Motorcycle Engine - Other Components - Turbo and Superchargers

Turbo and Superchargers

Superchargers (blowers) were common in the GP's, until they were banned (which didn't help the two-strokes, as pre Ernest Degners new technology, they needed the help against the four-strokes). The big four made a turbocharged bike, and Honda made two, mainly as an exercise in technical expertise and later discontinued them for more conventional methods. Bolt on superchargers are available for street bikes and are essential for performance applications such as drag bikes and land speed record streamliners. Most sports bikes now use some sort of 'ram-air' system where as road speed increases, more air is forced through ducts in the fairing to pressurize the airbox — not to be confused with the original Ram-Air system where an air scoop/cowl was fitted to the top of the cylinder heads of Suzuki two-stroke engines to aid cooling.

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