The Smallest Displacement V-Twin Engine Ever On A Production Motorcycle

Summary

• Twin-cylinder engines offer faster revs, less vibration, and better torque spread, making them a popular choice for motorcycles globally.
• Small V-twin engines like the Suzuki VL 125LC Intruder and Honda VT125 Shadow offer a cost-effective option for European markets.
• The Keeway V Cruise 125, the last of the 125 cc v-twins, boasts mature styling and modern features, appealing to beginner riders.

When it comes to motorcycles, two cylinders are better than one. You can have a flywheel with lighter mass, meaning the engine revs quicker, you have less vibration because the power strokes are spread out among the 360 degrees of crank rotation, and that’s also why the torque spread is better. This is why the twin-cylinder has become the engine of choice for most motorcycles globally.

For the cruiser, it is the v-twin that has taken precedence over everything else. Over the decades, the noise it makes has become synonymous with Americana, just like the burble of a large displacement cross-plane V8. This need for more has given rise to bigger and bigger V-twins, somewhat taking focus away from small-capacity V-twins. Such engines are quite rare nowadays, but in the past, small V-twins were quite the riot. Particularly in the European market, where the craze for large V-twins is not as prevalent. So today, we’re diving deep into the world V-twins to present you some of the smallest ones ever.

To ensure accuracy, the information compiled in this article was sourced from the respective manufacturers, as well as other authoritative sources such as Visordown.com, Motorcycle.com, Motorcyclenews.com, and Cycleworld.com. While the title says the smallest V-twin engine on a production bike, we actually found an assortment of small-capacity V-twins during our research, all with identical capacities. So below you’ll find not one but five tiny V-twin engines.

Yamaha XVS 125 Virago/Dragstar

Manufacturing: 1997/2000 onward

These are actually two distinct models by Yamaha, with the Virago being the older model. The 1997 model made a mere 10 horsepower, but the 2000 model added 3 horsepower and the ability to nearly reach 60 MPH. This was besides a few other improvements like a larger tank and front brake disc, a better saddle, and an improved quality. As with the other cruisers here, it weighed in at approximately 300 lbs dry, but you got a quality machine with no frills or fuss. If this baby Yam looks familiar, it is because it shared its chassis with a sibling that had a 250 cc engine. That model lives on to this very day as the V Star 250 available in the US market.

Suzuki VL 125LC Intruder

Manufacturing: 1999 onward

We’re all aware of Suzuki’s large displacement cruiser named ‘Intruder’. But do you know the company had a 125cc V-twin too? Enter the VL125C Intruder, the smallest V-twin by Suzuki. Again, it was primarily for the European market and shared its components with a 250 cc sibling, but being the base model, it went as low-tech as possible. Fuel delivery was via a carburetor, cooling was via air, and the only nod to tech was a 3-valve per cylinder layout that offered two intake valves.

With a top speed of just 58 MPH, it wouldn’t have been much use in the US market. It was a cost-effective option for those looking to get something like the Honda Shadow but on a budget. Still, its 300+ lbs dry weight would have offered blunted performance compared to other single-cylinder powered cruisers. So the VL 125LC Intruder is a puzzling model altogether.

Honda VT125 Shadow / XL 125V Varadero

Manufacturing: 1999 onward

Honda’s Shadow line of cruisers remains popular to this day, but way back in 1999, it launched a Shadow powered by a 125 cc v-twin engine. It had a chain drive instead of a shaft drive like its elder siblings. It weighed in at a portly 320 lbs, which means performance was blunted, and the top speed was 70 MPH. Not enough for a freeway commute, but the Shadow 125 made a good case for itself around town.

Honda also manufactured a mini-adventure bike called the XL 125V Varadero based on the same engine and chassis. Of course, it had a half-fairing, suspension with a decent amount of travel, and a tall seating position, making it look like a mini Transalp. The Varadero 125 also was a physically large bike for a 125, which meant tall riders were comfortable on it. Again, it wasn’t up to freeway jaunts or any long rides for that matter, but if your commute involved bad roads, it was a better option than the cruiser. The Shadow 125 was on sale from 1999 to 2007, while the Varadero 125 was sold from 2001 to 2009 in the European market.

Hyosung GT125R/Comet/Aquila GV125S

Manufacturing: 2001 onward

In the early 2000s, Hyosung made the financial decision to make a number of motorcycles by mixing and matching engines and chassis. This gave us, among other models, a trio of 125 cc V-twin-powered Hyosungs: the sports bike GT125R, the naked Comet, and the cruiser Aquila GV125S. The same chassis was shared by the 250 cc and 650 cc models, and therefore, these turned out to be quite heavy motorcycles for the small 125 cc engine.

The GT125R, for example, weighed nearly 400 pounds when fueled up–a lot of weight for the 14.2 horsepower engine. It wasn’t a very complex engine, eschewing water cooling for an air/oil-cooled setup. The Aquila GV125S is on sale to this day in the European market, thanks to the 125 cc-friendly learner laws. However, the Hyosung range in the US market starts from the 250 cc displacement.

Sachs Roadster 125V

Manufacturing: 2001 onward

Sachs is quite a well-known name in enthusiast circles, as of one of the companies to go to if you want really good suspension for your vehicle. Plus, as part of ZF Sachs, it manufactures a lot of OEM as well as performance components for both cars and motorcycles. Back in the day, though, it used to manufacture motorcycles like the Sachs Roadster 125V.

If you liked the idea of a small V-twin but didn’t like a cruiser or an adventure touring motorcycle, you could choose this charming offering. The Roadster 125V used the exact same engine as the Yamaha cruiser mentioned above but tweaked into streetbike form. It managed a few more MPH than the Yamaha’s top speed and would run forever if you filled up its 5.2-gallon tank to the brim.

Benda Fox/Keeway V Cruise 125

Manufacturing: Ongoing

Keeway is a Hungarian brand that is now owned by the Qianjiang Group, the same Chinese parent company that owns brands like Benelli. If you go down the ownership rabbit hole, you’ll find that Geely owns a controlling stake in the Qianjiang Group – Geely being the owner or co-owner of brands such as Smart, Proton, Volvo, and Lotus. Anyway, coming to the motorcycle, the V Cruise 125 is built on the same chassis as the Keeway V302C that is sold in the US market.

In turn, the V Cruise 125 shares everything but its badging with the Benda Fox (sold in China), and the two ‘different’ motorcycles are sold in different markets. The V-Cruise’s styling is notably mature, giving off good muscle cruiser vibes in much the same way as a Harley-Davidson Iron series motorcycle. You also get good features like an all-digital instrument cluster and all-LED lighting. The V Cruise 125 is probably the last of the 125 cc v-twins in the modern era, as beginners continue to get lured by bigger capacity bikes. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the 250 cc v-twin die out soon as well.