Triumph T120 v CB1100a

[Ulvetanna_imp]

The fins on the new WC Bonnie line are not cosmetic, they actually assist in cooling the engine, which allows the radiator to be small...one by two inches larger than the oil cooler on the CB, which is far more of an eyesore than the Bonnie/ Thrux 's well- hidden radiator. Cycle World: 'You have to look no further than the cooling system to see the lengths to which Triumph went to make the machines look right. While the engine is conventionally liquid-cooled, with full water jackets around the cylinders and valve seats, it is finned as heavily as an air-cooled engine, and the fins actually provide significant cooling, allowing a smaller radia­tor. Water is routed inter­nally in the engine to two central ports, right on the bike centerline, that plug directly into a skinny radiator in front of the engine that masquerades superbly as an oil cooler. The radiator cap is remote and hidden.'

Look only to BMW and Harley for similar moves to partial liquid cooling for any number of reasons. The CB is very well- engineered, mild- mannered machine with a shocking amount of work done to deliver a modern air and oil cooled motor, already Euro 4 compliant. I do hope they continue to produce and evolve it, rather than slap some checkerboard stickers on it for Canada only.

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Partial liquid cooling, yes; but all engines are only partially liquid-cooled, oil does some of the job, and air the rest.

I recall this conversation from decades ago when Honda first introduced its Shadow line, and claimed the fins actually did some of the cooling. This somehow assuaged the fear that they were "fake" and only there for style. Agreed, there must be SOME effect, but miniscule. They could have been dispensed with altogether. The Hawk GT and Pacific Coast (I had one of each) used exactly the same engine with nary a fin.

The question I would pose is this: would the bike sell as well without the fins, regardless of whether they have any function? The answer would have to be no. The bike must look correct, nostalgic, if you will. The radiator is an eyesore to some "purists".

I think the really neat thing about the CB1100, and the earlier Triumphs such as my 2000 Bonneville 800, is that they are in fact a true air/oil cooled design. We can't get as much power from them, but I like the idea they don't have a cooling system and they are somewhat simpler because of it.

The CB1100 is designed in complete accord with the technologies and limitations of the era it heralds, something I also deeply appreciate, not philosophically, but every time I twist the throttle to the stop. Its limitations help me overcome my own.

It's kinda funny about that oil cooler on the CB; back before I took my break from motorcycles guys were putting oil coolers on their high performance inline fours. I remember one brand of cooler that got a poor review in one of the magazines and the owner was bent out of shape. So in my mind, the oil cooler fits the retro look.

I do wonder if some clever engineer will come up with a better cooler idea to "hide" them.

LOL, heck yeah.