Five-cylinder motorcycle engines are almost unheard of in modern production bikes.MV Agusta
Motorcycle engineering took an unexpected turn in early November, when Italian manufacturer MV Agusta pulled the wraps off a radical new engine concept at EICMA in Milan, the world’s largest motorcycle show.
At a time when most performance bikes rely on familiar layouts, the company revealed a five-cylinder powerplant that breaks convention and signals a bold direction for the brand’s future high-performance models.
A rare five-cylinder approach
Five-cylinder motorcycle engines are almost unheard of in modern production bikes. While the automotive world has explored inline five designs for years, motorcycles have largely avoided the format due to size, weight, and packaging challenges.
The Italian manufacturer’s solution is neither an inline five nor a staggered V design. Instead, engineers created a compact trapezoid-like configuration with two cylinders positioned above three others.
This unusual arrangement allows the engine to stay narrow and short, addressing one of the biggest challenges in motorcycle design.
According to the company, the layout is narrower than a conventional inline four and shorter than a V4, which helps improve handling and mass centralization. The engine uses two separate crankshafts, with a three-cylinder unit at the front and a two-cylinder unit behind it, working together as a single powertrain.
Power figures that challenge superbikes
Beyond its striking design, the five-cylinder engine delivers numbers that place it firmly in superbike territory. The manufacturer says the engine can be built with displacements ranging from 850 cc to 1150 cc, giving manufacturers flexibility across different models.
At its most extreme, the engine produces up to 240 horsepower and 99.5 lb-ft of torque at 8,500 rpm.
These figures surpass those of many current flagship superbikes. What makes the output more impressive is the engine’s ability to rev to 16,000 rpm, a range typically associated with high-performance four-cylinder engines.
Despite this performance, the complete unit weighs less than 132 lbs (60 kg), keeping the bike’s overall weight in check.
Engineering focuses on balance and efficiency
The company calls the engine the Cinque Cilindri, and much of its character comes from careful attention to firing order and internal balance. The company says this setup delivers strong and linear torque without the need for variable valve timing, simplifying the design while maintaining performance.
The concept draws inspiration from older square-four engines but adds a fifth cylinder to create an entirely new layout.
Rather than revisiting older designs, the engineering team focused on combining compact dimensions with smooth power delivery. The result is an engine that aims to offer both top-end excitement and usable mid-range performance for real-world riding.
Road debut planned across multiple segments
For now, the five-cylinder engine remains a concept, but the Italian bike maker has made it clear that it is headed for production.
The company confirmed the powerplant will appear in a “highly anticipated” new model set to be unveiled in the coming years.
It has not revealed what type of motorcycle will debut the engine, but it says the design is flexible enough to support multiple segments. These include Supersport machines, Naked bikes, and Touring models.
