Why do you (or don't you) prefer inline 4s to Twins?

[Capo]

I've owned multiple i4's, v4's, v2, singles 2s &4s, except only one i2, and no triples..

For the most part I'm a vtwin guy, I like the linear powerband, without having to scream the rpms to stay in the power like the i4s. Not to mention torque..

Every vtwin I've owned, vtr, 990adv, sv650, hawk gt, felt visceral. There was always something you had to learn about em to ride em fast.. When you did you felt like you accomplished something. Hail the conquering hero, I guess. I love the engine braking as well for setup of turns

I4's it was just keep the rpm up and bobs your uncle..

I forget who said it, maybe Kenny Roberts, but on a vtwin it's fast into a turn, on a I4's it's fast outta a turn. The Vtwin is all about setup and diving into and turn and holding the power, it can be brutal if you screw up your line. An I4's is more the thinking mans game and all setup, as once you can see thru a turn and know where the apex is at it's go time. You can come thru the apex and outta the turn like a rocket..

You'd think the v4 would be the best of both, it may even be but it's like riding a turbine, has power everywhere and neutral.. I find em kinda soulless. Don't get me wrong, there are great bikes, but I just don't connect..

I was a little apprehensive about the cb1100 but it's got decent torque and enough power.. A good rider can extract a fair bit more that one expects.

I think it's like that with small I-4's but certainly not like that with liter I-4's which have power everywhere. I ride my liter I -4's at rpms that would have twins huffing and puffing and shuddering. Like I said you can come to a small town doing 55, run it down to 25 or 30 mph in high gear rolling thru town and then just roll it back up to 55 on the other side without even shifting. Especially Euro twins which don't seem to like to run below 4000 rpms. My nephew's SV650 V twin is like that too. When I ride it I have to run at least 1000 rpms higher than on my I4. I rarely run my CB over 3500 rpms.

Displacement is the ticket to having power down low, while cylinder multiplication is a recipe for high rpm performance as well. Honda learned that in GP racing.

I think it's like that with small I-4's but certainly not like that with liter I-4's which have power everywhere. I ride my liter I -4's at rpms that would have twins huffing and puffing and shuddering. Like I said you can come to a small town doing 55, run it down to 25 or 30 mph in high gear rolling thru town and then just roll it back up to 55 on the other side without even shifting. Especially Euro twins which don't seem to like to run below 4000 rpms. My nephew's SV650 V twin is like that too. When I ride it I have to run at least 1000 rpms higher than on my I4. I rarely run my CB over 3500 rpms.

Displacement is the ticket to having power down low, while cylinder multiplication is a recipe for high rpm performance as well. Honda learned that in GP racing.
Ferrett, I think your perceptions are slightly out of date. Modern V-twins with current electronics and fueling are quite smooth at low RPMs. Your riding style of short shifting and never going over 6500 RPM certainly favors the twist and go of a big, under stressed 4, but I can lug the heck out of my Thruxton and it doesn't bog or chug.