Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021. In response to the item immediately below, which kicked off this Thread, ...

Motocross is an exhilarating sport that demands precision, skill, and the right bike. When it comes to choosing a motocross bike, one of the most crucial decisions you'll face is whether to go for a 2 ...

Two-stroke and four-stroke dirt bikes each bring unique strengths to the track and trail. Two-strokes are light, responsive, and agile, while four-strokes deliver smooth torque, stability, and ...

Two-stroke engines have steadily fallen out of favor over the last 50 years or so. While they sport great power-to-weight ratios and are often much simpler mechanically than their four-stroke ...

One of the most significant contributions in the history of propulsion technology came from a 19th-century engineer named Rudolf Diesel. While his idea was patented in the 1890s, it wouldn't be until ...

Conventional wisdom suggests that our faithful internal combustion (IC) engines are heading the way of the buggy whip. The lithium-ion battery has arrived, emissions standards are tightening, and ...

Making a new engine while the world’s rushing to switch to electric vehicles only? Mazda said, “why not?” There’s a new innovator in town and it wants you to pay attention. Mazda’s SkyActiv-X engines ...

Anyone who appreciates simplicity of design and efficiency of operation has to like small two-stroke-cycle engines that power construction tools such as cut-off saws, rammers and breakers. Producing ...

Two-stroke engines used to be ubiquitous in dirt bike racing, thanks to their lightweight construction and horsepower. Packed in a dirt bike frame, they make a motorcycle playful in the corners and ...

The best Cummins diesel engines are the result of decades of innovation, which all began with founder Clessie Cummins. They also have a history of racing at the Indianapolis 500. In 1934, Cummins ...