| Author | Message | ||
     Macbuell |
I prefer the air cooled engine just because it is so much better looking. Take a look at the Monster S4R. The radiator and all the hoses really take something away from the simple beauty of the Monster. If Buell can give me a air cooled motor that gives me 120HP at the wheel, I'll be very happy. That is really all people are looking for. More power! And some think that the best way to get that power is through a liquid cooled motor. I think that they can take a lot of the technology and what they have learned with the XBRR to give us what we want. Afterall, the XBRR has been reported to produce around 135 horses at the wheel with only an additional 137 cc's over the XB12 engine. | ||
| Tpoppa |
The BMW R1200S is at the upper end of Horsepower (122) for an air/oil cooled motor. http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=r12 00s As mentioned above, the jugs are out in the open where the air cooling affect is maximized (Guzzi has a similar approach). Plus the BMW makes it's power a bit differently, and needs the valves adjusted every 6,000 miles. ...I just don't know how much more power Buell will be able to squeeze out of an air/oil cooled mill and still keep it reliable and at a competitive price. (Message edited by tpoppa on January 29, 2007) | ||
| Crusty |
Either that, or install a bunch of fugly air scoops and a loud, annoying fan... Loud Fans Save Lives! | ||
| 45_degrees |
Macbuell... The RR actually makes 150+ hp at the wheel...  I personally like the look of the airscoop, but I wish they came with a matching right scoop as standard. They give the bikes a mean and functional Road Warrior look. (Message edited by 45 degrees on January 29, 2007) | ||
| Cixyx_pilot |
I Like my air cooled engine. Less stuff to fail.  | ||
| Jaimec |
Actually, the R1200S engine is capable of a LOT more power, but then you start compromising reliability. BMW's reputation is for long lived, indestructible engines so they aren't going to compromise on that for a few extra ponies. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Look no further than the Cult of VW for your answers. Both water and air have their pluses and minuses, but if you are in one camp of enthusiast it is very rarely that you embrace the other. It is a line in the sand that will be debate for years. Enjoy your ride. There are water cooled naked bike alternatives. I chose Buell, I will continue to. | ||
| Ducxl |
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| Ducxl |
That's Barbero above... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
That horse is being treated more humanely than this topic.  | ||
| Rubberdown |
Just a note about BMW valve adjustments noted above. It takes me about 30 minutes to perform a check/adjustment on my BMW boxers. Nothing to it. Actually, it's kinda fun and a lot less messy than an oil change. (Message edited by rubberdown on January 29, 2007) | ||
| Metalstorm |
It rained Saturday. My bike was very much water cooled that day  | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
damn duxl don't know whether to laugh or be offended . Barbero was a beautiful animal exploited by its owners and only kept alive because of the possible future stud fees . now if you really want to beat a dead horse how about that duck that was shot but came back to life in the hunters fridge then taken to the vet . yesterday it was being operated on and flat lined but the vet surgeon performed cpr and brought it back to life lol . | ||
| Rocketman |
No kidding. I can just feel Rocket getting ready to flame somebody up. I'm up for heated debate anytime of the day, but it seems several have complained to Blake recently about my comments on the board. Why my comments should warrant such attention I don't know. Maybe it's because I speak my mind about what I believe about Hayden's Moto GP title. Maybe it's because I refuse to believe a lot of the stuff told here about Buells. Maybe it's because I sing the praises of Ducati whenever ridiculous and false statements are made about Ducati so as to make Buell look better. Whatever it is, there are those on this board that believe, support, enjoy my posts, and if you're not one of them then that's your prerogative, but it's not a reason to stir Blake up against my writings. Those of you that have done so should note, the day I complain to Blake about the shit some of you throw at me is the day I go back to sucking on my mommy's titty. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
As for air cooled Porsche and VW motors, I've owned both marques and they are unreliable beyond normal use. You try driving a standard production air cooled Porsche or VW hard often and it will grenade. Beyond and including my own, I have seen countless flat air engines with rods through the crankcases. They can't take the heat. Rocket | ||
| Nutsnbolt |
Rocket. I have said it before, and I will say it again. I think that you are one of the more colorful people on this entire BadWeb, and for that, I like you. No matter what you think. Moreover, I defend most everything you seem to say. What I find amusing is that EVERY time you post, someone is looking to knock you outta the park. I have done it once. But only once. You are very controversial at times. Nothing wrong with that. I like that you call it like you see it. Reminds me of someone I know. Mark | ||
| Davo |
The reason that these engines are going to go water cooled is due to more precise engine temperature management. The three basic fundamentals of combustion are air, fuel and temperature. In order to get a near perfect burn it is important to control all three factors. With that said, I still prefer air cooled because it is more fundamental than the fundamentals and in a World where everybody is trying to control everything I want my engine temperature to remain free! | ||
| Spatten1 |
"in a World where everybody is trying to control everything I want my engine temperature to remain free!" Dude, that is funny! I can appreciate it. | ||
| Yohinan |
Ft_bstrd posted. That horse is being treated more humanely than this topic. Uhh, he was put to death. Not sure how that is being treated more humanly. Oh well some things I will never understand | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Putting it to death would be humane. Beating it afterward isn't, but even with that treatment, it's still more humane than the perpetual water vs. air debates. I'm a little odd in that I really LOVE surprises. I like not knowing what is going to happen or what is coming next. Buell will either continue to be air cooled or it will go water cooled or it will do both at the same time. In the end, none of these threads mean a hill of beans. Three simultaneous threads is simply:  | ||
| Xbbeebob |
MOM IS THAT YOU?  | ||
| Macbuell |
Macbuell... The RR actually makes 150+ hp at the wheel... That's even better. I got my information from an review of the XBRR that indicated that it made 150HP at the crank. I guess they were wrong. Still, if the can get 150HP at the wheel with a 1339cc engine, you'd think they could get a streetable 1203cc version with 120HP at the wheel. Of course, I'm no engineer ... so what do I know. | ||
| Xl1200r |
...so much for a short lived, locked, non-argumentative thread... | ||
| Blake |
"Why my comments should warrant such attention I don't know." It wasn't those comments that were problematic. It was the other ones. | ||
| Swordsman |
HOLY CRAP. What part of "I'm not asking for opinions" don't you people understand?!  You guys crack me up... you just couldn't resist the temptation, could you?  ~SM | ||
| Blake |
Swordguy, There is nothing about water-cooled motorcycle engines that attracts me to them. How's that?  | ||
| Liquorbox |
I know a guy who says he'd rather drive his Model-T than a C-6 Corvette, and he's serious too! | ||
| Fx1200 |
I wonder why the aircraft industry continues to rely on air cooled engines for light and twin engine executive type aircraft? I believe reliability is paramount in those applications, but performance is a factor also. Up until the 1950's the air cooled radial engines were developed to produce very high outputs with high reliability. Perhaps BMC should explore a emerging technology which coats the surfaces of the combustion chamber with a super insulating (ceramic based) material. The heat of combustion will stay in the expanding charge, not migrate to the surrounding metal which requires a way to dissipate the heat to avoid failure of the metal. At the very least BMC could enlarge the oil cooler and increase the piston cooling spray jets output to remove the greater amount of heat generated from a higher output application. | ||
| Eboos |
"Perhaps BMC should explore a emerging technology which coats the surfaces of the combustion chamber with a super insulating (ceramic based) material." I was thinking about that today while driving around (I pretty much do all my thinking while driving). The problem that I came up with is that ceramic is abrasive. If you lined the cylinders with it, it would eat up the piston rings in no time. The rings would seal great before getting worn down, but would get worn probably before finishing a break in cycle. | ||
| Thespive |
Model T's are fun, and all the controls are different than today's cars! I'm with that guy. But then I rather ride a Buell than a Duc, too. --Sean |
