Re: AMA level playing field V-Twins are falling way behind
V-Twins are not dying. 1000cc V-Twins competing against 1000cc I-4s may be disappearing. Ducati uses a V-4 in MotoGP because the weight advantages given to a twin are not enough to overcome the lack of power and the amount of money required to overcome the power difference.
This equal displacement stuff seems a bit ridiculous to me, unless everyone wants to see the market comprised of only 4 cylinder street bikes. Separating the classes by number of cylinders doesn't do much for anyone, other than give the Japanese all the premiere classes, while leaving Ducati to its own class.
In order to really figure this thing out, and make it fair, one needs to sit back for a moment and consider what the purpose of the racing classes are. If Ducati and KTM (and any other manufacturer who chooses to develop a twin or triple) are given a small displacement advantage to afford them the opportunity to make similar power as the I-4s at a comparable cost, what is unfair? If they are making equal power at equal weight, haven't the rules created parity?
Would you rather see no V-Twins or triples so that everyone has the same displacement or would you rather see similar power and weight? I would rather see the latter.