[Ozman_15]

I am.not sure what has changed other than the weather, but my legs are hot while riding. Bought the bike in Feburary, ridden all through the winter and spring and never noticed my legs getting warm unless the fans kicked on, and they only kicked on when sitting in the traffic or slow riding in parking lots. Obviously it's considerably warmer now that it's 90+ so I .sure the fans are cutting on more often and probably while riding but with the wind noise I don't hear them come on.


Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me.

I did recently install a back rest and luggage rack. The air flow around me has changed a little but hard to believe it could cause my legs to stay hot and they are hot at all speeds not just sitting still or driving slow.

 

[Geepers]

Not me, but I always wear fully Kevlar-lined pants so probably wouldn't notice anyway. My bike is stock BTW.

 

[Poncho]

I am.not sure the fans are cutting on more often and probably while riding but with the wind noise I don't hear them come on. Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me. I did recently install a back rest and luggage rack. The air flow around me has changed a little but hard to believe it could cause my legs to stay hot and they are hot at all speeds not just sitting still or driving slow.

oz, No. not having any hot legs or excessive heat issues. This motor /rad layout is built specifically to keep heat away from you while riding and sitting while stopped. when riding the fan does not come on at all. sufficient air over the rads do all the work and if you put your hand out there you can feel the enormous heat coming off the rads mostly sideways away from your legs. when stopped and coolant temp gets to (?) 200f the fans kick on and its my understanding they draw air in from the sides and blow it forward, again away from you.


Given your complaint of excessive heat while riding and sitting, I would be checking several things;
1. Is the coolant properly filled to max level? not just the overflow bottle, remove the right rad wing and check under the cap.
2. Is the coolant new and functionable. do a coolant test to see if it has degraded. If so, Drain, Flush and Refill with the good stuff. Orange is P'glycol has a higher specific heat value and is better for alum rads. check to see if Honda has any issues with it or recommends the old green glycol stuff. aka cat killer.
3. is the coolant pump functioning properly? you will need a service manual to get proper check out procedures.
4. Are the fans functioning properly at temp? 200f on / 180f off (?)
5. Are the fans discharging heat forward when stopped
6. just guessing at this one, could the fans possibly be running while riding and reducing the amount of air over the rads?
These are all things that can contribute to Poor Heat Rejection and allowing the engine coolant to be at a higher than acceptable temperature.


Ok, so IF the coolant and the pump and the fans are all operating per design and you are still being subject to excessive heat,, I would get a health check up and make sure that your heart and circulatory system is functioning properly. When we age, all the wheels on the bus start to get loose. some even fall off. Our circulatory system is critical in getting rid of excess heat and maintaining core temp. our Legs are usually the first to suffer degraded blood flow. they put up with a lot of abuse over the years. So get your pump and coolant quality checked. a baby aspirin a day is recommended to keep blood viscosity low and not sludge up like some 50w oil, is hard to pump.

 

[Geepers]

The fans blow air from behind the radiators and out the sides, yes? .... ie same as "natural" air flow when moving. Don't see how having them come on would increase hot air around the legs at all. Sounds like Dr Poncho's advice to get your own circulatory system checked out might be a good idea. Do you get the symptoms when you're off the bike? Where's Dr Ox when you need him?

 

[Poncho]

Where's Dr Ox when you need him?

probably out riding some 10k/10hr run across Mongolia, dodging ground squirrel holes and bullets.

 

[Ozman_15]

I am.not sure the fans are cutting on more often and probably while riding but with the wind noise I don't hear them come on. Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me. I did recently install a back rest and luggage rack. The air flow around me has changed a little but hard to believe it could cause my legs to stay hot and they are hot at all speeds not just sitting still or driving slow.

oz, No. not having any hot legs or excessive heat issues. This motor /rad layout is built specifically to keep heat away from you while riding and sitting while stopped. when riding the fan does not come on at all. sufficient air over the rads do all the work and if you put your hand out there you can feel the enormous heat coming off the rads mostly sideways away from your legs. when stopped and coolant temp gets to (?) 200f the fans kick on and its my understanding they draw air in from the sides and blow it forward, again away from you.


Given your complaint of excessive heat while riding and sitting, I would be checking several things;
1. Is the coolant properly filled to max level? not just the overflow bottle, remove the right rad wing and check under the cap.
2. Is the coolant new and functionable. do a coolant test to see if it has degraded. If so, Drain, Flush and Refill with the good stuff. Orange is P'glycol has a higher specific heat value and is better for alum rads. check to see if Honda has any issues with it or recommends the old green glycol stuff. aka cat killer.
3. is the coolant pump functioning properly? you will need a service manual to get proper check out procedures.
4. Are the fans functioning properly at temp? 200f on / 180f off (?)
5. Are the fans discharging heat forward when stopped
6. just guessing at this one, could the fans possibly be running while riding and reducing the amount of air over the rads?
These are all things that can contribute to Poor Heat Rejection and allowing the engine coolant to be at a higher than acceptable temperature.


Ok, so IF the coolant and the pump and the fans are all operating per design and you are still being subject to excessive heat,, I would get a health check up and make sure that your heart and circulatory system is functioning properly. When we age, all the wheels on the bus start to get loose. some even fall off. Our circulatory system is critical in getting rid of excess heat and maintaining core temp. our Legs are usually the first to suffer degraded blood flow. they put up with a lot of abuse over the years. So get your pump and coolant quality checked. a baby aspirin a day is recommended to keep blood viscosity low and not sludge up like some 50w oil, is hard to pump.

Well hopefully it's not the age I am not even 40 yet. I am hoping for at least another year or two before the blood turns to sludge and body parts begin to fall off.

I will check a few of those items. I bought it new this year it uasntnevennhad its first oil change. so still have the warranty if it's something big.

 

[DillPickle311]

Ok! The roads heat up tremendously so try this. Ride on some asphalt and concrete roads that are in direct sunlight in the heat of the day and compare this to riding on a shady roads.

As long your feet are on the pegs and knees in behind cowls, you won't feel anything from the motor. I have some hwy pegs and until I properly adjusted, heat from engine was awful. I had to lower the pegs even with regular bike pegs and I was fine.

This machine is designed to protect you from engine heat. However, that heat is great in winter when setting highway pegs at same level as engine covers.

 

[Ozman_15]

Well its definitely aerodynamically created. I adjusted my windshield to a position that was more in line with the forks, and the hot legs went away, but the buffeting was back. There is a wonderful pocket of air if I crouch down into a half sport bike riding position.

So I adjusted the windshield again, layed it back toward me about an inch and my legs are hot again, but the buffeting in gone.

So the hot leg equation is layed back oem windshield+ tall rider+ oem backrest and luggage rack.

I might try making a custom windshield that better suits me that fit the factory bracket.