Will BMW's Change Suspension Forever?
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729 Posts
Re: Will BMW's innovative technology change motorcycling suspension forever?
That's true for now, but stick with me kid and I'll convince you of the righteousness of the hillbilly way.
That's true for now, but stick with me kid and I'll convince you of the righteousness of the hillbilly way.
Re: Will BMW's innovative technology change motorcycling suspension forever?
My mountain bike runs an air shock. I wonder if it is the same thing? I also thought that Fournales made air shocks and some BMs had them. I also wonder how reliable the shock will be in high heat/humidity environments. Looks like the high pressure syringe pump I have for the push bike will come in handy.
My mountain bike runs an air shock. I wonder if it is the same thing? I also thought that Fournales made air shocks and some BMs had them. I also wonder how reliable the shock will be in high heat/humidity environments. Looks like the high pressure syringe pump I have for the push bike will come in handy.
Re: Will BMW's innovative technology change motorcycling suspension forever?
I don't really know **** from squat when it comes to engineering, but this little bit caught my eye ...
Plus, god help me, I think this BMW actually looks kinda cool.
I don't really know **** from squat when it comes to engineering, but this little bit caught my eye ...
Hmmmm ... so I wonder if this speed-related damping adjustment means that the shock dynamically accommodates different types of "hits" to the suspension (a la high speed vs. low speed damping)? Sounds interesting.
Plus, god help me, I think this BMW actually looks kinda cool.
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446 Posts
Production
I'll take the street motard version...any damn place I please.
I'll take the street motard version...any damn place I please.
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446 Posts
Re: Production
By the way...I'm back.
By the way...I'm back.
Re: Will BMW's innovative technology change motorcycling suspension forever?
Well, my both my flat twins scrape the pegs before the heads (R65, R1200GS) so not all flat twins actually do that. And no, it ain't stupid to hang 'em out in the breeze where they run quite a bit cooler either. They also make life a lot nicer on your feet on those sub 32F rides and maintenance is a real snap as well.
Well, my both my flat twins scrape the pegs before the heads (R65, R1200GS) so not all flat twins actually do that. And no, it ain't stupid to hang 'em out in the breeze where they run quite a bit cooler either. They also make life a lot nicer on your feet on those sub 32F rides and maintenance is a real snap as well.
Re: Will BMW's innovative technology change motorcycling suspension forever?
Whats so radical about air suspension? I have had Fournales on a bike since 1978. The BMW system seems like a development of them, with more user adjustability. They do work great for road use.
Whats so radical about air suspension? I have had Fournales on a bike since 1978. The BMW system seems like a development of them, with more user adjustability. They do work great for road use.
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3,415 Posts
Re: Will BMW's innovative technology change motorcycling suspension forever?
It's true, the XA model was a 45 inch flat sidevalve twin designed for Africa. Pretty rare, even harder to find are XA springers because back in the day they were the same diameter as one of the Ford models radius arms. They could be extended by cutting off about half the leg and welding a Ford arm in place.
This was before you could buy anything you want from the catalog. If you wanted a bobber or chop. you had to actually build it yourself..
It's true, the XA model was a 45 inch flat sidevalve twin designed for Africa. Pretty rare, even harder to find are XA springers because back in the day they were the same diameter as one of the Ford models radius arms. They could be extended by cutting off about half the leg and welding a Ford arm in place.
This was before you could buy anything you want from the catalog. If you wanted a bobber or chop. you had to actually build it yourself..
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5,447 Posts
Re: Points not electronic....
But not the points. Flimsy cheap phenolic and weak sheet metal construction. I use to break dozens of 'em every month. Either the phenolic would break or crack, or the metal would fatigue and snap. Oc course, this was on a Jawa, but they were the same animal. (Never seemed to bother me on my 250 chay zed though). Finally fixed it by constructing a set of SOLID STEEL points with a Honda 90 phenolic, and Chevy stovebolt spring, held together with a 440 screw. Never broke after that.
Anyway, I was thinking about the Femsatronic they put in the Falta replica around 1975. What's that smell? Fry sizzle....
But not the points. Flimsy cheap phenolic and weak sheet metal construction. I use to break dozens of 'em every month. Either the phenolic would break or crack, or the metal would fatigue and snap. Oc course, this was on a Jawa, but they were the same animal. (Never seemed to bother me on my 250 chay zed though). Finally fixed it by constructing a set of SOLID STEEL points with a Honda 90 phenolic, and Chevy stovebolt spring, held together with a 440 screw. Never broke after that.
Anyway, I was thinking about the Femsatronic they put in the Falta replica around 1975. What's that smell? Fry sizzle....
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441 Posts
I dont' know if it makes a difference to you, but I think that's $21,500 in Australian dollars. That's more like $16,650 US... still too rich for my blood.
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5,447 Posts
No, it's not the price. It the maintenance.
Seals break, get dirty, or wear and the air leaks out. I use to carry around a 10 speed bicycle pump back in the 80's when air forks were all the rage.
Springs work just as good, and don't "leak".
Air suspension gets reincarnated every decade or so, and forgotten again soon after.
Seals break, get dirty, or wear and the air leaks out. I use to carry around a 10 speed bicycle pump back in the 80's when air forks were all the rage.
Springs work just as good, and don't "leak".
Air suspension gets reincarnated every decade or so, and forgotten again soon after.
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