There are a few ways to improve a bike’s riding experience and get the most power out of a motorcycle, and a supercharger is one of the most effective options. Any motorcycle owner with a supercharged bike can tell you—they’re no gimmick. Even though naturally aspirated motorcycles can be ridiculously fast, supercharger kits can take any bike to the next level.
Supercharger technology also referred to as forced induction, has been used in motorcycles for nearly a century, with BMW being an early pioneer in the late 1920s—and then other manufacturers following suit prior to World War II. Superchargers were common in the 1930s, especially in racing, until a ban was issued due to safety concerns.
It wouldn’t be until the 1980s that supercharger technology saw a resurgence, mainly for production motorcycles. These bikes were manufactured by the ‘Japanese Big Four’ manufacturers, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki.
The evolution and birth of superchargers in motorcycles stemmed from racing and the want for high-performance bikes. Most supercharged bikes are created through aftermarket kits, but a few manufacturers, like Kawasaki, do produce factory supercharged motorcycles.
A supercharger works by forcing air into an engine to produce more power for a given displacement. In a car, superchargers are often driven by a belt that wraps around a pulley between the drive and compressor gears. A supercharger system for motorcycles works on a similar principle.
What Are Motorcycle Supercharger Kits?
Motorcycle supercharger kits are similar to supercharger kits for cars. When discussing supercharger kits, it’s important to remember that they aren’t the same as turbochargers, although they both increase the performance of your bike.
A supercharger kit is an aftermarket modification that can be fitted to your motorcycle. Once attached, they’re essentially an air compressor that increases the pressure of air that’s supplied to the internal combustion engine, resulting in more power and performance.
There are typically four types of superchargers available for motorcycles: Roots superchargers, twin-screw superchargers, centrifugal superchargers, and electric superchargers.
- Roots superchargers are the oldest type. They utilise a pair of rotors to capture air and send it into the intake manifold, pressurising the intake manifold between the supercharger itself and the engine, increasing power.
- The twin-screw supercharger looks similar in appearance to the Roots-type but functions differently. Instead of compressing air in the intake port, it does it within the supercharger by forcing air between two interwoven screws.
- Centrifugal superchargers function by using an impeller fan to suck air into an intercooler and then straight to the engine.
- The newest innovation in supercharger technology is the electric variant. Electric superchargers work similarly to centrifugal superchargers but use an electrical motor to pressurise the intake air.
How Does A Motorcycle Supercharger Work?
Motorcycle engines work similarly to other internal combustion engines. They consist of pistons, a cylinder block and a head, which contains the valve train.
Valves open and close, allowing a combination of fuel and air to enter the engine’s combustion chambers. Here, they are met by pistons that move up and down the cylinder block, compressing the air and fuel mixture.
As the pistons move up and down from explosions created by the spark plug igniting the compressed fuel and air, they turn a crankshaft, which transforms the energy of the pistons into rotary motion. This rotational force is then transmitted to the rear wheel of the bike through the transmission and is what gets the bike moving. However, in a supercharged engine, air is compressed before it enters the engine’s combustion chamber. Because the air is compressed before it enters the engine chambers, it allows for the mixture of air and fuel to accommodate more gas—providing more power. This process is known as forced induction.
What Motorcycles Do Superchargers Suit?
It’s technically possible to add a supercharger to any motorcycle. However, most motorcycles are built to withstand the stock horsepower. So, trying to add a supercharger to most bikes can be dangerous and be a safety risk if it isn’t done through a professional and using a supercharger kit.
Supercharger kits are available mostly for newer model bikes, the most common being for Harley Davidson motorcycles. There are also readily available aftermarket kits for Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Triumph bikes.
It’s also important to note that if you want a supercharged bike to be compliant with road regulations, having a bike with readily available aftermarket kits is the best option, along with going to a professional for installation.
Improper installation of a supercharger kit may result in failure of compliance, and also be a safety hazard.
Why Supercharge A Harley Davidson
If you’re after more power, that’s all the reason you need to supercharge your Harley Davidson motorcycle. The reasons why you should supercharge your motorcycle are the same for any other modification or engine work.
While it isn’t mandatory to modify your bike, supercharging can be a great project and also give you a new riding experience without having to buy a new bike altogether. If you’re into racing, superchargers are a great way to increase the performance of your competition bike.
Are Supercharged Motorcycles Still Road-Legal
Similar to other modifications, whether a supercharged motorcycle is road-legal will depend on how it’s installed and ensuring the bike is compliant with Australian road safety regulations. If you want to install a supercharger, the Taverner Motorsports team can ensure it meets all road safety rules.
It will depend on the state, but for most regions, including Queensland, installing a supercharger (or turbocharger) will require an engineer’s report to be submitted for approval by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
A supercharger must not reduce the effectiveness of the brakes or suspension for it to be road-legal and compliant. The state government also recommends engaging the services of an ‘Approved Person Engineer’ with the LO1 code before fitting a supercharger or any other engine-related modifications.
Supercharge Your Harley Davidson Motorcycle at Taverner
Not many things are better than riding a Harley Davidson—except maybe riding a supercharged one. The Taverner Motorsports team can help you add power to your Harley Davidson with performance work.
With over 50 years in the industry, our experienced technicians have the necessary skills and knowledge to install superchargers. We are also an authorised ProCharger dealer and source our kits directly from the manufacturer in the U.S.
We only use the best quality materials and parts when it comes to our supercharger kits. They’re also designed to increase the power and torque of your Harley Davidson, providing an unrivalled riding experience.
Our team can provide other engine enhancements and performance work, including supercharger kits, engine balancing, custom pistons, clutch upgrades, custom cam grinds, and more. All of our kits are mod-plated and road-legal. If you’re interested in equipping your bike with a supercharger, get in touch with the Taverner Motorsports team today and request a quote.