question for historians (54ci vs 55ci)

[aemsee]

Just wondering if there is a reason that 883's are listed as 55c.i. in literature, when they are actually 54c.i.? Is it just a 'mine is bigger than yours' game that the auto manufacturers have always played? If so, who's engine was Harley trying to 'one-up'?

[jnoonan1]

When the cubic inches include a fraction, it is rounded up.

[racerwill]

usually mfgrs round up to the next popular number but 883CC is actually 53.8 CI..... I think it goes back to the Ironhead 900 CC engine which is 55CI and when it got re-invented in the Evo confiruration, they just kept the 55CI

just my guess....

Ww

[aemsee]

Originally Posted by jnoonan1

When the cubic inches include a fraction, it is rounded up.

Yup. Which puts it at 54 c.i.

[gunterjaeger]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuup!

[Baphomet]

Originally Posted by racerwill

usually mfgrs round up to the next popular number but 883CC is actually 53.8 CI..... I think it goes back to the Ironhead 900 CC engine which is 55CI and when it got re-invented in the Evo confiruration, they just kept the 55CI

just my guess....

Ww

I agree with your guess.

[PilotCrabby]

most likely just a marketing tool.

[Rogster]

Dont know about the ci part but I've been told the 900 was actually 883 but same as the fraction in the CI it was rounded up to the even number 900..much like a yamaha 650 isnt called a 647...Rog

[Tin Man 2]

The 396 C.I. 375 H.P. Chevy was really a 402 C.I.D. engine, so you see its not a mine is bigger thing, Its a marketing thing, 396 just had a better ring to it than 402 so Chevy kept the number on the big 396s just like the little 396/325s. I believe a 350 Honda was really only a 343 or some such thing.

[Doc45]

"220, 221. Whatever it takes."