Two-wheel-drive (2WD) denotes vehicles with a drivetrain that allows two

wheel A wheel is a rotating component (typically circular in shape) that is intended to turn on an axle Bearing (mechanical), bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the Simple machine, six simple machin ...

s to be driven, and receive power and torque from the

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power ge ...

, simultaneously.

Four-wheeled vehicles

For four-wheeled vehicles (and by extension, vehicles with six, eight, or more wheels), this term is used to describe vehicles that are able to power at most two wheels, referred to as either front, or rear-wheel-drive. The term 4×2 is also used, to denote four total wheels with two being driven. Most road vehicles use a 2WD layout due to its lightweight and simplicity. Traction on the road is usually sufficient that the driving force can be reliably transmitted through only two wheels. For vehicles that have part-time four-wheel drive, the term refers to the mode when 4WD is deactivated and power is applied to only two wheels.

Two-wheeled vehicles

For two-wheeled vehicles such as

motorcycles A motorcycle (motorbike, bike; uni (if one-wheeled); trike (if three-wheeled); quad (if four-wheeled)) is a lightweight private 1-to-2 passenger personal motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar from a saddle-style ...

and bicycles, the term is used to describe vehicles that can power the front as well as the back wheel. The term 2×2 is also used to denote two total wheels with both being driven. 2×2 vehicles are typically either mechanically driven, via a chain, belt, or shaft, or are hydraulic-driven. This scheme greatly improves offroad performance, but is quite complicated and requires more power to operate, thus most 2WD machines are either "exotic" bikes for enthusiasts or created with special uses in mind. Manufacturers who have one in production include Rokon, Jeep, Tarus and Christini. Manufacturers who are working or have worked on a prototype include ZID,

Suzuki is a Japanese multinational mobility manufacturer headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka. It manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard motor, outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a va ...

, Yamaha, KTM,

Honda commonly known as just Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda, Honda has bee ...

, and

Nissan is a Japanese multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The company sells its vehicles under the ''Nissan'' and ''Infiniti'' brands, and formerly the ''Datsun'' brand, with in-house ...

Two-wheel-drive with sidecars

For three-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles with sidecars, the term is used to describe vehicles that can power the sidecar as well as the back wheel. Sidecar-drive vehicles are typically mechanically driven via a shaft and may or may not have a differential. This scheme greatly improves offroad performance, but is more complicated and requires more power to operate, thus most 2WD machines are vehicles created with special uses in mind such as trials or military use. The first use of the sidecar drive appears in 1928 with the apparent independent invention of Baughan in the UK, and Mokharov in the

USSR The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

References

External links

A brief history of 2x2 motorcycles

KTM shows a new all-wheel-drive motorcycle under development

Christini All Wheel Drive Motorcycles

The Dryvtech 2x2x2 Experimental, a 2x2 motorcycle with two-wheel steering
{{Automobile configuration Car layouts Motorcycle transmissions

Four-wheeled vehicles

Two-wheeled vehicles

Two-wheel-drive with sidecars

See also

References

External links