Adjustable Cowlings

[deagle]

Well count me as one that had that wrong. I had thought opening the wings up let some of the hot air through those 3 holes (while increasing fairing size and pushing out cold oncomming wind blast). With them closed I thought the hot air was swept somewhere else away from the rider. I was using the same principle as when on my 2004 I would put up the windscreen and could feel the temp change in the cockpit.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Well count me as one that had that wrong. I had thought opening the wings up let some of the hot air through those 3 holes (while increasing fairing size and pushing out cold oncomming wind blast). With them closed I thought the hot air was swept somewhere else away from the rider. I was using the same principle as when on my 2004 I would put up the windscreen and could feel the temp change in the cockpit.

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Don't sweat it, you aint messing anything up. As stated earlier, there is VERY LITTLE difference between open and closed.

 

[Old Bear]

I'm so confused.....

OK, let's get this straight-OUT for cold weather, IN for warm, but it doens't make much difference??

I've had mine IN, temps down into the teens...got by OK except for my toes , 'course I was dressed pretty warm :yahoo:

 

[Harald]

I'm amazed this hasn't ended up in NEPRT yet. There's never been a consensus on what the cowlings do and Yamaha's description is no help.

My experience is that the cowling out helps keep my legs warmer in the winter. I regularly ride in temps down into the 20's and 30's and the legs seem warmer with the cowlings out. This is probably because more cold air is deflected away from the legs. I looked at the cowlings and don't really see any ducting that's opened or closed by moving the panels, so it must just be a wind blocking feature. YMMV.

 

[trvler48]

I am going to try it in different conditions. Here in California, it was 80 degrees yesterday. I could really feel the heat on my legs and thighs (2006 AE). Today, I put the cowlings out to see if I feel any difference. I too thought the closed position meant the rider was protected from the heat. A group of us are going for a ride this afternoon, so I will report back later.

This is my first sport-tourer (cruiser convert), and I am surprised about how much heat this puts out. I am simply not use to it. I haven't felt the heat until temps reached above 75 degrees. Before, I have always test drove in temps around 60 degrees, so I never really noticed it. The overall consensus I read on the forums and chat boards before I bought the bike was the 2006 addressed the "heat issue," so I can't imagine what it was like before. The heat isn't unbearable, but noticeable. Confessions of a newbie. But, what a ride!!!

 

[SouthernCruizer]

I am going to try it in different conditions. Here in California, it was 80 degrees yesterday. I could really feel the heat on my legs and thighs (2006 AE). Today, I put the cowlings out to see if I feel any difference. I too thought the closed position meant the rider was protected from the heat. A group of us are going for a ride this afternoon, so I will report back later.
This is my first sport-tourer (cruiser convert), and I am surprised about how much heat this puts out. I am simply not use to it. I haven't felt the heat until temps reached above 75 degrees. Before, I have always test drove in temps around 60 degrees, so I never really noticed it. The overall consensus I read on the forums and chat boards before I bought the bike was the 2006 addressed the "heat issue," so I can't imagine what it was like before. The heat isn't unbearable, but noticeable. Confessions of a newbie. But, what a ride!!!

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You need to remember that with a cruiser, the engine is mounted in open space, so the heat has a chance to dissapate better when moving. Any large displacement, faired bike like your trusty FJR 1300 will put out heat because the engine compartment is so closed. You will get used to it. I had an '04 model before my current '08, and got used to it even in hot/humid 100 deg heat of south louisiana. I have to admit though, the 2008 is definitely cooler, so kudos to Yamaha for the heat treatment.

 

[randy3116]

Just my 2 cents worth but I leave the cowlings open all year long. During the summer, there's a noticable reduction in the amount of heat against my shins as well as road spray during wet weather riding. As for the winter, they help divert some of the cold air away. I've tried running with the cowlings closed in the winter but can't say that more heat gets back to me because the engine runs at least one to two bars cooler (at least, that's what the gauge shows).

 

[trvler48]

I just rode in 80 degree heat with the cowlings out, and as what seems to be the consensus on the forum, the change is minor. I noticed just a little less heat on my thighs but no change in the shins.

Southern Cruzier, I agree with you. I had been warned numerous times by my friends on sport-tourers that I should expect the heat. I am getting used to it, but it is a change from a cruiser no matter how mentally I was prepared for it. I think most of it is mental. I hadn't really noticed it until a couple of my friends kept mentioning it - now I seem to focus on it too much. One rides a honda interceptor (okay bike, light, and well built.....but I sit on it and think vanilla ice cream. Just doesn't bring out any passion in me) and he can't stop reminding me of the heat. I think I better find new friends.

 

[El Cajone]

I just leave the cowlings out all the time now. In hot weather the cowling does deflect some engine heat from your legs. You can test this by taking a glove off and sticking your hand out just over the edge of the cowling; the deflected air is definitely warmer. In cold weather the engine doesn't give off that much heat anyway but the cowlings serve to cut down the wind chill (if not the temperature) on your legs. Either way, the differences are not huge but it's nice to have the option.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Rode with the cowlings IN this morning. It was 15 deg F. I'll say that I think I felt more air on my legs, but it didn't feel any warmer. Of course, the temp gauge was only showing two bars after I got out of the garage.

I think I'll also go with the "leave them out all the time" philosophy.

 

[n1acguy]

Well, next week it's supposed to go under 80 degrees. I think I'll try it then :lol:

 

[John Miller]

I think I'll also go with the "leave them out all the time" philosophy.

Your post inspired me to play with the cowlings for the first time today -- put one in the "out" position. It looked as though it would touch down before some of the other plastic, so, since the benefit is a little unclear, figured I'd just leave them in.

Living in the Atlanta area, with travel to Florida, I haven't yet found the heat from the FJR to be a problem.

 

[palerider]

Curious? Try this:
Extend one cowling, but leave the other side in. Go for a cold ride.

If one nut shrinks, you'll have definative proof.

For males, this would not be a definitive test because one nut hangs lower than the other and so will be closer to or farther from the heat source, thus giving inconsistent results. We would need one of the female riders to comment.

 

[palerider]

Notwithstanding that this thread is giong to NEPRT in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..., Yamaha's take on the whole airmanagement thing is side vents closed, engine-warmed air on rider. Side-vents open, engine-warmed air away from rider. Click: Yamaha FJR1300A/E Air Management
Personally, I've come to believe that it's really hard to tell the difference and may in fact be something that the marketing department came up with... :glare:

I've reread the page you cite several times and don't see the section that says, "side vents closed, engine-warmed air on rider. "Side-vents opoen, engine-warmed air away from rider."

But I agree that it doesn't seem to make much difference either way.

 

[palerider]

Notwithstanding that this thread is giong to NEPRT in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..., Yamaha's take on the whole airmanagement thing is side vents closed, engine-warmed air on rider. Side-vents open, engine-warmed air away from rider. Click: Yamaha FJR1300A/E Air Management
Personally, I've come to believe that it's really hard to tell the difference and may in fact be something that the marketing department came up with... :glare:

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SockMonkey™ is correct. CLOSED vent for warmer air on rider (warmer air closer to legs)...OPEN vent for less warm air on rider (warmer air further away from legs)...below is pic from Yamaha website with their verbage pasted in orange.

Still don't see where it says that.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Notwithstanding that this thread is giong to NEPRT in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..., Yamaha's take on the whole airmanagement thing is side vents closed, engine-warmed air on rider. Side-vents open, engine-warmed air away from rider. Click: Yamaha FJR1300A/E Air Management
Personally, I've come to believe that it's really hard to tell the difference and may in fact be something that the marketing department came up with... :glare:

**********************************************************

SockMonkey™ is correct. CLOSED vent for warmer air on rider (warmer air closer to legs)...OPEN vent for less warm air on rider (warmer air further away from legs)...below is pic from Yamaha website with their verbage pasted in orange.

Still don't see where it says that.

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It's not clear...however, there are 2 pictures in sequence. You have to read the verbage beneath it in sequence also. Thus, first pic shows closed, and verbage is "Allows warm air to be directed on..., then you see the 2nd part of the verbage to match the 2nd pict "or away from the rider..". Kinda have to read between the lines.

Unless of course Yamaha strayed away from normal convention and just randomly posted the pics or the verbage in a non-syncing configuration.

**void where prohibited**

not legal in Vigrinia or D.C.

Not FDIC insured

take only as directed

discontinue use if erection lasts more than 5 days

 

[palerider]

Notwithstanding that this thread is giong to NEPRT in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..., Yamaha's take on the whole airmanagement thing is side vents closed, engine-warmed air on rider. Side-vents open, engine-warmed air away from rider. Click: Yamaha FJR1300A/E Air Management
Personally, I've come to believe that it's really hard to tell the difference and may in fact be something that the marketing department came up with... :glare:

**********************************************************

SockMonkey™ is correct. CLOSED vent for warmer air on rider (warmer air closer to legs)...OPEN vent for less warm air on rider (warmer air further away from legs)...below is pic from Yamaha website with their verbage pasted in orange.

Still don't see where it says that.

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It's not clear...however, there are 2 pictures in sequence. You have to read the verbage beneath it in sequence also. Thus, first pic shows closed, and verbage is "Allows warm air to be directed on..., then you see the 2nd part of the verbage to match the 2nd pict "or away from the rider..". Kinda have to read between the lines.

Unless of course Yamaha strayed away from normal convention and just randomly posted the pics or the verbage in a non-syncing configuration.

**void where prohibited**

not legal in Vigrinia or D.C.

Not FDIC insured

take only as directed

discontinue use if erection lasts more than 5 days

I see how you could read it this way. I read it the opposite way--that the second picture is showing how, when adjusted (i.e. opened), heat is allowed to flow out to the driver.

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? And what dance are they doing?

 

[DrBunsen]

I just leave the cowlings out all the time now. In hot weather the cowling does deflect some engine heat from your legs. You can test this by taking a glove off and sticking your hand out just over the edge of the cowling; the deflected air is definitely warmer. In cold weather the engine doesn't give off that much heat anyway but the cowlings serve to cut down the wind chill (if not the temperature) on your legs. Either way, the differences are not huge but it's nice to have the option.

I've got some long posts on this topic, but rather than re-hashing I'll just say that what El Cajone says is what I found to be true a couple years back. If it's hot out (say 85+ degrees) then having the hot air hit my shins really bakes them, so having them out is better to me. If it's cold out (say less than 60 degrees) then the air doesn't get hot enough so it's still a wind chill on my shins. So it's not worth it for me to move them in and out for such a narrow band of comfortable weather so I leave them out all the time.

Here's the experiment that I keep bringing up: Put the cowlings in the out position. Ride the bike until the engine is at a natural warmed up state. Then if you want to know how it would feel with the cowlings closed spread yours legs out and the air will be on your legs about like it would be if the cowlings were closed. If after a minute or so you can't tell the difference then, well, it doesn't make a difference to you, at least at that ambient temperature. After trying this I found that, to me, my legs heat up too much in the hot weather and get too cold in the cold weather, so I keep the cowlings out/open all the time. YMMV.

Bunsen

 

[ctfjr]

FWIW I tried them in both positions this past fall when the early morning temps were dropping into the 40's. As much as I 'wanted to' believe, I really don't think they much of a difference either way. . . Perhaps there is some difference in warm weather that can be felt???

 

[JohnB]

The word I got from a Yamaha "Product Specialist" back in '06 was:

Cowling open (out) is warmer because it directs cool air away from the rider therefore allowing more engine heat to reach the rider.

Cowling closed (in) is cooler because more cool air reaches the rider.