Want a Liquid Cooled HD Bagger?
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Want a Liquid Cooled HD Bagger?
For those clamoring for HD to move to a Liquid cooled motor in the bagger lineup, here is an interesting review. Comparing Kawasaki's new Voyager to HD's Ultra. Im not going to debate the pros/cons of liquid cooling, but one comment in this review stated something those of us who have owned liquid cooled bikes already know. A liquid cooled motor does not mean the rider will not feel engine heat.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/10/441...i-Voyager.aspx
From the article:
"Despite it being liquid-cooled, the heat coming off the Kawasaki’s 52-degree V-Twin on a 100-plus degree day in stop-and-go traffic roasted my right calf. The mill emits serious heat. The Electra Glide was much more tolerable. Last year, H-D rerouted the exhaust under the frame away from the rider instead of its prior arrangement under the seat. It also has a rider-activated cylinder deactivation system that curtails heat when you’re stuck at idle."
Don't think that HD moving to liquid cooling will solve all your discomfort problems. It wont.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/10/441...i-Voyager.aspx
From the article:
"Despite it being liquid-cooled, the heat coming off the Kawasaki’s 52-degree V-Twin on a 100-plus degree day in stop-and-go traffic roasted my right calf. The mill emits serious heat. The Electra Glide was much more tolerable. Last year, H-D rerouted the exhaust under the frame away from the rider instead of its prior arrangement under the seat. It also has a rider-activated cylinder deactivation system that curtails heat when you’re stuck at idle."
Don't think that HD moving to liquid cooling will solve all your discomfort problems. It wont.
Last edited by flyingace; Jul 3, 2010 at 04:20 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 432
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From: Tennessee
I agree with feeling the heat on a water cooled bike..... but, at least you can run lowers in the summer without craping out the engine from the heat. You will never have to pull over and let it cool etc.
I would love to have some of the potential to overheat solved on these bikes. If they can do that.... then they will be one big step closer to being perfect
but to each his own.
R. Todd
I would love to have some of the potential to overheat solved on these bikes. If they can do that.... then they will be one big step closer to being perfect
but to each his own.
R. Todd
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True, but the inverse also applies. A liquid cooled bike overheats due to a cooling system problem, you CANT just pull over and let it cool down. Your done.
Find a puddle of coolant under your bike, and your calling a tow truck.
After having TWO water pumps fail on my VTX1800 (fortunately at home) at this point I much prefer the option of just sitting for a half hour and letting the bike cool down if it gets too hot. It might be a pain in the butt to have to shut it down for a bit, but that beats being FORCED to shut it down....for repairs.
Find a puddle of coolant under your bike, and your calling a tow truck.
After having TWO water pumps fail on my VTX1800 (fortunately at home) at this point I much prefer the option of just sitting for a half hour and letting the bike cool down if it gets too hot. It might be a pain in the butt to have to shut it down for a bit, but that beats being FORCED to shut it down....for repairs.
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Tourer
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From: Deep River ON
Thanks for posting the article. Was most interesting and it will be even more interesting if Kawasaki respond to the criticisms. Having said that, I live on the Trans Canada west of Ottawa and as such see a lot of bikes go through town travelling across the country. I am seeing a lot of these Kawasaki Voyagers considering it is their first real year
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From: NM, land of entrapment
There is a reason why in the light aircraft world, we're still flying behind primarily air cooled engines. The complexity factor is much lower, meaning fewer points of failure, which equates to greater flight safety. As long as you're moving air, you're cooling, if even just a little. Weight is a factor too and amount of space taken up in the engine compartment.
And, when I hear a fan clutch kick on at a stoplight on a liquid cooled bike, I can't help but think that just ain't right. No sir. A liquid cooled HD? Are you kiddin' me? FOUR different fluids to keep track of? Way over my grade level.
And, when I hear a fan clutch kick on at a stoplight on a liquid cooled bike, I can't help but think that just ain't right. No sir. A liquid cooled HD? Are you kiddin' me? FOUR different fluids to keep track of? Way over my grade level.
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