European Bikes

[bob]

The term in the industry is "free spinning engine"  -  as in: "Is the engine free spinning or not?"   Meaning that if the timing chain (or belt) breaks & the cam(s) stop with one or more valves open will the piston(s) hit it(them) on the way up.  The answer is that the GS is NOT a free spinning engine & the piston WILL hit a valve if the cam chain breaks & one of the valves is left in the open position.  This same thing will happen, of course, if the cam timing is off enough regardless whether the reason is a broken chain or mis-assembly or whatever.

As far as the dent in the piston issue, just blend the dent out a  little bit, put on some new rings & put 'er back together.

BTW, most modern bike engines are not free spinning, many cars with cam chains are not free spinning & most cars with belt driven cams are free spinning...