TURBO CHARGE A MULTI CYLINDER MOTORCYCLE

Over-the-counter turbochargers have been available for big four-cylinder bikes for years, but these bolt-on performance kits are only as good as the amount of work needed to make them work properly and harmoniously with the engine.

Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki built turbocharged motorcycles in a mad fit of 1980s one-upmanship, and the corporate war between the giants spawned a trio of technically over-complicated and bizarre bikes...and the world's first successfully turbocharged production bike.

Honda was the first into the fray with a turbo version of its CX500, and the bike that launched a million yawns was pretty useless. Yamaha also had a fairly bland contribution—the XJ650. Suzuki had another key to the comatose cupboard in the form of the XN85-a motorcycle that had very little to offer either.