380), two banks of cylinders (320a, 320b) projecting from the crankcase (380) in a V-configuration, a plurality of pushrods (364), and a plurality of camshafts (360a, 360b, 360c) supported by the crankcase (380). The two banks of cylinders (320a, 320b) include a first cylinder bank that projects from the crankcase (380) to a first cylinder head (340a), and a second cylinder bank that projects from the crankcase (380) to a second cylinder head (340b). The plurality of pushrods (364) extend between the crankcase (380) and the first and second cylinder heads (340a, 340b), and the plurality of camshafts include only the first, second and third camshafts (360a, 360b, 360c).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a crankcase; a plurality of cylinders, including: a first cylinder projecting from the crankcase along a first cylinder axis; and a second cylinder projecting from the crankcase along a second cylinder axis different from the first cy

What is claimed is: 1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a crankcase; a plurality of cylinders, including: a first cylinder projecting from the crankcase along a first cylinder axis; and a second cylinder projecting from the crankcase along a second cylinder axis different from the first cylinder axis, the first and second cylinders being arranged in a V-configuration that provides sufficient clearance for notchless pistons; a cylinder head arranged on each cylinder and defining a wedge combustion chamber with an intake port and an exhaust port, the ports being arranged such that flow into and out of the combustion chamber is generally traverse to a rocker arm axis; a crankshaft positioned within the crankcase; and a notchless piston positioned within each cylinder and mechanically coupled to the crankshaft. 2. The engine of claim 1, further comprising an angular position sensing system including a toothed timing wheel for sensing an angular crankshaft position. 3. The engine of claim 2, wherein an angle between the first cylinder axis and the second cylinder axis is an integer multiple of 360 divided by a number of teeth on the toothed timing wheel. 4. The engine of claim 1, wherein an angle between the first cylinder axis and the second cylinder axis is in a range from 53 degrees to 57 degrees. 5. The engine of claim 4, wherein the angle is about 56.25 degrees. 6. The engine of claim 1, wherein an engine displacement is in a range of about 100 cubic inches to about 196 cubic inches. 7. The engine of claim 6, wherein the engine displacement is in a range of about 117 cubic inches to about 121 cubic inches. 8. The engine of claim 1, wherein at least one of a cylinder bore and a piston stroke is in a range of about 4 inches to about 5 inches. 9. The engine of claim 8, wherein both the cylinder bore and the piston stroke are in the range of about 4 inches to about 5 inches. 10. The engine of claim 8, wherein the piston stroke is in a range of about 4.375 inches to about 4.25 inches. 11. The engine of claim 8, wherein the cylinder bore is in a range of about 4.125 inches to about 4.25 inches. 12. The engine of claim 1, wherein the engine is a V-twin motorcycle engine. 13. A motorcycle including the engine of claim 12.