A two-phase switched reluctance motor in an embodiment includes a plurality of salient rotor poles that each have asymmetric reluctances about a central radial axis of the respective rotor pole. Each of the rotor poles has the same width, and the rotor poles are operable to provide preferential torque generation in one direction of rotation for all rotor positions. Such preferential torque generation occurs under the influence of an electromagnetic flux, which is provided by a plurality of salient stator poles having substantially the same width as the rotor poles.