liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles

> Is there any real advantages or disadvantages between air and liquid engines
> in motorcycles?
>
Apart from Yamaha TX750, I can't think of any aircooled bike that had a
serious overheating problem.
Watercooling makes it easier for manufacturers to meet emissions and
noise standards, and more scope for cylinder configurations. Also gives
2 strokes "stamina", or ability to give similar high output at the end
of a race as at beginning, not a big issue these days.
Air is the classic cooling medium for a motorcycle engine. What isn't
there can't go wrong.
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

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 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

"DJ" <mrjay1.DeleteThis@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:47b61689$0$12282$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
> Hi Folks,
>
> Is there any real advantages or disadvantages between air and liquid
> engines in motorcycles?
>
> I'm in the process of choosing my next bike but won't have a big budget
> but will be looking for a big bike for touring and commutting with the
> emphasis on touring.
>
> I'm considering bikes with aircooling rather than liquid cooling engines.
> Is this a good idea? or not?
>
> Some of the bikes that I have in mind are getting a little old but from
> many reports I've read,are good tourers of pre 2000.
> Bikes such as the Yamaha Diversion 900 and the FJ1200 are 2 I've had in
> mind and are aircooled.
>
> Are aircooled bikes too prone to overheat on a hot summers day?
>
> Are there any other suggestions for a bike like those above that could be
> had for around the $5,000 mark?
>
> I have a friend that has a liquid cooled 1200 Kawasaki and his radiator
> has become useless and said he's had to park it under the carport for a
> good while as it'll cost him $1200+ to have it replaced. Bloody scary I
> reckon!!
>
> I'll be interested in opinions about this and hopefully will help me make
> a decision either way.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Cheers
>
> DJ
I own a Suzuki GS 500. It commutes and tours adequately for my purposes. I
have just taken it from Canberra to Narromine and back. It has been from
Canberra to Sydney and return on several occasions. I have ridden it on
very hot days, about 40 degrees C with no obvious problems.

John Dwyer.
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:07:55 +1100, CrazyCam
<crazycam DeleteThis @upturnet.com.au> wrote:

>DJ wrote:
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> Is there any real advantages or disadvantages between air and liquid engines
>> in motorcycles?
>
>Yes.
>
>Generally, the air-cooled engines don't produce the big horsepower
>numbers that the liquid cooled engines do.
>
>They also have less "bits" to go wrong.
>
>> I'm in the process of choosing my next bike but won't have a big budget but
>> will be looking for a big bike for touring and commutting with the emphasis
>> on touring.
>
>For commuting, you don't want the peak power business, nor do you want
>the electric fan cutting in in traffic, cooking your legs, as tends to
>happen with the liquid cooled bikes.
>
>> I'm considering bikes with aircooling rather than liquid cooling engines.
>> Is this a good idea? or not?
>
>Yes.
>
>> Some of the bikes that I have in mind are getting a little old but from many
>> reports I've read,are good tourers of pre 2000.
>> Bikes such as the Yamaha Diversion 900 and the FJ1200 are 2 I've had in mind
>> and are aircooled.
>
>They are indeed, and good machines, too.
>
>> Are aircooled bikes too prone to overheat on a hot summers day?
>
>Not really. Not any more, and probably less than a liquid cooled bike.
>
> regards,
> CrazyCam
>

For my 2 cents, I'd get whatever bike is comfy for you. If you aren't
going fo massive horsepower then either will suit. Yes, as Cam says,
there are less things to go wrong on a liquid cooled bike, but in my
25 years of riding (except the last two years - waahhhhhh!!) I've had
not a single thing go wrong with the cooling systems on any of my
bikes, and all of them have been liquid cooled.

I'd be choosing the bike more on what suits you and not worry about
the air/liquid cooling issue. Especially in modern bikes. I guess if
you were going to buy a 20 year old liquid cooled bike, there is more
of a chance of something about to give up and die.
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

You need an oil cooled bike you do


"DJ" <mrjay1.RemoveThis@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:47b61689$0$12282$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
> Hi Folks,
>
> Is there any real advantages or disadvantages between air and liquid
> engines in motorcycles?
>
> I'm in the process of choosing my next bike but won't have a big budget
> but will be looking for a big bike for touring and commutting with the
> emphasis on touring.
>
> I'm considering bikes with aircooling rather than liquid cooling engines.
> Is this a good idea? or not?
>
> Some of the bikes that I have in mind are getting a little old but from
> many reports I've read,are good tourers of pre 2000.
> Bikes such as the Yamaha Diversion 900 and the FJ1200 are 2 I've had in
> mind and are aircooled.
>
> Are aircooled bikes too prone to overheat on a hot summers day?
>
> Are there any other suggestions for a bike like those above that could be
> had for around the $5,000 mark?
>
> I have a friend that has a liquid cooled 1200 Kawasaki and his radiator
> has become useless and said he's had to park it under the carport for a
> good while as it'll cost him $1200+ to have it replaced. Bloody scary I
> reckon!!
>
> I'll be interested in opinions about this and hopefully will help me make
> a decision either way.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Cheers
>
> DJ
>
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

Thanks guys for that info.

I've never actually heard of any major incidents with aircooled bikes but
with most of the bikes these days going with liquid cooling,I was wondering
if it was actually a better system and as some of you said, with aircooling,
theres less to go wrong.

I once had a Kwaka ER500 and it was watercooled but wasn't exactly a high
performance bike but had no cooling or other issues with it. It wasn't a bad
little tourer either except for the constant light buzzing vibration through
the handlebars that sent my throttle hand to sleep after a while. It used 13
litres for 300kms of highway speeds averaging 100-120kph (cops & Cameras
everywhere on the New England hwy) packed to the brim with luggage for a 9
day holiday.
It had close on 400km range incl. reserve on a 17 litre tank.

Another question has come to mind, some of the older tourers as the ones
mentioned and similar have high kms on them, sometimes well over the 100,000
mark. If bought for a reasonable price considering km's travelled,would it
be too expensive to have the engine and gearbox overhauled if the frame and
paneling etc is in good nick? around what would it cost to have something
like a 900-1200cc 4 cyl bike reconditioned?

Thanks again for your advice and imput, greatly appreciated.

Cheers

DJ
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

Jordan wrote:

>> Is there any real advantages or disadvantages between air and liquid
>> engines in motorcycles?

> Apart from Yamaha TX750, I can't think of any aircooled bike that had
> a serious overheating problem.

Squariels, and all those Harley lookalikes that insist on placing an
aircooled cylinder directly behind another, and then trying to get max HP
out of it.

Theo
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:54:47 +1100
DJ <mrjay1.TakeThisOut@bigpond.net.au> wrote:
>
> Another question has come to mind, some of the older tourers as the ones
> mentioned and similar have high kms on them, sometimes well over the 100,000
> mark. If bought for a reasonable price considering km's travelled,would it
> be too expensive to have the engine and gearbox overhauled if the frame and
> paneling etc is in good nick? around what would it cost to have something
> like a 900-1200cc 4 cyl bike reconditioned?


Heaps....

Depending of course on what reconditioned means. Might get away with
new rings if it is blowing smoke but new top end is very expensive.
May well need a clutch. Various bearings - wheel, steering head.
What condition are the forks in? How's the gearbox?

So much will depend on what is wrong with it.

Zebee
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

CrazyCam wrote:
> DJ wrote:
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> Is there any real advantages or disadvantages between air and liquid
>> engines in motorcycles?
>
> Yes.
>
> Generally, the air-cooled engines don't produce the big horsepower
> numbers that the liquid cooled engines do.
>
> They also have less "bits" to go wrong.
>
>> I'm in the process of choosing my next bike but won't have a big
>> budget but will be looking for a big bike for touring and commutting
>> with the emphasis on touring.
>
> For commuting, you don't want the peak power business, nor do you want
> the electric fan cutting in in traffic, cooking your legs, as tends to
> happen with the liquid cooled bikes.

Lucky me, I have the best of both worlds, an air-cooled bike with an
electric fan which cuts in and cooks my legs.

Nev..
'07 XB12X
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

>
>> Apart from Yamaha TX750, I can't think of any aircooled bike that had
>> a serious overheating problem.
>
> Squariels, and all those Harley lookalikes that insist on placing an
> aircooled cylinder directly behind another, and then trying to get max HP
> out of it.
>
> Theo
>
>

Which Harley lookalikes?
Harley-Davidsons and Ariel fours don't have fatal overheating problems,
unlike Yamaha's one-time flagship, which are mostly all dead now.
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

Assuming some sort of non-liquid oil of course!
--
Clem

"smack" <smack.RemoveThis@devils.com> wrote in message
news:13rf0qoisau2m01@corp.supernews.com...
> You need an oil cooled bike you do
>
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

Jordan wrote:
>>> Apart from Yamaha TX750, I can't think of any aircooled bike that
>>> had a serious overheating problem.
>>
>> Squariels, and all those Harley lookalikes that insist on placing an
>> aircooled cylinder directly behind another, and then trying to get
>> max HP out of it.

> Which Harley lookalikes?
> Harley-Davidsons and Ariel fours don't have fatal overheating
> problems, unlike Yamaha's one-time flagship, which are mostly all
> dead now.

You'll find that most in-line 45º air-cooled twins have a lower compression
ratio in the rear cylinder. Why do you think they would do that?

Ariel fours didn't have overheating problems? It was the primary cause of
their demise. The TX750 was better cooled.

Theo
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles 

Theo Bekkers wrote:
> Jordan wrote:
>>>> Apart from Yamaha TX750, I can't think of any aircooled bike that
>>>> had a serious overheating problem.
>>> Squariels, and all those Harley lookalikes that insist on placing an
>>> aircooled cylinder directly behind another, and then trying to get
>>> max HP out of it.
>
>> Which Harley lookalikes?
>> Harley-Davidsons and Ariel fours don't have fatal overheating
>> problems, unlike Yamaha's one-time flagship, which are mostly all
>> dead now.
>
> You'll find that most in-line 45º air-cooled twins have a lower compression
> ratio in the rear cylinder. Why do you think they would do that?


Mine certainly doesn't , do you have a cite ?
>
> Ariel fours didn't have overheating problems?
Mine didn't unless thrashed .
Ok I guess it often did
It was the primary cause of
> their demise. The TX750 was better cooled.
>
> Theo
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: liquid Vs Aircooled motorcycles