Long Term Affect

[Lionswings]

Since I finished my heat mod on my Gen I (Foam in the side panels) I noticed the temp gauge hits 3 bars really quick. Any in town riding is at 3 bars now. And before, it would only hit 3 bars if I was stopped at a stop light for a minute. Is there any long term affect I should be worried about here? If it's running hotter I may just be defeating my purpose.

 

[Fred W]

What do you mean by "foam in the side panels"?

If you have completely blocked off the area that the radiator heat exits from under the tank, out through the big louvers on each side, then yes, that might not be such a good idea.

 

[Lionswings]

What do you mean by "foam in the side panels"?
If you have completely blocked off the area that the radiator heat exits from under the tank, out through the big louvers on each side, then yes, that might not be such a good idea.

Here is a picture of what I did. Put foam in the panels by my legs.

Nothing on this part...

 

[Geezer]

I did a similar thing by slipping a piece of pipe insulation over the edge of the fairing to block air flow from coming up at me in the same area you show in your picture. I found the heat much worse on my ankles and lower legs, so it just moved the hot air down a bit. It did not affect the operating temperature of the engine. Did you block any other air passages? Can it be that it has been just plain hot this week?

Did you flush and refill your anti-freeze recently?

 

[Blind Squirrel]

The bike is generating the same amount of heat and that heat has to go somewhere. If you block the upper escape route it will come out lower. That being said, you are keeping more hot air trapped for a longer amount of time which will make the temp rise. As long as your fan kicks on and the bike cools down I would not worry too much about it. It is still running in accepted ranges.

 

[RadioHowie]

What do you mean by "foam in the side panels"?
If you have completely blocked off the area that the radiator heat exits from under the tank, out through the big louvers on each side, then yes, that might not be such a good idea.

Here is a picture of what I did. Put foam in the panels by my legs.

Nothing on this part...

I recognize (what I can see of it) parts of the frame, the coolant overflow and the radiator, but can't for the life of me figure out what all that ugly blue crap is covering most of the bike???

 

[Fred W]

What do you mean by "foam in the side panels"?
If you have completely blocked off the area that the radiator heat exits from under the tank, out through the big louvers on each side, then yes, that might not be such a good idea.

Here is a picture of what I did. Put foam in the panels by my legs.

Nothing on this part...

That looks fine. There was actually some foam in there stock, just not completely adequate.

I think your observation of the quickly climbing temperature gauge is more to do with the summer weather than your modification.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Isn't this where I get to say, "It's the color. I had one that exact same color and around here, you were frequently asked scrambled or over-easy?"

 

[Fred W]

C'mon now boys, your jealousy is showing right through...

The first couple of years they were working up to a crescendo for '05. First silver, trhen silver with a little blue in it, then they figured it out!!

The reason they had to tone down the most excellent Bass Bote Blue from '05 to the muted (mutant?) '06 (and beyond) was because no porky ass bike like that deserves such a fine color.

 

[Ignacio]

As long as your fan kicks on and the bike cools down I would not worry too much about it. It is still running in accepted ranges.

Bingo!

Bars showing and fan kicking on show the cooling system is doing it's job exactly as designed. As long as it's not boiling over or running 8 bars.....don't worry about it.

 

[Lionswings]

Thanks for the input guys. It really had nothing to do with the outside temp. Yesterday morning it was 62 degrees on my way to work. I'm going to do a flush for peace of mind, cut a small piece of the foam out to let a little more heat out, add my Bake Wings I just ordered and call it good.

And Howie, that beautiful blue crap would be part of the bike. I know looking at yours from that view it's probably hard to tell the frame and plastic apart. :blink: