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Good name for the "new" R bike BMWs


johnlt

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We've got airheads, oilheads and hexheads. What are we going to call the new BMWs. "Camheads" possibly?

 

With all that fancy profile grinding of the cams and followers and radial valves - "knucklehead" should do it!

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Dennis Andress
With all that fancy profile grinding of the cams and followers and radial valves - "knucklehead" should do it!

 

I like Knuckleheads...

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With all that fancy profile grinding of the cams and followers and radial valves - "knucklehead" should do it!

 

I like Knuckleheads...

 

and when they break we'll call them "Deadheads".

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My vote goes for shaftheads.

Cam is a slang term for camshaft.

By using the word shaft, it connotes other meanings that may or may not be applicable as the new engine becomes more common.

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This is one of those topics that took some reflection before a measured response. The most controversial feature of the new R motors is using shims to adjust the valves, right? So 'Shim Head' must be a consideration in my book. :lurk:

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The new motor has dual OVERHEAD cams.

I'd call them overheads.

 

--

Mikko

 

My choice also. It describes their most significant feature which would make it the more logical.

 

Although, coneheads is pretty funny and these newer bikes are becoming laughable at times. :)

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My vote goes for ShimHead. For the DIY crowd THAT is probably the most significant aspect of the new model.

 

From some future do-it-yourself doc (yet to be written):

 

"Valve adjusment: Steps 39-53: cam shaft removal:

 

Make sure that the index lines on the right cylinder cam sprocket are facing outward and that the No. 2 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke. Remove the cam sprocket bolts from the intake and exhaust camshafts, being careful not to drop the cam sprocket bolts into the crankcase. Turn the crankshaft one full turn, remove the other cam sprocket bolts from the camshafts. Turn the left cylinder cam chain tensioner lifter shaft fully in (clockwise) and secure it using the stopper tool. Remove the bolts and cam guide. If necessary, remove the cam sprocket from the camshaft. Mark the camshaft holder A for identification at installation. Loosen and remove the camshaft holder B bolts gradually in several steps and remove the camshaft holder B. Loosen the camshaft holder A bolts and then remove the camshaft holder A..." **

 

** Note: plagerized from the ST1300 shop manual

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The “oilhead” and “hexhead” have cam in head, so “Camhead” isn’t really appropriate, isn’t really a distinguisher. Hexhead was based on a look (of the valve cover), but oilhead was base on a functional design change (from airhead). Tough one to sort out. I guess I’d vote “Shimhead.”

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My vote goes for ShimHead. For the DIY crowd THAT is probably the most significant aspect of the new model.

 

From some future do-it-yourself doc (yet to be written):

 

"Valve adjusment: Steps 39-53: cam shaft removal:

 

Make sure that the index lines on the right cylinder cam sprocket are facing outward and that the No. 2 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke. Remove the cam sprocket bolts from the intake and exhaust camshafts, being careful not to drop the cam sprocket bolts into the crankcase. Turn the crankshaft one full turn, remove the other cam sprocket bolts from the camshafts. Turn the left cylinder cam chain tensioner lifter shaft fully in (clockwise) and secure it using the stopper tool. Remove the bolts and cam guide. If necessary, remove the cam sprocket from the camshaft. Mark the camshaft holder A for identification at installation. Loosen and remove the camshaft holder B bolts gradually in several steps and remove the camshaft holder B. Loosen the camshaft holder A bolts and then remove the camshaft holder A..." **

 

** Note: plagerized from the ST1300 shop manual

 

That's good. Is it possible a valve adjustment with shims is an attempt by BMW to discourage DIY and force owners to bring them to dealers for maintenance?

 

Shafthead could be the best name for it.

I can think of one cage that is at this level now. The Toyota Prius has no owner serviceable areas on it. It must go to the dealer for maintenance, no independent shops will touch it.

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My vote goes for ShimHead. For the DIY crowd THAT is probably the most significant aspect of the new model.

 

From some future do-it-yourself doc (yet to be written):

 

"Valve adjusment: Steps 39-53: cam shaft removal:

 

Make sure that the index lines on the right cylinder cam sprocket are facing outward and that the No. 2 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke. Remove the cam sprocket bolts from the intake and exhaust camshafts, being careful not to drop the cam sprocket bolts into the crankcase. Turn the crankshaft one full turn, remove the other cam sprocket bolts from the camshafts. Turn the left cylinder cam chain tensioner lifter shaft fully in (clockwise) and secure it using the stopper tool. Remove the bolts and cam guide. If necessary, remove the cam sprocket from the camshaft. Mark the camshaft holder A for identification at installation. Loosen and remove the camshaft holder B bolts gradually in several steps and remove the camshaft holder B. Loosen the camshaft holder A bolts and then remove the camshaft holder A..." **

 

** Note: plagerized from the ST1300 shop manual

 

That's good. Is it possible a valve adjustment with shims is an attempt by BMW to discourage DIY and force owners to bring them to dealers for maintenance?

 

Shafthead could be the best name for it.

I can think of one cage that is at this level now. The Toyota Prius has no owner serviceable areas on it. It must go to the dealer for maintenance, no independent shops will touch it.

 

That seems like a crappy deal. I don't think it would be wise for motorcycle manufacturers and developers to engineer machines that are unserviceable by DIY Owners. It takes away half the hobby!

 

Then again, we all have been drinking the kool-aid and probably will eventually be forced to buy crazy, dealership saving machines in the future. Lets just hope that someone can hack the safety tape.

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I consider the boxer one of the DIY mechanic's best friends. Compared to all the japanese bikes I've owned, the boxer is way easier to maintain. Did my valves for the first time solo last night and what a breeze. Since we aren't going to have to remove the cams on the new motor it's still going to be quite easy compared to a metric cruiser where a valve check is a near total disassembly to get to the valves.

 

I just dont see the "shaft" part.

 

I had read on some other board people calling them "camheads" so I assumed that was more universal. You do see the cam on the new engine when you take the valve covers off. Besides, camhead sounds better than shimhead which sounds suspiciously like shi*head.

 

Perhaps we should run a poll!

 

JT

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Personally, I like SHIMHEAD, but I have a vested interest in that one. I earned the knickname from a parts man at a Nissan dealer I worked at in the 80's because I insisted we stock the 30 odd shim sizes I was always using when rebuilding Maxima front wheel drive automatic transmissions. However, despite my fondness for my unique knickname/username, I will be willing to share for a fee.....

 

 

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Overheads
Believe it or not, I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning and this popped into my 'head': DoubleOverHead. I liked the double (triple??) entendre of being both a DOHC and the doubled overhead (labor) of setting the valves. Its a bit long though... ShimHead still works too.
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That seems like a crappy deal. I don't think it would be wise for motorcycle manufacturers and developers to engineer machines that are unserviceable by DIY Owners. It takes away half the hobby!
It's not so much that shim bucket valves are unservicable, as it is that they are more complex and require more effort to service - when they need it. And there is probably little difference between shim mechanism on the new beemers and the shim mechanism on thoxe Suzi 650s.

 

Checking the valve clearance is not much of an issue, and would be easier on a new beemer because the heads are more accessible. Setting them, if they need setting, is another issue. But, these mechanisms *should* require less frequent setting.

 

My concern would be that up to now, setting the valve clearance on a boxer has been an integral part of the tuning process (along with TB sync, etc.) to reduce surging and enhance smoothness. But the shims come in defined sizes (you have to buy several different sizes if you want to fiddle) and are not that easy to change. In some cases, the DIY process would be to remove the covers, check the clearance, go to the dealer, get the correct size shims, go home and install them.

 

And for those who say that surging has been fixed in the 1200's, my riding buddy with an '07 RT would unfortnately disagree.

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If the cam lobes are conical, how about Cone Heads?

 

Bob

 

I vote conehead as well..........because.........I don't know??!!

It's just a catchy (?) word.

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Overheads
Believe it or not, I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning and this popped into my 'head': DoubleOverHead. I liked the double (triple??) entendre of being both a DOHC and the doubled overhead (labor) of setting the valves. Its a bit long though... ShimHead still works too.

 

Doppelknocker

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BMWMOA had a poll :

As far as a new name for the engine/forum :

Camhead came 1st

Arrowhead came 2nd.

 

I like Arrowhead....as it does look like an Arrowhead and Camhead is, IMHO, redundant!

 

 

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BMWMOA had a poll :

As far as a new name for the engine/forum :

Camhead came 1st

Arrowhead came 2nd.

 

I like Arrowhead....as it does look like an Arrowhead and Camhead is, IMHO, redundant!

 

 

I liked Camhead, but maybe that's because I suggested it and won a shirt when it came first in the MOA poll. :grin:

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Yah - I think camhead is more descriptive as it calls attention to the cams as being different than the other engines. It's the first mass-market DOHC boxer and it's a short, sweet name.

 

Poll!

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If the dealer conspiracy theorists are correct, and the new motor is designed to discourage DIY service, than they should be called "overheads," simply because bringing them in for service will help to offset the dealers' overhead expenses.

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With all that fancy profile grinding of the cams and followers and radial valves - "knucklehead" should do it!

 

I like Knuckleheads...

 

and when they break we'll call them "Deadheads".

Doesn't HD already own BOTH those appelations? :grin:

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