best 4t 500cc engine ever manufactured?

Just a quick straw poll - what's generally considered to be the best four stroke 500cc engine ever manufactured? You can nominate singles, twins, il4s, v-twins, etc. Air or liquid cooled. Anything really. Maybe even Suzuki's GS550.

I don't know what criteria to use - but I personally look for strength and longevity, but simplicity of design is also interesting. Then again, complexity can be a good thing if it ekes out more power. So I'm not decided on that side of things.

I think posing such a question on this forum may skew your results somewhat....!  

Jim

I'd take a fair bit of persuading to nominate something other than our very own one.

I'd vote for the Norton Manx 500cc. It won a lot of races in it's day and also a huge number of car races in the old 500 F3 era in the 50s and early 60s. There was a road version too.


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Ooh yeah! Great choices! I love those old school F3 cars. It'd be ace to have a go in one.

The MV sounds so great @ 1:30 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d7sQhqlUIs

Not exactly a 500, then again it didnt have pistons, the jps norton rcw 588cc wenkle engine, the fact it beat factory bikes at the tt in 92?. ( the white charger)  then again it was ridden by steve hislop ,

That's an interesting one!! Might be a bit too over the capacity though - then again, I understand there's a bit of disagreement about how it's measured, so it might be in the running (on a technicality). ; - )

When I was looking for another bike my criteria was that it had to be no bigger in frame size than a CB500 and not over 500cc.
Took me ages but I couldn't find another 4 stroke with more power than the one we have.

The only other engines that I found were two stroke v4's like the Honda NSR which revs to the moon! yam RG500 2 stroke and others in that ilk from GP racing.

Other 500s I like are old single cylinder thumpers like the royal enfield which is much loved in India.
Other 4 stoke 500's ive seen seem to be all show and no go. Espically newer models.
Even the CBR500 uses the same engine as the CB. same power just a different rear end and fairings I think?

The Honda NR500 has to be in the running simply in terms of inovation. Who wouldn't want an oval cylinder V4 with 32 valves & 8 spark plugs!

I had a Hillman Avenger years ago with oval pistons!

ashcroc wrote:The Honda NR500 has to be in the running simply in terms of inovation.  Who wouldn't want an oval cylinder V4 with 32 valves & 8 spark plugs!

Mick Grant and Takazumi Katayama. ; - )

But yeah - what a beast. Such a shame it couldn't beat the 2t bikes.