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I was wondering what the main pros and cons of air cooled engines are.

I live in L.A. where it can get as hot as 110 in the summer. Will that affect an air cooled engine in any way?


Also what are the main differences (performance wise) between air cooled and liquid cooled engines are ?

When I was doing research on my GS, I asked the same thing. Most people on here said an air-cooled engine should handle the heat pretty well. I live in Phoenix where the lows are in the hundreds. So I guess we'll see in a few weeks.

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TKDean wrote:I was wondering what the main pros and cons of air cooled engines are.

I live in L.A. where it can get as hot as 110 in the summer. Will that affect an air cooled engine in any way?


Also what are the main differences (performance wise) between air cooled and liquid cooled engines are ?

Edit: Now with 100% more correctness.

Pros for air cooled: it's simpler and lighter than a water-cooled bike, has better reliability (less parts to break).

Cons: can overheat if idled in high heat for long periods of times and the motors are generally tuned less aggressively than a water-cooled bike.

110 F with an air cooled bike won't be a problem unless you're stuck in traffic for, say, 20 to 30 minutes and you don't lanesplit.

The main difference between air and water cooled engines are heat dissipation. More power means more heat, which a water cooled bike can shed much faster than an air cooled bike. Manufacturers know this, so an air cooled engine wouldn't put out as much power as a similar water cooled one.

Skier wrote:

TKDean wrote:I was wondering what the main pros and cons of air cooled engines are.

I live in L.A. where it can get as hot as 110 in the summer. Will that affect an air cooled engine in any way?


Also what are the main differences (performance wise) between air cooled and liquid cooled engines are ?

Pros for air cooled: it's simpler and lighter than an air-cooled bike, has better reliability (less parts to break).

Cons: can overheat if idled in high heat for long periods of times and the motors are generally tuned less aggressively than a water-cooled bike.

110 F with an air cooled bike won't be a problem unless you're stuck in traffic for, say, 20 to 30 minutes and you don't lanesplit.

The main difference between air and water cooled engines are heat dissipation. More power means more heat, which an air cooled bike can shed much faster than an air cooled bike. Manufacturers know this, so an air cooled engine wouldn't put out as much power as a similar water cooled one.

I'm only quoting this so I can laugh at you later about how many times you confused yourself.

Please explain, Sev.

Sev wrote:

Skier wrote:

TKDean wrote:I was wondering what the main pros and cons of air cooled engines are.

I live in L.A. where it can get as hot as 110 in the summer. Will that affect an air cooled engine in any way?


Also what are the main differences (performance wise) between air cooled and liquid cooled engines are ?

Pros for air cooled: it's simpler and lighter than an air-cooled bike, has better reliability (less parts to break).

Cons: can overheat if idled in high heat for long periods of times and the motors are generally tuned less aggressively than a water-cooled bike.

110 F with an air cooled bike won't be a problem unless you're stuck in traffic for, say, 20 to 30 minutes and you don't lanesplit.

The main difference between air and water cooled engines are heat dissipation. More power means more heat, which an air cooled bike can shed much faster than an air cooled bike. Manufacturers know this, so an air cooled engine wouldn't put out as much power as a similar water cooled one.

I'm only quoting this so I can laugh at you later about how many times you confused yourself.

haha. I was thinking the same thing.

Skier wrote:

TKDean wrote:I was wondering what the main pros and cons of air cooled engines are.

I live in L.A. where it can get as hot as 110 in the summer. Will that affect an air cooled engine in any way?


Also what are the main differences (performance wise) between air cooled and liquid cooled engines are ?

Pros for air cooled: it's simpler and lighter than an air-cooled bike, has better reliability (less parts to break).

Cons: can overheat if idled in high heat for long periods of times and the motors are generally tuned less aggressively than a water-cooled bike.

110 F with an air cooled bike won't be a problem unless you're stuck in traffic for, say, 20 to 30 minutes and you don't lanesplit.

The main difference between air and water cooled engines are heat dissipation. More power means more heat, which an air cooled bike can shed much faster than an air cooled bike. Manufacturers know this, so an air cooled engine wouldn't put out as much power as a similar water cooled one.

-D.

Durrr.

I've corrected the post, but technically all motors are air-cooled.... eventually.

I have an air-cooled bike. I found out that I need to be going at least 35mph in the summer to keep the engine from really heating up. Then again, I found this out when I tried to commute in Indiana in the summer -- 98 degrees on a slab of concrete, taking 45minutes to go 10 miles. The motor would try to sieze on me until I found a route that incorporated some freeway.

Skier wrote:I've corrected the post, but technically all motors are air-cooled.... eventually.