Is Boxer Durability Unsurpassed?

[Oaktown]

As I was driving home from the lumberyard yesterday, I took a call from a sub I needed to speak with that I had been missing all day. Using a cell phone while driving without a "hands free device" is illegal in CA (even though I've lost count of how many cops I've seen chatting on their phones). So of course I am distracted and do not notice the CHP moto until he is pulling me over. As usual for the CHP: very polite and professional and yes, you are going to get written. I told the officer that I ride an R1200R and that my understanding was that they (CHP) were giving up their BMWs. He said that's right and then I asked if he was looking forward to riding the Kawasaki. He replied that he had been, but that deal fell through and that they were going with Harleys (!) He said that the BMWs had been great bikes and that BMW had a deal that essentially gave the CHP the bikes. Now that program has ended and the miles were piling up along with maintenance expenses, hence the switch. What I found amazing (and the purpose of my post) is that the officer told me that they used to sell the bikes @ 60,000 miles, but that many were now @ 160,000-170,000 miles! He said that they ride the bikes really, really hard and that he doubted any other bike could last for so long. What do others think? Can any bike outlast a Boxer?

[Karamazov]

I lived in Austin for many years, and the police there had switched from Harley to BMW. Most of the officers I talked to didn't seem thrilled about giving up their hogs. Lone Star BMW did the service for the fleet, and if I remember correctly they "retired" the bikes at 50k. I remember being taken back, thinking 'that's barely broken in'. I would suspect a Kawasaki would have lower overall maintenance costs, despite the reliability of the boxer. But it seems to me Harley would be just as expensive (if not more) to maintain than a BMW - unless HD takes a hit on the deal to keep law enforcement on their bikes.

But to answer your question, I think the best testament to BMW reliability is the overwhelming amount of high mileage riders that flock to the brand. If you tour long distances, run 15-25k miles a year, participate in rallies or endurance events, and plan to keep the same bike for 100k+ miles, there's a good chance you'll find yourself on a BMW. That's a solid endorsement in my opinion.

[Mister Moo]

Great question. And I have no idea other than knowledge of the inherent balance of the engines. That must add up to longer life over long periods. The local Raleigh PD run R12R's hard and like them, I am told. Retirement is 60K miles (in about a year) and those bikes are up for resale with warranty by the local dealer. I considered one but decided not to deal with the seat design issues related to radio-stack storage. Either way I eneded up with a used bike and 60K, no complaints.

wiki sez: "Boxers are one of only three cylinder layouts that have a natural dynamic balance; the others being the straight-six and the V12. These engines can run very smoothly and free of unbalanced forces with a four-stroke cycle, and they do not require a balance shaft or counterweights on the crankshaft to balance the weight of the reciprocating parts, which are required in other engine configurations. This is generally true of boxer engines regardless of the number of cylinders (assumed to be even), but not true for all V or inline engines. However, in the case of boxer engines with fewer than six cylinders, unbalanced moments (a reciprocating torque also known as a "rocking couple") are unavoidable due to the "opposite" cylinders being slightly out of line with each other.

Boxer engines (and flat engines in general) tend to be noisier than other common engines for both intrinsic and other reasons. In cars, for example, valve clatter from under the hood is not damped by large air filters and other components. Boxers need no balance weights on the crankshaft, which is lighter and fast-accelerating. They have a characteristic smoothness throughout the rev range and offer a low centre of gravity."

[Bill Stevenson]

Motorcycle Consumer News published a two part article on the fleet of motorcycles used by the Arizona HP perhaps 4-5 years ago. They had Honda ST, HD, and R bikes (I think R1150s). The riders preferred the Beemers to ride overall, but the Hondas had the lowest overall costs and the best reliability and lowest warranty problems by far.

Bill

[Karamazov]

Motorcycle Consumer News published a two part article on the fleet of motorcycles used by the Arizona HP perhaps 4-5 years ago. They had Honda ST, HD, and R bikes (I think R1150s). The riders preferred the Beemers to ride overall, but the Hondas had the lowest overall costs and the best reliability and lowest warranty problems by far.

Good article, thanks. For those who are interested: Article

[MarkShelley]

The Honda VFR750 motors do massive mileages

[rad]

The Honda VFR750 motors do massive mileages

Oh my, the only motor I loved more than a boxer, my two Honda V4's



The V4 is hiding behind another motor I liked

[dbrick]

Oh my, the only motor I loved more than a boxer, my two Honda V4's.

But ya didn't like setting the valves, did you?

[MarkShelley]

Oh my, the only motor I loved more than a boxer, my two Honda V4's.

But ya didn't like setting the valves, did you?

But they only need doing every 16K by the book, but rarely actually need any adjustment therefore a lot of riders ignore them until there is a telltale sign that they may need doing.

[rad]

Oh my, the only motor I loved more than a boxer, my two Honda V4's.

But ya didn't like setting the valves, did you?

Hi David

Why is that blue guy jumping up and down? As for the valves, true? I do not miss that adjustment process. This is part of what you do just to check them, yup, just to check them, not even adjust them.



Now back to the boxer motor, the one in my new to me R may not be as smooth as my V4's,but it sure comes close....no blue guy