Airhead Technology

[tuftywhite]

I have been reading the posts on the site and reading through the numerous issues people are having with their bikes. I realise that I've had a fair few issues with mine, and with any luck they are all sorted and the bike will provide a few thousand miles of trouble free motoring, however, I'm so pleased that I mostly understand my bike.

For example, when I twist the throttle, it pulls cables which pulls other stuff on the carbs, which makes my bike go faster. When I put my foot on the brake, it pulls a rod which makes something twist that pushes stuff against the inside of the wheel that makes me slow down.

When did motorbikes get so complicated. I read someone's post that their brakes failed because of some electronic part not working and so many posts about resetting your throttle position.

I don't want my motorbike to be computerised. Frankly, I haven't got to the bottom of understanding how my front brake works. Apparently, of all things, it uses some acidic liquid. Whose idea was that? Has nobody come up with a non acidic liquid that can do the job?

Whilst I'm on the subject, why no more smaller boxer engines from BMW. I'd love a 400cc GS but I love the boxer engine and I don't want a chain. (I had a chain on a previous bike (XT600e) and I had to lubricate it and adjust it.) Doesn't anybody think there would be a market for such a thing.

And why always bigger engines? The 800cc wasn't enough, so they made the 1000, 850, 1100, 1150 and 1200. Soon there will be a 1250. How fast do you want to go? How fast to you want to go off road?

It's not just BMW, the VFR750 was a great bike. Now with bigger engine. TDM 850 was nice. Are bike manufacturers just catering for the new bike each season brigade? I suppose that's where the easy money is.

So, I'd like a nice compact 400cc boxer GS, an R69s for the weekends and I'll be happy. Gifts accepted.

 

[Flipfly]

I haven't got to the bottom of understanding how my front brake works.

When you find out, please let us know, we may be able to work out why ours don't work

There's no money in home mechanics who can service their own machines, far better for the manufacturers to over complicate things to keep them going to the dealers.

I want to know who thought it was necessary to have a 190mph bike that does 22 miles to the gallon rather than a 150 mph bike that can do 50+ miles to the gallon. Surely with petrol prices rising, an economical but quick bike is better than a 200bhp monster that nobody can really use, but drinks fuel like a tramp sups meths

 

[MMC]

This is precisely why I'm looking to sell my 1100GS and replace it with an R80gs or an R100.

 

[Kenny]

I've ridden a 450 airhead..and believe me, we don't need them to make a comeback !!! Remember, your airhead is your phallic symbol, the bigger the better !!!

 

[fayeslane]

Remember, your airhead is your phallic symbol,

Low on power, difficult to start, occaisionally leaks, sometimes backfires, ....................



Oh dear

 

[bwood100]

This is precisely why I'm looking to sell my 1100GS and replace it with an R80gs or an R100.

 

[VAL. H.]

I have been reading the posts on the site and reading through the numerous issues people are having with their bikes. I realise that I've had a fair few issues with mine, and with any luck they are all sorted and the bike will provide a few thousand miles of trouble free motoring, however, I'm so pleased that I mostly understand my bike.

For example, when I twist the throttle, it pulls cables which pulls other stuff on the carbs, which makes my bike go faster. When I put my foot on the brake, it pulls a rod which makes something twist that pushes stuff against the inside of the wheel that makes me slow down.

When did motorbikes get so complicated. I read someone's post that their brakes failed because of some electronic part not working and so many posts about resetting your throttle position.

I don't want my motorbike to be computerised. Frankly, I haven't got to the bottom of understanding how my front brake works. Apparently, of all things, it uses some acidic liquid. Whose idea was that? Has nobody come up with a non acidic liquid that can do the job?

Whilst I'm on the subject, why no more smaller boxer engines from BMW. I'd love a 400cc GS but I love the boxer engine and I don't want a chain. (I had a chain on a previous bike (XT600e) and I had to lubricate it and adjust it.) Doesn't anybody think there would be a market for such a thing.

And why always bigger engines? The 800cc wasn't enough, so they made the 1000, 850, 1100, 1150 and 1200. Soon there will be a 1250. How fast do you want to go? How fast to you want to go off road?

It's not just BMW, the VFR750 was a great bike. Now with bigger engine. TDM 850 was nice. Are bike manufacturers just catering for the new bike each season brigade? I suppose that's where the easy money is.

So, I'd like a nice compact 400cc boxer GS, an R69s for the weekends and I'll be happy. Gifts accepted.

You wouldn't. Not after the first ride.


I don't know if you remember, but BMW did make a 450cc Airhead. It looked exactly the same as the 600 and the 750 and the 800 and it was the same size and the same weight. The only real difference was that this 'little' 450 cc Airhead only had about 22bhp, where as the 800 (remembering that it is the same size and weight) had 50bhp.

As you might be able to imagine (or indeed have personal experiance of) the 800 will happily carry two people and their luggage all over the world. The 450 had serious difficulties carrying just one person up a 1 in 10 hill. There was no point to it so they dropped it.


Val.

 

[tuftywhite]

400cc Airhead. I wasn't thinking of an old engine, but a newly designed and built 400cc airhead.

It's not impossible, just extremely unlikely.

Being a new design it would be lighter and more powerful, making use of the advances in engineering. The bike frame could be lighter too.

It needs imagination and design. I'm sure if you put a BMW designer on it they would come up with something. Look how computers, mp3 players and mobile phones were before Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive changed the game. Perhaps we need some innovation in motorcycles rather than just adding electronics and bigger engines.

 

[David Nimrod]

Perhaps we need some innovation in motorcycles rather than just adding electronics and bigger engines.

Precisely!

I genuinely believe that my R100GS won't hold me back (it'll be me holding it back), and owning a brand new 1200 would allow me to do absolutely nothing more than my airhead does... and it'd cost a hell of a lot more

 

[David Nimrod]

I want to know who thought it was necessary to have a 190mph bike that does 22 miles to the gallon rather than a 150 mph bike that can do 50+ miles to the gallon.

I'd be happy with 100mph, 50mpg plus, and a very simple bike...

Ah, just described my GS

 

[Bmmike08]

I've ridden BMWs for many years, starting with a 1959 R60 and through to R75/5, R80RT, R1100RT, R1150RT, R1100R, R1200RT, R1200GS ansd now I have the best of both worlds!!

A 1973 LWL R75/5 rebuilt over 8 months and a 2010 R1200GSA. See photo.

You can't compare bike for bike over the span of my two bikes. In it's day the R75/5 (first "new" BMW from Spandau Factory, Berlin in 1969-1973) was in it's day an excellent bike though much more expensive than most British bikes of the day.
Today this R75/5 is a joy to ride - quiet, easy to move around, simple to maintain and now a "classic".

The current R1200GS (electronic controlled BMW) is also excellent in it's own way.
Comfortable, superb brakes and suspenion, great luggage capacity and made for long distance riding.

Yes, I have the best of both worlds!!

Safe riding,
Mike Davies

 

[ChasF]

I'm with David Nimrod in as far as, for me the 1200GS wouldn't do anything that my R100GS already does well enough but motorcycle manufacturers 'innovation' is driven by market research which tells them that most buyers want more ccs.

Personally, I don't think there is any substitute for capacity (to a point) so I wouldn't be looking at smaller capacity bikes. Unfortunately, all manufacturers are forced towards oilhead and water cooled moters because of the ever increasing legislation on noise and pollution.

Modern innovations like fuel injection have become simpler as they've been developed over the years but the issue for me with these modern bikes is the fact that they often can't be repaired at the roadside by an averagely competant mechanic.

It'll take a braver company than BMW to design and launch the perfect bike for long distance travel/touring - where's the profit in that

 

[fayeslane]

Precisely!

I genuinely believe that my R100GS won't hold me back (it'll be me holding it back), and owning a brand new 1200 would allow me to do absolutely nothing more than my airhead does... and it'd cost a hell of a lot more

I'm with David Nimrod in as far as, for me the 1200GS wouldn't do anything that my R100GS already does well enough

I went the other way from R100GSPD TO 1200GS as an every day ride because I wanted a greater safety margin particularly brakes and handling. The reduced capacity to do roadside repairs is the trade off. Had an incident the other day which would have been very ugly on the PD but technology (ABS & traction control) meant that I escaped needing only a change of undies

I agree with Mike that a combo of the old and the new is about right (plus a dirt bike, plus, plus........you know how it goes)

 

[piebaps]

Low on power, difficult to start, occaisionally leaks, sometimes backfires, ....................



Oh dear

You forgot - and the Mrs refuses to get on it!!

 

[fayeslane]

You forgot - and the Mrs refuses to get on it!!

 

[pikeydave]

I'd be happy with 100mph, 50mpg plus,

Ah, just described my GS

What? At the same time?

 

[David Nimrod]

What? At the same time?

Be serious

 

[tuftywhite]

So, what have we learned.

New technology is great as long as there's something older in the shed. I can see that. Even my wife has started using the plural when I say I will need space at our new house for my motorbikes. This may be the answer. Also, I think it will be a smaller single purpose bike, along with the R69s should one ever come my way. (cream with two seats if anyone is interested)

Also learned that faster/bigger isn't always better. I agree with David. I very much bottle out before the bike's ability is called into question. A faster bike would only put me in a hedge sooner or with more velocity. The fact that the brakes on mine are merely an encouragement to slow down, stops me from being the speed demon I am in my head (certainly not on the road).

Thank you for your comments, it has been an interesting thread.

Verdict: I need to own more bikes.

 

[David Nimrod]

I very much bottle out before the bike's ability is called into question.

Speed simply means (in Touring terms) seeing less of what you're riding through...

I travel first, and ride second

(Not as pretentious as it sounds... I hope )

 

[how much for a service!]

Speed simply means (in Touring terms) seeing less of what you're riding through...

I travel first, and ride second

(Not as pretentious as it sounds... I hope )

just changed my KTM 990 adventure (had no idea how to service it let alone fix it!)
for a 100GS and maybe get an old 100RT for the winter perfect!