CylinderBelgium
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215. Cylinder
A cylinder is a chamber inside a reciprocating internal-combustion engine in which a piston moves up and down. Air or an air-fuel mixture is compressed inside the cylinder, and combustion produces pressure that pushes the piston and helps generate mechanical power.
Most car engines have several cylinders arranged in configurations such as inline, V-shaped or horizontally opposed layouts. The combined swept volume of all cylinders is known as the engine displacement or cylinder capacity.
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Is cylinder capacity used in Belgian vehicle rules?
Yes. Cylinder capacity is an important technical characteristic for vehicles with combustion engines and is used in the classification of certain motorcycles, mopeds and other vehicle categories.
How is engine cylinder capacity expressed in Belgium?
It is normally expressed in cubic centimetres (cm³) or litres. For example, an engine with a total cylinder capacity of 1500 cm³ is commonly described as a 1.5-litre engine.
Does cylinder capacity affect Belgian motorcycle licence categories?
Yes. For example, category A1 includes qualifying motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of no more than 125 cm³ together with specified power and power-to-weight limits.

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