Motorcycle Pistons, Rings, Connecting Rods & Components

Regardless of the type of your engine, whether it is single, v-twin or inline-4, it is constructed with the same basic components, including pistons, rings, and connecting rods. These are the key elements of any engine setup which help convert the thermal energy created by fuel combustion into mechanical energy. What is more, these components affect the fuel consumption of the engine. Pistons with the rings mounted on them are attached to the crankshaft via connecting rods, causing its rotation. All this allows the drive wheels to spin.

A piston is a cylindrical piece of steel that moves up and down in the cylinder by expanding combustion gases. Its primary job is to transform the energy released from the air/fuel mixture into the movements of the crankshaft with minimum power loss. It is manufactured from an extremely durable yet lightweight metal alloy and has a pocket or pockets on the top. Such pockets increase the volume of the combustion chamber and the contact area between the combustion gases and the piston for maximum power output and efficiency.

The pistons of your engine are designed to fit tightly inside the cylinder. However, there is still a tiny gap between the surface of the cylinder and the piston. If you leave the gap as it is, it is sure to cause leaking of gases during the compression and combustion strokes. To avoid this, your pistons have two or more rings. They provide a reliable sealing between the piston and the cylinder surface, preventing leaking. The rings of the pistons can be divided into compression and oil control ones. Compression rings prevent the combustion gases from leaking out, while the latter ones keep oil from getting into the combustion chamber.

A connecting rod is a link between the crankshaft and the piston. It is also a mechanical converter of linear movements of the piston into the circular rotation of the crankshaft. One of its ends is mounted to the piston with a piston pin, while the other one is attached to the crankshaft to transport the force created by the combustion process to it. A connecting rod is subject to lots of stress, which is why it is manufactured from extremely durable materials. At the same time, it is designed to be as lightweight as possible to ensure minimum power loss.

On our website, we have a wide variety of motorcycle pistons, connecting rods, piston rings, and other components from trustworthy manufacturers. Whether you're looking for an OE piston to replace your failed one or working on a high-performance project to get the most out of your engine, you're sure to find what you need. Keep in mind that if one of the pistons rings has failed, you should replace all rings at once to ensure smooth and efficient operation of your motor. For your convenience, such motorcycle parts are offered in a kit.