Ok I am going to show that when it comes to how engines work I have little information. I do know that harley's are air cooled not liquid cooled. I also know this is important to many of you.
Can you guys explain the differences to me. I didn't want to hijack the thread about a liquid cooled sportster to get understanding of this.
I love to understand how and why certain things work. This is esp true of my bike. I have been on the back of a liquid cooled cruiser before but have never ridden one.
Any info would be helpful.

 

Air cooled is when the engine is cooled by the air as you ride. That's why in traffic or on slow runs, you can run hot.


Liquid cooled is when the engine has a radiator and a anti-freeze/coolant keeping the engine at a correct temperature, like your car.

 

Not being a smart@ss Liz. But how detailed do you want. The basic difference is that water cooled is like most cars. Has a radiator and hoses and a water pump pumps coolant through water jackets in the engine and through the radiator. As the coolant goes through the radiator it is cooled and goes back through the engine, where the cooled coolant (cool isn't it) reduces engine temps and picks up heat and runs back through the radiator. Air cooled (like your harley) has multiple cooling fins, when air passes over these fins it dissipates the heat-Pulls the heat from the engine(air cooled). Generally liquid cooled engines run cooler and therefore have the ability to produce more power per cubic inch than air cooled.

 

I understand the basics of what it is so I get that on liquad cooled it is like a car has some version of a radiator. Sometimes I am not super clear on what I am asking sorry. In my defense I always understand it in my head. ...
I don't understand why it is a big deal.. That is what I am trying to understand. From everything I have read and seen over teh years it is something that gets people really in an uproar. So that is what I am trying to understand is why is air cooled better. What we would loose or gain if Harleys were ever liquid cooled. I am sure there is a reason and I would like to understand it. Because I doubt anyone would get really upset if Harley offered a new color paint so there has to be a major impact if this every changed. So what is that impact?

 

Guys like that classic air cooled look, and sound

think of it if HD came out with a water cooled 1200cc engine you'd have a V-rod.....

 

The reason you will soon see more HD's watercooled like the V-Rod is tightening EPA mandates....You can kick n scream all you want, but it's coming.

The reason is that watercooled engines tend to run at a more stable temp and can be tuned to run cleaner. Air cooled engine temps swing from hi to low depending on your speed and the outside air temps so they are hard to tune cleanly.

The upside is you can expect more power per cubic inch and an engine that will run longer tween rebuilds.

 

Is that the two things it would impact ? The sound of the bike and the look by having to add the radiator? Is there anything else it would impact? I am not trying to be a smart *** I just want to understand it. The reason I ask if because I have seen threads on this board where people said they wouldn't consider a bike still a harley if they went liquid cooled. That seemed like really strong statement so I want to understand why this seems to be a line in the sand.

 

I think the reason people state that it wouldnt be a Harley, is because its what differs Harley from many metric bikes. Same reason why you wont see a gear indicator on an HD.

 

There is no reason watercooling should change the exhaust sound of any Harley. As it stands now, the EPA has mandated that no motorcycle can emit more than 80db sound levels, so it's the EPA who is changing how scoots sound.....An air cooled scoot sounds no different than a watercooled scooter.

The radiator can be concealed quite well....Go look at the new Honda Fury to see how they do it.

 

I'll do my kicking and screaming in the voting booth, and out on the campaign trail, thank you. Remember Helmets used to be required in almost every state. Politicians understand votes.