The Old Wise One and I finished up my prototype mount for a heat fix for the pre-'06 FJRs. I have results.
Today, I took a 177 mile test ride in ambient temperatures of 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with dew points in the high 50's to low 60's. There were little or no clouds and the sun was at his surly best. Generally uncomfortable riding on the Cobalt Cooker in the past. In these types of weather conditions the FJR would exhibit a tank warm enough to boil gas at an extended stop. My left thigh and nads would be very uncomfortable with air in the 130 degree range or warmer I estimate eminating from the left side of the bike. The tank would be warm enough to almost burn your thigh if you were riding in shorts(I know, SQUID!) and you let it touch the tank. Others here have reported the same conditions or worse on warmer days.
The Old Wise One and I embarked on fitting a set of Baker HandWings onto the Cobalt Cooker yesterday. Today's ride yielded the following observations:
The gas tank on the FJR, was COOL to the touch with slightly less than half a payload of fuel. In the past it would have been HOT, almost too hot to touch.
Left side heat, all heat for that matter, was gone above the ankle. Still have a little WARM air dirfting out across my left ankle, but not the HOT blast it was in the past.
The wings work wonders above 15mph or so. Below that it is the same old Cobalt Cooker.
In summary I would declare the heat issue solved on my '05. It is now as cool to ride as my '89VR. I am looking forward to the trek across the country to WFO no matter how warm it is!
Here are pics. Our mount is a simple prototype and involved drilling and tapping the stalks of the mirrors. Our next gen will be a little more refined and probably not adjustable to keep costs down. I may even look at really cheap bend and clamp strap type mount.
Today, I took a 177 mile test ride in ambient temperatures of 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with dew points in the high 50's to low 60's. There were little or no clouds and the sun was at his surly best. Generally uncomfortable riding on the Cobalt Cooker in the past. In these types of weather conditions the FJR would exhibit a tank warm enough to boil gas at an extended stop. My left thigh and nads would be very uncomfortable with air in the 130 degree range or warmer I estimate eminating from the left side of the bike. The tank would be warm enough to almost burn your thigh if you were riding in shorts(I know, SQUID!) and you let it touch the tank. Others here have reported the same conditions or worse on warmer days.
The Old Wise One and I embarked on fitting a set of Baker HandWings onto the Cobalt Cooker yesterday. Today's ride yielded the following observations:
The gas tank on the FJR, was COOL to the touch with slightly less than half a payload of fuel. In the past it would have been HOT, almost too hot to touch.
Left side heat, all heat for that matter, was gone above the ankle. Still have a little WARM air dirfting out across my left ankle, but not the HOT blast it was in the past.
The wings work wonders above 15mph or so. Below that it is the same old Cobalt Cooker.
In summary I would declare the heat issue solved on my '05. It is now as cool to ride as my '89VR. I am looking forward to the trek across the country to WFO no matter how warm it is!
Here are pics. Our mount is a simple prototype and involved drilling and tapping the stalks of the mirrors. Our next gen will be a little more refined and probably not adjustable to keep costs down. I may even look at really cheap bend and clamp strap type mount.
