.) = J a ry o q S cS aE PRC Ea Motorcycle Engine Pm ed Competition Work‘ALSO PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION 7TH “MOTOR CYCLING WITH SCOOTER WEEKLY” “MOTOR CYCLING" MANUAL “MOTOR CYCLING" ELECTRICAL MANUAL MODERN MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE MOTOR CYCLING” SPORTS MODEL ROAD TESTS TRIALS RIDING SCRAMBLES AND MOTO-CROSS MOTORCYCLE ENGINEERING TUNING FOR SPEED Hoy to increase the performance of a standard motorcycle engine for racing and ‘competition work P. B. IRVING MILMechE, MS.AL PLE PRESS BOOKS LONDON VANCOUVER ISLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY®rast russe 1948 SECOND IMPRESSION 1969 SECOND EDITION 1951 SUcOND BMPAESSion 1952 ‘TMD EDITION 1956 FOURTH EDITON 1960. SECOND BAPRESSION (REVISED) 1963 “Pa sPatsaoN 196% © mewn rarss nooKs tiMeTED, 198 Painted by Parnell and Sons, Led, Pauiton (Somerset) and Londen INTRODUCTION ‘Since time immemorial man has sought to travel faster than his {fellow man. This inborn human urge gained tremendous impetus, ‘some 60 years ago with the introduction of the petrol engine as ‘practical proposition for vehicle propulsion, Thevtably, users of the new form of transport felt their competitive instincts ‘aroused. Their demands for more power and more miles per hour were met initially by the simple expedient of fiting larger and sil larger engines. In this “brute force” era, ia which sheer volume counted for more than volumetric efficiency, the results Of hit-or-miss experiments were all too obvious, the scientific reasons for those results all too seldom understood. ‘Clearly a halt had to be called to this Frankenstein's Monster” method of progression, With a growing understanding of basic principles in internal-combustion power production, allied with Practical experiments on the road, designers turned their atten tion t0 obtaining increased performance from engines of more ‘moderate cubic capacity. So far as motoreyeles were concerned, this more scientifc form of development was encouraged by the {introduction of the Isie of Man Tourist Trophy Races with their strict limitation of engine sizes. This socond era was one in which the observant mechanically-minded amateur rider sometimes dis- covered a “secret of tune” which enabled him for atime to score ‘over his professional rivals, ‘With advances in metallurgy and a complete appreciation of basic principles, the point has now been reached inthis the thitd fra, where there are no longer any “secrets”. Science has re- placed brute force and guesswork. Success in international ‘events depends upon the combined efforts of the designer and development engincer, plus a host of specialist technicians responsible for ancillary equipment. But ifthe day has passed when the lone amateur could hope to beat the factory representative in a major event, tuning skill, combined with riding ability, continues to bring success to the private owner in a wide variety of competitions. Nor need he Bossess elaborate workshop facilities to improve the performance Of his standard sports model or production-type racer. What he