INDIAN DEVELOPING VVT THUNDERSTROKE
With ever-tightening global emissions
regulations, it is no surprise that one of the routes
manufacturers are taking to keep their engines
running clean and powerful is the use of variable
valve timing technology.
With the likes of Suzuki and BMW already
fielding production bikes using the technology,
Indian Motorcycles is also reportedly looking
to implement the technology in their ageing
Thunderstroke 111 engine.
The Thunderstroke has been in production since
2014, and still remains to this day one of the best
looking motorcycle hearts in production. However,
the Achilles heel of the monstrous 1811cc engine
is its old school pushrod operated air-cooled
design which doesn’t lend itself to the most
efficient running compared to modern engine
designs.
Indian’s solution as per a patent recently filed
with the US Patent and Trademark Office is to add
variable valve timing to the operation to regulate
the timing of the intake valves.
On the face of it, it seems like a simple fix to
lengthen the life of the engine as the only visible
changes on the primary design is the addition of a
cam phaser to the side of the engine (where you
normally see the Indian logo at the base of the
V-twin engine’s Vee).
This isn’t the only engine development for the
American manufacturer, however, with separate
reports indicating the company also has a new
water-cooled V-twin engine – which was initially
developed for now shut down sister brand Victory
– soon to debut in an all-new bagger motorcycle.
With the next set of European emissions
regulations coming into effect on January 1, 2020
– Euro 5 – reducing the big engine’s emissions
is likely one of the reasons Indian’s about to
release its new liquid-cooled engine, but adopting
VVT technology may also help keep the air-
cooled Thunder Stroke compliant with the new
restrictions.