Heat on the 05

[Fenyx]

At the risk of opening up another useless oil thread....

I put a heat fix kit from e-bay on my '05. Helped out quite a bit.

One other thing I did that seems to have been helpful to the heat coming off the motor is switching to Mobil 1 motorcycle oil - got it at Wally World for about $8 a quart.

I _swear_ that the temp gauge used to be always at 3 bars, now it is mostly at 2 bars.....

Could be my imagination, but I think this made a difference. I've been sold on synthetic oils since I first started using Mobil 1 in my air-cooled Ducati many years ago.

YMMV

bw

 

[Bounce]

from 4/2003

https://www.fjr-tips.org/mods/insul/insul.html

 

[dbvolfan]

First ride home from the dealer was about 120 miles and I damn near had 2nd degree burns on my legs (wearing jeans)...I thought WTF, I had heard about the heat problems but this was ridiculous!

Dont know if I just got used to it or what but have found it less of a nusance TY and:

1. Keep the gas tank more than half full if at all possible...makes a big difference

2. Highly recommend Smitty's heat blanket...it did the trick for me and made a big difference in the amount of heat coming off the engine

3. Havent done it yet but it seems that hwy pegs of some kind that keep your legs from hugging the tank would help ventilate a little more and at least provide some seperation from the tank.

 

[DocDanDC]

If the boys are burnin' that much, WOW :glare:

PCIII helped!

Smitty blanket helped!

Riding pants helped!

keep the tank more full, helped!

I'll Swear the TB sync helped too!

Scoot back on the seat and make an air gap between the boys and the tank, helped!

 

[9MileCatDaddy]

Yes, we tried the exact same Blanket experience when I read that it worked on this board I sent off to a guy on ebay for his heat shield and exhaust heel covers.. The exhaust shields work great...

The Blanket made things WORSE for my girlfriend and she had a case of heat stroke and almost did not make it home riding only 25 miles...

This blanket DOES NOT WORK. I just took it off as she will not got near the bike with it on.

 

[danvforce]

Well I have to reply to this tread, yesterday while reading this I came across the reply about the Cromeit heat fix. Last year I bought my 05 FJR & I notice the heat while driving in stop & go traffic during hot conditions "90 +". I tried the extra insulation under the tank, which cooled the tank but I still felt the heat cook my left calf from time to time. I desided to give the Cromeit a try, since I had everything I needed it might be a cheap fix. Well, last night after finishing the easy install I took the FJR out for a ride to test the results, it was 94 at the time so it would be a great test. All I can say is if you want to stop the calf roast try this, you'll like it, I still had a little warm air on my left leg but not much. I'm glad I tried this fix before I bought the Holeshot headers. Now the bike the bike is perfect, but I'll still add some more farkles to make it better. I guess it's an illness!

 

[Firedog]

Duct tape aluminum foil to your legs. If that doesn't work try a little of this....

:clapping: :lol: :huh:

 

[JimLor]

What the heck is "Thrush?"

 

[TWILKIN650]

https://www.medicinenet.com/thrush/article.htm

Your tongue kinda flakes off and disintigrates.....once you've had it, you like to avoid it in the future........

 

[JimLor]

Crap, I didn't need to know that!

 

[keithaba]

Crap, I didn't need to know that!

Just be glad there weren't pictures on that website. It looks naaaaaaaaaastyyyyyyyy!

 

[jestal]

I think that a big variable in the amount of heat reaching the rider on the 03/04/05 bikes may be traced to the plastic baffle that is up at the top of the frame, under the steering head, behind the radiator. That panel looks like it is designed to take the air (heated by the radiator and off the head pipes) and duct it downwards so that it can exit thru the gill openings in the sides of the fairing. If that panel does not fit that area very well the hot radiator air will escape to the undertank area. This puts a lot of hot air headed toward the rider as well as providing a means of moving even more hot air (that would normally be somewhat stagnant) off the top of the engine toward the rider. I know the panel on my 03 did not fit the area very well and it was warped/distorted a bit which aggravated the fit problem. In addition there are hoses and wires traversing this area that necessitate openings in the panel for air to leak thru. I did a thorough job of stiffening and refitting the panel so that it closes off all gaps and filling any voids with stickon foam tape to block all the air flow. Big difference in my case. Others seem to find less of a gain. I suspect that the panel fit and placement of that baffle is somewhat variable and might be worth looking at on complaint level hot bikes. You will have to tear into the plastic and remove the radiator to do any serious work here so plan ahead. There is no easy pill for this one, unfortunately.

The cromeit heat fix descriptions are helpful for improving the air flow from the radiator and off the pipes so that it makes it's way out the gills also but attention to detail is key to success here.

I am using a CalSci windshield and the eliminate of the negative pressure behind the shield certainly seems to help with the amount of hot air being sucked up and onto the rider. The mod of adding the CalSci-like holes to the windshield is probably adequate for most any case here based on other's reports.

The tank blanket does help the tank temperature a bit but I don't think it is a cure in itself at all.

The catalytic converter in the exhaust is definitely a major source of "extra" heat on this bike. Removing it (purely for test purposes) made another huge difference in comfort.

I personally do not think the FJR is abnormally hot at all nor that it generates any more heat than any other motorcyle might (save for that generated by the cat as mentioned). With air flow work (and elimination of the cat) it is cooler than many of the other bikes I have ridden in the past and certainly comfortable to me....even without tin foil panties!!

 

[FJRocket]

I had an '04. Made my own tank blanket. Installed 2 inch pipe insulation foam (water heater lines) inside the tupperware at the aft edges of the fairing. Essentially I filled the *** end of the fairing with foam so that the hot air had to go out the gills, not onto my hairy legs, not through the back of the fairing.

Yes, I rode with shorts and NO, I had no heat problems after tank blanket and pipe foam insulation. But I did feel rather nekkid with my hairy legs out over the asphalt.

 

[87Doodle]

I have an '05 and it doesn't bother me, I figure i have a 1.3 liter inline 4 cylinder engine directly underneath me...it's gonna make some heat. Not a big deal to me.

 

[Bounce]

My 02 Triumph ST burnt my legs too...when I wore shorts. Needless to say I do not wear shorts

+1

if it's still too hot with jeans, wear some decent riding pants. jeans ain't squat when/if you ever skip across the asphalt.

 

[Rocket Science]

I've been riding mine for a while and could never figure out what all the bitching about the "heat problem" was all about. I'd bought my bike slightly used, and included in the deal was a Bagster tank bra and bag. I'd ridden with a tank bra before, so really didn't think twice about leaving it on (I like the look, some don't). But a month back, I had it off and took the beast out for a few hours - holy crap were my legs red! Now I leave the Bagster on all the time. It's a little warm in hot weather (90+), but fine the rest of the time.

And if this is the worst it gets, life on this bike is still pretty damn good!

 

[burninrice]

Well, I spent the weekend in the garage at the lake doing most of the heat mods I've read about and here's what I've found:

Me: 6'-2", 250 lbs, squidly gear (jeans, reg. jacket, etc) new Fieldsheer stuff hasn't arrived yet.

The bike: '05 FJR ABS, stock seat (for now), Cee Bailey w/s, Heli bar risers.

Total time: about 4 hours (without beer/smoke breaks)

Total cost: Firewall Insul. $0 (shop gave me a cut-off piece of scrap)

Scotch Adhesive $10

Foil Tape $7.89 (Menards)

Aluminum $7.00 (bought a 2'x2' piece at welding shop)

Weather stripping: $4.00 (Menards)

First, I did the tank insulation. I got a piece of 3/8" foil-backed firewall insulation and I cut it to fit the underside of the tank with a hole for the hoses and sending unit. I dressed all cut edges with aluminum foil tape and used Scotch adhesive to attach the insulation to the tank. Then, between where the two frame spars meet at the steering head and that cross member, I cut and placed a piece of standard aluminum foil and taped it to the frame with foil tape. shiny side down. Last, I cut a separate "blanket" to lay between the cross member and the airbox, over the fuel injection unit. So, in essence, that area is double insulated. I dressed the entire exposed side of the blanket with foil tape and taped it to the frame and airbox creating a seal. The tank was a tight fit, but eventually settled-down.

Second, I did the Cromeit heat fix to both sides. Left Side: I used much thinner aluminum (I think .040") than 1/16", which you can cut with a normal tin snips. This was very easy to lay-out and fabricate and was more than adaquate. One tip is when making your breaks tend to favor the inside of the lines, especially if you use a Sharpie. My box was just a hair too wide and I had to remove a little material with the grinder before it would slide in. Right Side: I used a closed-cell, water resistant foam and Scotch adhesive. If you stay true to Cromeit's 2.25" thickness, you will have trouble reinstalling the fairing, so you might have to do some trimming with a good sharp knife right where the foam meets the large frame spar. Then get down on the floor and look for any gaps and simply stuff them with leftover foam.

Third, I sealed the gap between the frame spars and the fairing on each side with weather stripping and placed a piece of weather stripping between the seat and tank.

Results: I rode the bike back Sunday at a temp of 93 F with 70% humidity. All of the intense calf heat is gone. If you have a crosswind from the left side of the bike the convertor will circulate some heat up on your right foot, but otherwise, very comfortable. I could now hold my hand on the left frame spar without having to be taken to a burn unit and the tank never got hot enough to be uncomfortable. But that seat... For God's sake what was that company thinking. I sware they could put that seat on a snowmobile and it would still be hot and uncomfortable. BTW, the temp gauge was completely unchanged from prior to the mods, if anything, it hits four bars slower than before.

The only "but" here is in town. In town the bike is positively an oven on days 90+ F. I don't think I have ever produced so much "Swass" and thight sweat in my life. But if it makes anyone feel better, I have a buddy who just bought a '07 Harley Ultra with that new motor and the dealer had to re-chip the FI so the back cylinder automatically cuts out when the engine gets above a certain temp... Now that's hot!

 

[PapaUtah]

Coming soon from Baker Built you will be able to add a set of Air Wings to your ’05. That will put the final nail in the heat coffin on your FJR. The wings are the only true way to have some semblance of air management on the pre-2006 models. They only work while in motion (but aren’t most FJRs always in motion?) but are the end all in getting rid of every last bit of heat after the mods you have performed. I have only insulated the bottom of my tank in addition to the wings. Gas tank remains cool to the touch, no boiling fuel. I am able to touch the frame on either side and not burn my fingers. So much air can be directed to the most uncomfortable areas(crotch, legs, torso) that even the seat suddenly feels more comfortable. I think Bruce is planning on August availability.

 

[brazos parker]

Coming soon from Baker Built you will be able to add a set of Air Wings to your ’05. That will put the final nail in the heat coffin on your FJR. The wings are the only true way to have some semblance of air management on the pre-2006 models. They only work while in motion (but aren’t most FJRs always in motion?) but are the end all in getting rid of every last bit of heat after the mods you have performed. I have only insulated the bottom of my tank in addition to the wings. Gas tank remains cool to the touch, no boiling fuel. I am able to touch the frame on either side and not burn my fingers. So much air can be directed to the most uncomfortable areas(crotch, legs, torso) that even the seat suddenly feels more comfortable. I think Bruce is planning on August availability.

I already have FJR specific air wings from Baker. Spoke w/ Bruce personally as I placed my order. I mounted them on Garauld's light brackets. Problem is they can only be turned in just so far and then contact the stem of the FZ-1 mirrors. I took the wings off and placed them on the underside of the brackets. The tank does seem to stay cooler w/ both the air wings and Cal-Sci cut-outs in my stock shield providing increased air flow to the cockpit.

 

[Zorlac]

My 05 doesn't seem hot at all, just some moderate warmth around my thighs near the tank.

My 03 Concours is much hotter, and the 08 C14,,,well it was freaking unbearable last Sat on a demo ride.

I'm glad I got that new Concours out of my system, I saved 5 grand.

Do pink assless chaps really help with the heat?