Air-cooled Engine

When someone says they have an air-cooled motorcycle engine they are describing a motorcycle engine that is cooled by air, not coolant. Most air-cooled motorcycle engines have cooling fins that surround the cylinder and cylinder head to provide more surface area for cooling. The cooling fins help to dissipate heat when air passes over them. Many motorcycle engines have an aluminum cylinder with cooling fins and a steel sleeve insert.

Some complaints with air-cooled engines is that they are prone to overheating which results in power loss; the engines make more noise because of the absence of the water-jacket that water-cooled engines have; and they were prone to seizing during off-road water-crossings. Still some desert racers will swear by their simplicity and durability – “you don’t have to deal with sand and mud clogging up your radiator.”