Nikasil cylinder/Heat

[wilcom]

I've only owned one BMW with Nikasil cylinders, a 82 R80. I've always thought that the Nikasil  liners on the 82 dissipated more heat than the ones without.

That 82 would blister my ankles without boots on a hot day

Anything to that? Maybe it was just warmer the years I owned that R80..................

[wilcom]

Maybe it was just warmer the years I owned that R80..................  

After reading a whole bunch of metallurgy stuff and wading thru GM production costs of cylinders( yyada yada yada) I found the answer in the good ol' Wikki.

" The aluminium cylinders also gave a much better heat conductivity than cast iron liners, "

That's why that R80 would burn my feet off in the summer time. A double edged sword to be sure. Burns your feet but gets the heat out of the motor

[nhmaf]

Just look at it this way - adding an extra 4-5mm of iron sleeve is going to increase the amount of thermal resistance to the outside alloy of the cylinder compared to the very thin Nikasil coating on the alloy

[wilcom]

I remember the Nikasil bike was VERY VERY uncomfortable in the summer time. A definite consideration when choosing between two bike. If I were going to put the miles on like a car it would be a no brainer which way to go.

Cars are different as you're not straddling the freaking motor so who cares about the heat, wear is the issue.

But on a bike  I never plan to wear out, do I really need neat last a long lasting  cylinders? I think not, I'll go with the comfort