FORCED INDUCTION

Motorcycle engines, especially those in sport bikes, are capable of revving extremely high and running equally high compression ratios; 200 PS from 1,000 cc is the current benchmark globally. When more power is needed from less displacement, forced induction is the answer. A turbine, driven either by the crankshaft (called a supercharger) or by the exhaust-gas stream (called a turbocharger), increases the density and volume of air in the cylinder per stroke cycle. This allows more fuel to be injected per intake stroke and, thus, greater power and torque output. For instance, the 998-cc supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2R makes 326 PS and 165 Nm.