Oilhead vs. Airhead - what are the differences?

43912 said:

There is good reason race bikes (where feedback is critical to the rider) don't use telelever..

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And there is good reason touring bikes aren't used as race bikes.

To me the telelever makes so much sense from a purely mechanical standpoint that it remains one of several reasons I've continued to ride BMWs since it was introduced. BMW recognizes it’s not suited for ultra-high performance machines (S1000RR) but for real world, high mileage touring it works just fine.

Honda must see some advantages by using a version of it on the new Goldwing.

Additionally, after almost 20 years of having read people complain about lack of "feedback" I have to wonder if they would know what feedback was if it slapped them in face. If somehow I'm missing it while on my S,R or RT its fine with me.

GIARCG said:

Additionally, after almost 20 years of having read people complain about lack of "feedback" I have to wonder if they would know what feedback was if it slapped them in face. If somehow I'm missing it while on my S,R or RT its fine with me.

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I've tested an RS and an RT recently. The rides were about an hour and a half each and on everything from highways to twisty hilly roads. I didn't like the RT's feel. It was vague in my opinion. I felt like I was disconnected from the front end.

The RS on the other hand, felt great, confidence inspiring.

daboo said:

I've tested an RS and an RT recently. The rides were about an hour and a half each and on everything from highways to twisty hilly roads. I didn't like the RT's feel. It was vague in my opinion. I felt like I was disconnected from the front end.

The RS on the other hand, felt great, confidence inspiring.

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I have R1150RT and an R1150GS. The GS runs circles around the RT. The GS is pleasure in the twisties, the RT is work.

Hi Paul, if given that choice I'd take a brand new '69 VW bug to a vett but I'm kind of a Ford guy anyway.

I know what you mean HW when you talk about that handful of throttle. Get on an FJR and you'll just go bonkers. The bike I'd like to own would be a new european FJR with the clutchless paddle shift. You can open the throttle to wide open then just fan the paddle and up she goes and smooth as glass. Man, would I like to get my hands on one of those and it even has electronic suspension. Would I throw my RSL into the deal? Nope!

Also, because of BMW's track record with transmissions I would have some concerns with a new wethead with its wet clutch and integrated transmission. Talk about an expense were there a trans problem off warrantee. Then we have the final drive history and then we have the cost of little things like the first service. BMW dependability is not rated very highly by many so take it from there. I tend to keep cars and motorcycles a minimum of 10 years so reliability weighs heavy on my buying decisions. My RSL was built in 06/93 with an M93 transmission which was rapidly replaced several months later by the M94 which soon proved to have its own issues, just the way BMW operates. It took how many years to finally perfect the airhead transmission? At least until around 1985.

GIARCG said:

And there is good reason touring bikes aren't used as race bikes.

To me the telelever makes so much sense from a purely mechanical standpoint that it remains one of several reasons I've continued to ride BMWs since it was introduced. BMW recognizes it’s not suited for ultra-high performance machines (S1000RR) but for real world, high mileage touring it works just fine.

Honda must see some advantages by using a version of it on the new Goldwing.

Additionally, after almost 20 years of having read people complain about lack of "feedback" I have to wonder if they would know what feedback was if it slapped them in face. If somehow I'm missing it while on my S,R or RT its fine with me.

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I fully agree. I love the telelever for real-world riding on the street. The absence of significant brake dive leaves the suspension with almost full travel to deal with road irregularities under hard braking. Any perceived reduction in feedback really isn’t significant in this context.