The Word from Yamaha

[Fred H.]

by the way -- I'm always shocked when some folks mention that they feel more heat out of the right side on an '06 - when it is DEFINETLY the left side on mine.
I've got a burn on my shin on my left leg from riding through the central valley during the heat wave to prove it. right between the top of my boots and the knee pad of my riding pants.

I feel hot air on my left ankle too, as do many others. I think I know why. Take a look at these photos. The air from the exhaust headers has a straight shot onto your left ankle through the gap shown. On the right side the airflow is blocked by the water pump.

It ought to be easy enough to block off that air flow.

Left Side

Right Side

 

[EXPDSGT]

Fred H. Is your little piece of foam in the right place (on the left side behind the oil filter)? Mine is tucked in right at the rear of the blue Tupperware (came out of the crate glued there). Don't know if it has anything to do with the air flow. But on mine you can hardly see it.

 

[tripletango]

Out they are -ucking ugly. Don't seem to make a hill of beans difference in or out so mine stay in now. To think I rode with the dam things out all the way from TX to CA. No wonder i was so hot. Oh yea it was over 100 most of the way here.

However that being said I would have died on the 05 !!! Not being able to wear my asbestos fire suit

OK OK not wanting to start anything here I love my 05 in the winter!

 

[FJR_pig]

At the risk of taking a bit of a left turn with this thread, I have some info to share which may be of interest. I had planned to make this post when I got my ducks in a row, but here is the story - I can show pics later (hopefully tonight).

On the way to WFO, I was about 50 miles south of Alturas, CA on US 395. I was driving at a speed "not unacceptable with current traffic conditions" (interpret that as you like, but I honestly wasn't going that fast). My right cowling literally blew off the bike! The wind got underneath the bottom portion of the cowling, ripped it right off the top 1/4 turn screw head, leaving a silver dollar-sized hole in the cowling. After that came off, it was all over for the bottom screw. The Cowling bent about 45 degrees before completely disconnecting from the bike. It all happened in a split second, not gradually.

Surprised the hell out of me. At first I thought the mother of all insects had hit my right knee, which would have been odd as tucked in as I keep my knees when riding. As I glanced downward to look at my knee after feeling the pain, my peripheral vision passed thru my right mirror where I caught a glimpse of blue shrapnel flying end over end at my ridin' buddy behind me. Luckily, it missed him, but we then spent the next 20 minutes searching the rattlesnake-infested scrub brush along the desert highway in an attempt to recover the piece of the fairing. (Okay, okay, so I dramatized this for effect a bit, but it still hurt when it came off and it could of hit FJR&R...)

Know that I have never even adjusted the right cowling. The day I picked up my '06 (2 months ago), Warchild was there - he and I fiddled with the left cowling a bit, but the right one had never been moved by yours truly. It was in factory condition.

There are two clips on the bottom of the cowling that grab it prior to connecting it to the 1/4 turn screws up top. Please heed my advice and check to ensure those clips are seated on yours if you're riding an '06. Seth at Sunnyside is checking with Yamaha to see if my new piece will be covered under warranty. I'd be lying if I didn't think it was a 50/50 chance I'll be buying the replacement cowling.

Like I said, I'll try to put up some pics that I took roadside after it happened, but I'm not so great at the posting photos thing.

Pig

 

[JohnB]

I feel hot air on my left ankle too, as do many others. I think I know why. Take a look at these photos. The air from the exhaust headers has a straight shot onto your left ankle through the gap shown. On the right side the airflow is blocked by the water pump.It ought to be easy enough to block off that air flow.

I wonder if the Holeshot 4 into 2 header would help with this heat? Aside from the construction which claims to reduce heat, it may also re-route the pipes somewhat away from this area.

 

[Rickster]

Guess I owe someone a box of chocolate donuts (though I am still not convinced, the air coming off the side of the bike is not cool, it is HOT).

Fred -- if you'll check -- I was the first one to accept your bet. I never thought that you were wrong, and still don't but I took you bet anyway.

 

[Fred H.]

Ok, donuts are on me. But you have to come to Ft Worth to get em, I don't deliver.

 

[FJR_pig]

Okay, here is what those cowlings look like broken off and decorated with road rash!

 

[turbodave_98]

Out they are -ucking ugly. Don't seem to make a hill of beans difference in or out so mine stay in now. To think I rode with the dam things out all the way from TX to CA. No wonder i was so hot. Oh yea it was over 100 most of the way here.However that being said I would have died on the 05 !!! Not being able to wear my asbestos fire suit

OK OK not wanting to start anything here I love my 05 in the winter!

I had mine out for all the miles to and from WFO 5. I felt that they were cooler out. this afternoon after reading the "Official Technical" information, I closed them. went out tonight in 85* temperature and my legs were getting a blast of hot air with the flaps closed. I changed them back to open and it just proves again that the heat issue IMHO is very subjective.

 

[vmaxed]

I'll try it out in the winter,November

 

[TheAxeman]

There are two clips on the bottom of the cowling that grab it prior to connecting it to the 1/4 turn screws up top. Please heed my advice and check to ensure those clips are seated on yours if you're riding an '06. Seth at Sunnyside is checking with Yamaha to see if my new piece will be covered under warranty. I'd be lying if I didn't think it was a 50/50 chance I'll be buying the replacement cowling.

I just had the right side vent cowling off of mine and when reinstalling it into the clips it definitely takes a good rap with the palm of your hand to get them to seat properly. You could hear an audible click when the tabs were fully seated.

 

[JohnB]

There are two clips on the bottom of the cowling that grab it prior to connecting it to the 1/4 turn screws up top. Please heed my advice and check to ensure those clips are seated on yours if you're riding an '06. Seth at Sunnyside is checking with Yamaha to see if my new piece will be covered under warranty. I'd be lying if I didn't think it was a 50/50 chance I'll be buying the replacement cowling.

I just had the right side vent cowling off of mine and when reinstalling it into the clips it definitely takes a good rap with the palm of your hand to get them to seat properly. You could hear an audible click when the tabs were fully seated.

If this is something the dealer had to install properly, then I better check mine.

 

[EXPDSGT]

There are two clips on the bottom of the cowling that grab it prior to connecting it to the 1/4 turn screws up top. Please heed my advice and check to ensure those clips are seated on yours if you're riding an '06. Seth at Sunnyside is checking with Yamaha to see if my new piece will be covered under warranty. I'd be lying if I didn't think it was a 50/50 chance I'll be buying the replacement cowling.

I just had the right side vent cowling off of mine and when reinstalling it into the clips it definitely takes a good rap with the palm of your hand to get them to seat properly. You could hear an audible click when the tabs were fully seated.

If this is something the dealer had to install properly, then I better check mine.

My 06A came in the crate with the side vents installed from the factory.

 

[VicaDon]

Ridin' in Alaska, we know cold. It may be subjective, but I have found more warmth with the vents closed (inward). Also the heated Corbin seat is great...best $100 I have spent on my beast.

 

[dhalen32]

As promised, I contacted Yamaha yesterday and was lucky enough to call at a time when the wait for a “Product Specialist” was only 3 minutes. On other occasions, I’ve been told it could be as long as 3 weeks (!), in which case they take your number and call you back. The first specialist I talked to seemed to be hesitant about a definitive answer. So, I pressed him with a “are you sure” and “can’t we pin this down” and he agreed that he needed to consult with a colleague who was the definitive FJR Specialist. After doing this, he came back with the specific design intent. So, here’s the scoop.
The vents or “cowlings” are used to allow more or less warm air (from the engine bay) to reach the rider in this way:

When the vents are OPEN (or OUT), more warm air will reach the rider.

When the vents are CLOSED (or IN), less warm air will reach the rider.

The vents do this by controlling the cool air flow which is used to neutralize the warm air reaching the rider from the engine bay.

When the vents are open, cool air is deflected away from the rider thus allowing more of the warm air to be felt.

When the vents are closed, more cool air is allowed to neutralize the warm air that reaches the rider.

So, in case you were keeping score, the winners in the debate were:

cota95, fjrrider, mjs, paste007, DrBunsen, ScrapeApe and KYFJR. KYFJR was the person whose analysis came the closest to the actual design intent.

John

Fred H. --> It’s time to make the donuts !

I also spoke to a Product Specialist at Yamaha last Friday afternoon and he gave me the same speech using the words OPEN and CLOSED referring to the adjustable middle cowl vents in the fairing. He also volunteered to FAX me a couple of pages of Yamaha documentation explaining the FJR1300A Air Management System. What I found interesting in the FAX is that this documentation states that the "Adjustable middle cowl vent is used to direct additional hot air away from the rider if desired". To me, this contradicts the OPEN and CLOSED statements made during our conversation as well as the one Bob had with his Product Specialist. Based upon the pictures on Yamaha's website and the FAX from the Product Specialist, the conclusion I reach is that with the vents in the outermost postion more hot air is supposed to be deflected away from my legs and with them adjusted in towards the bike's centerline more hot air is able to reach my legs.

I have personally not been able to tell much difference in comfort with the vents adjusted both in and out but I do know this bike is much cooler than my ST1300 which I sold to make room for the '06 FJR. If I can figure out how to attach the two pages of FAX'd info from Yamaha I will do so. If not, could somebody please teach me how. I have it in a 2 page .pdf document right now. Thanks!

Dave

P.S. The Product Specialist I spoke with was Mario. He is at extension 7862 after calling 800-962-7926.

 

[Pappy]

I filled that gap (on both sides) on my '05 with the dark-gray foam from Home Depot. At first I was worried it would melt but it's been there for three months now with no apparent trouble. Did wonders relieving the heat carried downwind from teh headers.

 

[rublenoon]

"When the vents are OPEN (or OUT), more warm air will reach the rider.

When the vents are CLOSED (or IN), less warm air will reach the rider."

I conducted a field trial this weekend [unplanned, but still conducted].

Start of trial:

Riding home from visiting sister via Colorado mountain roads [uS50, CO9, & US285], nominal 75°F, partly sunny and only three vehicles in 50 miles allowed some three digit speed testing ; vents IN ==> can feel warm air either via gloved hands and on the legs near top of boot.

Trial step 1)

Two hours from out partly sunny becomes afternoon rain and I discover rain pants are not on board, jeans it is then. First 30 minutes of steady rain & 49°F, now at near legal speeds with vents IN ==> can NOT feel warm air via wet gloved hands or on wet legs; legs soaked and I am cold [NOTE to self: get the Widder's plug installed! and Review that hand guard thing on wc's site]. I stop for fuel in Fairplay and to warm up.

Trial step 2)

Forcast is now: ninty minutes to home in rain and 49°F; let's try the vents OUT setting [it can't be colder]. Next 40 minutes of steady rain & 49 to 52°F at near legal speeds vents OUT ==> can feel warm air via wet glove at near the top of the vent at the tank [enough warmth to un-stiffen the cold hand] and ride seems warmer [or my body just reached its cold/wet balance point]. Ran thru rain by Bailey and temps now begin to increase.

Trial step 3)

Next 50 minute are sunny with rising temps 56 to 85 °F at near legal speeds vent OUT ==> knee cap area of pants dry first, then upper/outer thigh area. Knee area dry to the touch by home, but the rest remains damp to the touch.

FYI & YMMV, no I do not plan a repeat trial with reverse trial sets this weekend [moving youngest into college this weekend :yahoo: for him and me]

rublenoon

 

[smokeFJR06]

Flaps closed because it looks better than open. We all know that looks are more important than comfort!

 

[JohnB]

"When the vents are OPEN (or OUT), more warm air will reach the rider.When the vents are CLOSED (or IN), less warm air will reach the rider."

I conducted a field trial this weekend [unplanned, but still conducted].

Start of trial:

Riding home from visiting sister via Colorado mountain roads [uS50, CO9, & US285], nominal 75°F, partly sunny and only three vehicles in 50 miles allowed some three digit speed testing ; vents IN ==> can feel warm air either via gloved hands and on the legs near top of boot.

Trial step 1)

Two hours from out partly sunny becomes afternoon rain and I discover rain pants are not on board, jeans it is then. First 30 minutes of steady rain & 49°F, now at near legal speeds with vents IN ==> can NOT feel warm air via wet gloved hands or on wet legs; legs soaked and I am cold [NOTE to self: get the Widder's plug installed! and Review that hand guard thing on wc's site]. I stop for fuel in Fairplay and to warm up.

Trial step 2)

Forcast is now: ninty minutes to home in rain and 49°F; let's try the vents OUT setting [it can't be colder]. Next 40 minutes of steady rain & 49 to 52°F at near legal speeds vents OUT ==> can feel warm air via wet glove at near the top of the vent at the tank [enough warmth to un-stiffen the cold hand] and ride seems warmer [or my body just reached its cold/wet balance point]. Ran thru rain by Bailey and temps now begin to increase.

Trial step 3)

Next 50 minute are sunny with rising temps 56 to 85 °F at near legal speeds vent OUT ==> knee cap area of pants dry first, then upper/outer thigh area. Knee area dry to the touch by home, but the rest remains damp to the touch.

FYI & YMMV, no I do not plan a repeat trial with reverse trial sets this weekend [moving youngest into college this weekend :yahoo: for him and me]

rublenoon

These tests seem to confirm Yamaha's claim

"When the vents are OPEN (or OUT), more warm air will reach the rider.

When the vents are CLOSED (or IN), less warm air will reach the rider."

 

[Reaper]

The FJR runs FASTER with the vents OFF!



Reaper in Mississippi with no vents.