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  #1  
Old 12 Sep 2011
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
So they're taking something that is already overcomplicated and unreliable and making it even more complicated and potentially even more unreliable.
I'm not sure if watercooling is complicated and unreliable, it has been tested for a few years both on bikes and cars.
If you look at bikes for trial/enduro/mx where weight is a bigger issue then on an adv-bike they all use watercooled engines.
Air-cooled engines and carbs will soon be history, emission-laws and the demand for progress are two reasons for this.

I think what we are looking on here is a prototype for the next bestselling adventure-bike and it will probably be on the top-5 list in Europe.
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Old 12 Sep 2011
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i'm not sure if watercooling is complicated and unreliable, it has been tested for a few years both on bikes and cars. :d
if you look at bikes for trial/enduro/mx where weight is a bigger issue then on an adv-bike they all use watercooled engines.
Air-cooled engines and carbs will soon be history, emission-laws and the demand for progress are two reasons for this.

I think what we are looking on here is a prototype for the next bestselling adventure-bike and it will probably be on the top-5 list in europe.
+1 ....^
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Old 12 Sep 2011
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Weight is an issue here too. The paper press will crucify any manufacturer who's bikes get heavier. In order to add the weight of the coolant, pump, radiator, catastrophic perverter and so forth they'll have to remove something else to compensate. You can bet on a smaller tank, thinner castings made of nastier monkey metal and so on.

It will be a best seller for certain, but the market for new machines with a certain badge and a certain look is quite different to machinery meant for actual use. It's a smart move by BMW to put some distance between the G650, F800GS and R1200GS, the majority of big twin riders want a tourer with a better view of the road.

Andy
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Old 12 Sep 2011
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Wait, why does a boxer engine need water cooling? From a technical point of view I mean because I just don't get it.
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Old 12 Sep 2011
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Weight is an issue here too. The paper press will crucify any manufacturer who's bikes get heavier. In order to add the weight of the coolant, pump, radiator, catastrophic perverter and so forth they'll have to remove something else to compensate. You can bet on a smaller tank, thinner castings made of nastier monkey metal and so on.
This is a completely new engine and gearbox-design the weight might be more or less the same as the old engine.
When it comes to range GS is usually on the top, this engine will have lower consumption so it would be strange if range was sacrificed.

There are a few details on the new engine and gearbox I don't like but time will show how it works in real life. (wet-clutch, gearbox and engine share oil etc).

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Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
It will be a best seller for certain, but the market for new machines with a certain badge and a certain look is quite different to machinery meant for actual use.
"The market for new machines with a certain badge and a certain look" is now the biggest market here in Norway. So far this year they have sold 90% bikes more then Suzuki and I would expect the market to grow even more when the boxer gets a power-boost.
When I check the mileage on used BMWs I usually find that they have higher mileage then the other brands, in my world that means they are "actually used".

On the other hand I have no plans to buy a wethead.
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Old 12 Sep 2011
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Wait, why does a boxer engine need water cooling? From a technical point of view I mean because I just don't get it.
Better control of the temperature gives less pollutions, it also makes it possible to make a more powerful engine with less petrol consumption. The engine might also last longer and it's possible to downsize some of the parts.
But I still doubt that the first wethead will be as powerful as HP2 sport, maybe 125hp.
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Old 12 Sep 2011
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Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
I'm not sure if watercooling is complicated and unreliable, it has been tested for a few years both on bikes and cars.
If you look at bikes for trial/enduro/mx where weight is a bigger issue then on an adv-bike they all use watercooled engines.
Air-cooled engines and carbs will soon be history, emission-laws and the demand for progress are two reasons for this.

I think what we are looking on here is a prototype for the next bestselling adventure-bike and it will probably be on the top-5 list in Europe.
I didn't mean it was complicated. But they are MORE complicated than simple air/oil cooling. There are many more components involved. Of course, to get more power or to reduce tolerances in the manufacturing then you need better cooling. BMW always got away with this for so long as their boxer design works very nicely with air cooling as I'm sure you know.

Any anyway... BMW don't have a great record with water cooling as with reliability with any of their models. Anyway, I'm sure it will be on the back of a trailer for electronic's and shaft seals before the radiator packs in


Will it be a top 5 seller....... You bet it will.
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Old 12 Sep 2011
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Any anyway... BMW don't have a great record with water cooling as with reliability with any of their models.
What has been the problem with coolling on the K-serie the last 30 years?
My guess is that the cooling system will be pretty different then what we have seen so far.
Last edited by AliBaba; 12 Sep 2011 at 22:07.
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Old 7 Aug 2012
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Water cooled
I for one look forward to a water cooled version. After traveling through the likes of Jakarta, Bangkok and KL not to mention Kuta in very warm weather in first gear heavy traffic and no air flow I feel it would be much better than burning the crap out of the oil all the time. But how long before an Adventure model hits the streets hmmm
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