Air cooled, better than the rest?

[bad Chad]

I love air cooled motors, especially on motorcycles.   To me, it just makes sense, it your going to ride a m/c, with the motor just out in the open, then own it!   Yes, I know liquid cooled motors are better at making most anything you want to measure, but come on, we are past all that, right?   I'm no going to go on here, I just like air cooled bikes, and I'm glad Guzzi hasn't tossed in the towel.   Getting off a bike a hearing the "tink, tink, tink" that only air cooling gives, what could be better?

[blu guzz]

I'll go next.  Like most of us, I have had air cooled and water cooled.  Somehow, the air cooled just seem to have more character.  Maybe the tink tink thing, I don't really know but I just seem to have fonder memories of my past air cooled bikes.

[fotoguzzi]

Didn’t Guzzi “toss in the towel” with the new V100 Mandello.?

https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-news/moto-guzzi-liquid-cooled-v100-mandello-engine-technical-information/

[tazio]

..Here ye, here ye !!
Air cooled motors!
Get 'em while they're hot !!
Won't last long !!
 

[kingoffleece]

They had to throw in the towel for Euro emissions.  Like said above, "get 'em while they're hot"!  No pun intended.

[Bulldog9]

For me, air cooled, shaft drive and standard seating has been my MC format of choice. Started this in 1984 with my XS1100.

[Bisbee]

As much as I love my K75S, the other 4 bikes are air cooled. They are more elemental, more in the spirit of what was.I can leave them for 6 months, turn the key and they are ready to go.  Would hate to see them go away like the air cooled Porsches. Might have to pick up a V85TT before they are gone.

[Bulldog9]

Didn’t Guzzi “toss in the towel” with the new V100 Mandello.?

https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-news/moto-guzzi-liquid-cooled-v100-mandello-engine-technical-information/

As long as they keep the 850 motors in the V7/9/V85 I'd say they havent. So far, they are E5 compliant. Who knows what the future will hold.

I sure would rather our Western Countries put the screws to where the majority of the pollution is actually happening rather than gradually strangling is to death.

[Dirk_S]

I want my factories to create smog again. And I miss the days when my local paper mill emitted so much pollution into the rivers that even the carp avoided some areas. Those dang regulations making me breathe too easily.

Ah, I love these kinds of posts.

[fotoguzzi]

I sure would rather our Western Countries put the screws to where the majority of the pollution is actually happening rather than gradually strangling is to death.

that pollution is a byproduct of the shit we (westerners) consume.

[jhem68]

"tink, tink, tink", in my misspent youth my Thundering Dummies buddies used to refer to that sound as the "cool down boogie"!

Best tasting beer I ever drank had that as background music. Often around a campfire.

[Scout63]

I’m with Bad Chad. I draw the line at points though. First mod after new fuel lines and a tank cleanse is electronic ignition.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I rode air cooled bikes from when I started riding in 1971until 1986 when I sold my BMWR90S for the new liquid cooled 1986 BMW K75C and later a ‘93 K75S. Even though I rode the K75’s 27 years, they lacked character and that is what drove me to the Guzzi 1200 Sport 9 1/2 years ago. It has CHARACTER! Love the air cooled engine.

Going to the K75’s, I loved the fuel injection, electronic ignition, and cast wheels. Never had a single problem with those in 27 years of riding them!

[Huzo]

..Here ye, here ye !!
Air cooled motors!
Get 'em while they're hot !!
Won't last long !!
 

HURRY….Last days….!
(Spoken in a speedy and hushed tone….)
“Actual bike may not perform as claimed….” 

[Huzo]

I’m with Bad Chad. I draw the line at points though. First mod after new fuel lines and a tank cleanse is electronic ignition.

It will all reach a critical mass one day Scout, where it won’t matter what we “want”, it just will not be still being produced and the ones remaining will need annual inspection as to whether they still pass ever tightening emission laws.
Your bike will become illegal retrospectively.

[Stretch]

"I love the smell of unburnt hydrocarbons in the morning!"   

[kballowe]

Our present inventory is three air-cooled and three water-cooled motorcycles.
I don't know if we have a preference.

 


Electronic cruise control is nice, though - for these old hands.

[bad Chad]

Very difficult to see how owning an ICE would ever be illegal, at least here in the United States.  Purchasing a new ICE, however, will likely become extremely difficult, at some point.

[Huzo]

Very difficult to see how owning an ICE would ever be illegal, at least here in the United States.  Purchasing a new ICE, however, will likely become extremely difficult, at some point.

All that has to happen is that the emission laws become too stringent for the old engines to meet.
Then you can still own a two stroke for instance, but you just can’t start it…

[Joliet Jim]

Very difficult to see how owning an ICE would ever be illegal, at least here in the United States.  Purchasing a new ICE, however, will likely become extremely difficult, at some point.

Have to agree, that would be like taking away g**s. Not going to happen.
You can have my air-cooled motor when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

[Kev m]

All that has to happen is that the emission laws become too stringent for the old engines to meet.
Then you can still own a two stroke for instance, but you just can’t start it…

That's not how it works in the US.

[mechanicsavant]

Nobody has mentioned the sort of hybrid air/oil cooling used on later model BMW twins & earlier Suzuki fours . IMHO a decent compromise. Flood the head with oil from a low pressure pump high in the sump & lube the spinning bits w/a high pressure pump lower in the sump . My last Beemer a 1200R w/12 to 1 compression was a great motor . I think a similar system is used on the BMW 1800 cruiser thingey . Just saying

[Moparnut72]

1400 Guzzis use air/oil cooling. A good system in my opinion. But the 1400's couldn't met Euro 5. I doubt they sold well enough to finance a redesign.
kk

[guzzisteve]

How bout air cooled electric-----------------------------------------------does that count?

[Kev m]

It works the way the governments want it to work.
When Toyota/Nissan/Mazda etc… decide to invest multi 100’s of billions into the economy to build electric cars, the law makers will see the $$$$’s and I don’t think they will care about an old smoking GT750 Suzuki or any other relic.
The (only just) compliant vehicles of today, will become the now (non compliant) vehicles of yesteryear.
I wonder why Toyota don’t build and market a 6 litre carburetted straight 8 ?
Legislators don’t care about what you “want”, they just say….
“Your **** is now non compliant because the goal posts have shifted…
But you can go and buy one of these…..”
Also Kev.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the USA is not actually the centre of the universe.

I'm simply saying that to my knowledge, in the US, no law has ever been passed forcing someone to stop using a motor vehicle, especially a classic or antique, based on changing emissions standards.

They only tighten emissions standards for the sale of new models.

Very few states even test emissions on powersports to see if they still comply with the levels to which they were certified new.

Plenty of people still use 2-stroke marine and power sport engines.

Etc.

This isn't about being US centric, it's about explaining what happens HERE to someone who doesn't live HERE.

[LowRyter]

Water pumps seemed to have been responsible for more reliably, horsepower and performance gains with the least weight and packing negatives than turbos, more cylinders or high test gas.

There's no tight or wrong answer for what people like.

[Huzo]

I'm simply saying that to my knowledge, in the US, no law has ever been passed forcing someone to stop using a motor vehicle, especially a classic or antique, based on changing emissions standards.

They only tighten emissions standards for the sale of new models.

Very few states even test emissions on powersports to see if they still comply with the levels to which they were certified new.

Plenty of people still use 2-stroke marine and power sport engines.

Etc.

This isn't about being US centric, it's about explaining what happens HERE to someone who doesn't live HERE.

Ok Kev that’s clear.
But the unspoken implication is that, although you cannot build something new that is non compliant, you cannot have something you already own, legislated out of existence retrospectively…
Well yes you can.
For instance our gun laws here in Australia were changed almost overnight, yesterday it’s legal and today it isn’t.
In the case of our vehicles…
You will still be able to own a given vehicle but if you operate it, you are in breach.

[Ncdan]

This is a good subject matter gentlemen, loyality to our beloved “air cooled motorcycle motors.
However if this thread is going to remain active and online let’s stay away from the government regulation aspect of the conversation, as we all know where that will end up.
Thanks

PS: there’s nothing sweeter than an ole air cooled V twin, of any brand, on a cool temp night👍

Dan

[jackthebiker]

I have two 2022 air cooled motorcycles, my Moto Guzzi V85 TT, and my 2022 Kawasaki W800....

[lucian]

It all comes down to your personal preference. Better or worse is only dependent on the metric applied. Air cooled may stir the souls of us nostalgic old farts , but don't show up at track day with an air cooled dinosaur hoping to to first around the first turn.