[DrBob]

You can't mmake a blanket statement that water cooled motors make more power or last longer, because it simply isn't true. There are many, many factors that determine power output and longevity. And it's not like you could find motors that are identical other than the presence of water, oil, or air cooling, because you simply could not design a motor the same way with just that change. There are bikes with all three types of cooling that have reputations for lasting forever, and bikes with all three types that have reputations for being short lived. For example, both liquid cooled BMW and air-cooled BMW twins have reputations for longevity that approach god-like status, while the miriad of Chinese makes have reputations for being junk no matter if they are liquid or air cooled. Water-cooled Suzuki Intruder 800s have the reputation for lasting longer than air cooled Intruder 1400s, but the water cooled V-rod does not have the reputation for lasting nearly as long as the air-cooled Twin Cam 96. It all goes to show that there is no single factor, like type of cooling, that makes one design better than another.

The good news for your friend is that my local HOG chapter alone has at least 12 or 14 members with more than 150,000 on their original Twin Cam motors, and I personally know 2 with over 250,000. Your C50 should last a gool long time also, though I think 200,000 is a bit optomistic for a Suzuki 805cc, based on what owners here, Volusia riders, and Intruder Alert report for engine life. But if you take care of it, I would be very surprised if it did not reach at least 100k- 130K. I got 135K trouble-free miles out a Suzuki Intruder 800, which has a somewhat similar motor.

Oh, and the EPA is NOT going to mandate water cooling. And if you check, their webpage specifically states that all the do is dictate how much junk comes out the tailpipe, and unlike cars they do not care or even recommend what technologies the motorcycle manufacturer uses as long as their bikes pass. That rumor started a few years ago when the EPA said they were going to tighten emmissions standards for motorcycles for the first time since 1979. The ABATE folks stired up a bunch of hub-bub about it year before last, and how air cooled motors would go away and all bikes would have to have a catalitic converter, in an effort to get people to lobby to prevent the change in standards. But the new standards actually kicked in last year, with another increase in a couple years. The Harley Twin Cam 96; the Victory Freedom 100; the Indian Power Plus; and the S&S X-Wedge, Pandemonium, and Twin-cam; are all air cooled motors that were designed after the new standards were passed. And other air cooled offering from BMW, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha all meet both the new and coming standards just fine, even though they were designed before the standards. So there is absolutely no truth that air cooled motors are going away.

Ride safe- time to go home.