| Author | Message | ||
     Watrousmark |
There was a mention of a water cooled Buell being discussed in Iron Works April(fools?) issue. They stated that a motor company employee was willing to talk about a water cooled motor that used the existing cases and the XB frame. From what I've heard the motor company will have you shot hung and quartered for discussing upcoming products without permission. Could this be an intentional leak? Or just plain BS. | ||
| Jkhawaii |
I cant see it being that hard to install some cylinders with water jackets instead of fins | ||
| Xb9 |
Little more than just fitting new cylinders with water jackets.... But, looking at the XBRR engine with the new design cam driven oil pump and ignition trigger wheel, if they are going to that design for production bikes it would be fairly easy to design a water pump to be mounted where the oil pump used to be fitted.... | ||
| Blake |
The heads are the hotter parts of the engine not the cylinders. Adding liquid cooling gets more complicated all of a sudden don't it. Add water pump, radiator, plumbing, fan for radiator... | ||
| Atoms |
Air cooled was one of the things that brought me to the Buell in the first place. Why add more weight, complication and maintenance? | ||
| Exnorton |
More isn't always better. The EPA may some day force the issue. but for today this is more than enough. I guess it's only human nature to want the latest and the greatest. After so long on a Norton this is the latest and greatest. But if I wanted a V Rod I would buy it. The handling & weight attracted me to the Buell But I will say this go and and get the bike that makes you happy. A payment on a bike you just settled for doesn't cut it. A fast bike is like a fast computer, no matter how fast it is this week once your accustomed to it it seems slower. What has changed? Nothing only my perception. In short take a 35 year old bike out of a while.( I did for over 25 years) and you'll think that a Buell is unbelievable. Ride like your life depends on it, Because it does Everyone Dies... Some Never Live ExNorton | ||
| Blake |
This may surprise some folks. It surprised me when I first learned the truth. It is a myth that ever stricter EPA anti-pollution/emissions regulations will be the death of air cooled engines. There is absolutely nothing preventing air-cooled engines from complying with the same strict standards as liquid cooled engines. In fact, they have some advantages. Note that current Buell engines meet the strict EPA standards without needing any catalytic converter or air injection, something many liquid cooled motorcycles do require. Note also that all hydrocarbon (fuel) laden blow-by that might make its way past the rings to be exhausted from the crankcase ventilation system is rerouted back into the intake, so none of the unburned blow-by hydrocarbons ever make it to the atmosphere; it is recycled and burned in the combustion chamber. Air-cooled engines actually enjoy a significant advantage in the anti-pollution arena compared to liquid-cooled engine. In a cold-start scenario, air-cooled engine typically warm up more much more quickly and thus avoid having to run excessively rich for as long a duration compared to liquid-cooled engines. The noise issue may be another story.  | ||
| Mcgiver |
The architecture of an engine mainly dictates the method of cooling. Four cylinders crammed together has inadequate area for air cooling. I know noise travels faster through water than air, not sure about a solid like aluminum. On old air cooled dirtbikes, many manufactures used rubber plugs pressed between the fins, or rubber bands stretched over the fins to suppress the vibrations(noise). So I'm sure buell can come up with something to reduce noise, possibly a difference in fin casting.Water cooling is not what is holding back Buells from a higher level of performance! Brian | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The day they ban my air cooled CityX is the last day in this liberal bastioned nanny state. Bad enough they want to keep me out of the state parks and out of the ORV trails. eco-nazi environmental whackos  | ||
| Watrousmark |
I just want more frickin' power. There's nothing wrong with being able to run with the 600's at least. | ||
| Chris_in_tn |
Well the buzz is Rotax will power the Buell dirt bike. It would stand to reason there may an "arrangement" made for a V-twin as well. | ||
| Two_buells |
I just bought a Can-Am Bombardier Renegade 4x4 ATV. It has a 800cc EFI Rotax V-Twin 4 valve per cyl. This engine is awesome! Rotax is owned by Bombardier, they also make Skidoo, Seadoo, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines. Check out the S3 Tailbag, XB Mirror, Buell Garmin GPS  (Message edited by Two_Buells on May 16, 2007) | ||
| Jflaig |
Rotax did make the motors for the military H/Ds, when they were still using bikes for scouts. This should be a good combination of brains and brawn. Hope to see one soon. | ||
| Buell2001b |
I dont think buell will ever get rid of the Air cooled engine, its a look and design, but at the same time. Companies need to evolve to be competitive. if HD wanst to take a more aggressve chunk of money from Honda they need to think big and either pay to get an engine developed or team up with someone that has a proven fast bike. Maybe ILMOR is the answer. they have a fast bike, they need sponsorship. it could be called the Buell XBX3. and Jeremy mcwilliams is already with Ilmor and has been with Buell so he knows that that bike is capable of doing and we already know the XBRR is not what we hope it would be, Jeremy got the best finish a Buell has achieved on AMA unless i'm wrong. HD please your investors and make good with Buell | ||
| Court |
I believe Rotax still builds motors for the HD Military group. Harley acquired the production rights from the British Armstrong company in October of 1987, oddly enough the same month they shut down their competition group. Don't hold your breath. . . although, I'd love to see a Buell with a rocket launcher! | ||
| Naustin |
I've said it before. I don't want a watercooled buell. If Buell builds a water-cooled bike, that's fine, and I wish them luck with it. But that won't be what convinces me to buy another Buell and I hope they don't discontinue the current motor. What I hope is that they build a R1200RT competitor out of the Uly with a nice big front fairing. The power output of the current engine is more than enough, unless EPA restrictions require a Catalytic converter or something. But as Blake mentioned, that might not even be an issue... The Uly is a great alternative to a GS, and with a little body work, the same basic bike could be an equally good alternative to the RT. (Message edited by naustin on June 05, 2007) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I hope that HD/Buell is investigating fuel cell powered bikes. The internal combustion engine years are numbered. Look at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SORl_qcz5rw | ||
| Bearly |
I welcome the water cooled bikes. IMHO, water cooling would have several benefits such as more stable engine temps and not needing so much taper on the bores. Closer tolerances between the piston and the cylinder. I hope that Buell makes the engine though. I just hope they don't put two XB fans on the radiator! | ||
| Blake |
Why do you care what the tolerance between piston and bore is or what type cooling system is used?  You know what I care about? How the engine performs, its operational characteristics, its maintenance requirements, and its reliability. Also, if it is exposed to view, I care very much how it looks. I haven't seen a radiator yet that looks good to me. I've seen some that aren't so bad or are hidden. No matter what Buell's next new street bike is, I'm sure it will be something very special. | ||
| Jlnance |
I haven't seen a radiator yet that looks good to me. Think Buell would do an underslung tubular radiator? They could put it next to the exhaust. | ||
| Blake |
If Buell does come out with a water-cooled street bike, I'm sure they'll do their best to achieve an artistically palatable presentation. | ||
| Watrousmark |
http://bikernews.obworld.com/index.cfm?d=news&p=re ad&newsid=4725 Maybe an already existing platform could be used. This might even explain why the power output mentioned was the same as the Ducati's. |
