Are Air-Cooled Motorcycles Suitable for Long-Distance Travel?
3 Answers
Air-cooled motorcycles are not suitable for long-distance travel. Here are the specific details about air-cooled motorcycles: 1. Working Principle: An air-cooled engine is a type of engine that uses air as the cooling medium, which is different from other engines. The air-cooled engine has cooling fins cast on the outer walls of the cylinder and cylinder head. A high-speed fan then blows air over these fins to dissipate heat and achieve cooling. 2. Engine Advantages: Simple structure, lightweight, etc. Additionally, air-cooled engines are easy to maintain, inexpensive, do not require a radiator, and start much faster compared to other engines. 3. Considerations for Long-Distance Travel: Prolonged operation can lead to overheating, potentially damaging the motorcycle engine. It is necessary to wait for the engine to cool down before continuing to ride.
I've been riding this CB400 for five years and have completed four cross-province long-distance trips. The key to running an air-cooled engine on long trips lies in controlling the rhythm, especially during summer when climbing continuous slopes on highways or mountain roads—the radiator fins can exceed 100 degrees Celsius. It's advisable to stop for 20 minutes every one or two hours to let the engine cool down, and choose a high-quality full synthetic oil with good high-temperature performance. Last July during a trip around Hainan Island, I barely dared to maintain 60 km/h during the midday heat, and even avoided revving into the red zone when overtaking. If you frequently ride mountains or long distances, a liquid-cooled bike is indeed more worry-free, but with proper maintenance, an air-cooled engine can still do the job.
Last week, I just helped a motorcycle traveler riding a GN125 fix his engine that had seized due to overheating. Air-cooled motorcycles aren't unsuitable for long-distance trips, but extreme conditions should be avoided. A small-displacement single-cylinder engine cruising at 60 km/h on flat national roads is fine, but if you're carrying heavy loads uphill or riding in desert heat, machines without forced air cooling can easily overheat. It's recommended to install an oil cooler, and when riding on plateaus, adjust the fuel mixture to be leaner. Don't skimp on oil—always use MA2-certified oil. I've seen too many cases of engines seizing due to overheating, with riders pushing their bikes into repair shops. If you really want to go on long trips, prioritize water-cooled engines.
