08-04-2014, 04:24 AM
(08-03-2014, 08:48 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: If they didn't introduce water cooling on this bike, they would be trapped and forever locked in to air cooled bikes with less horsepower, less reliability and unable to meet more restrictive emissions which are undoubtedly coming. Harley realizes this as well with their two new smaller models.
Air cooling just isn't the way of the future. Harley knows it, BMW knows it and Indian knows it, which is why the traditionally air cooled companies are introducing water cooling to new models. Consumers might as well get used to it.
The Japanese has realized it forever which is why the CB was such a shock to the mc world, and also why its such a poor performer for its displacement.
You can say that again. It's all driven by emission regulations. Control of combustion temperatures is key to meeting ever tightening regulations. A flexible EFI can help, but inevitably air cooled bikes will go the way of the air cooled VWs and Porsches, for much the same reasons.