What's with the heat?

[Raviera_rider]

I took delivery on my 2007 ST1300A today...my crotch was cookin' in two blocks....I thought Honda fixed this problem on the new models...confused: . I pretty much like the rest of the bike. But, this is going to be totally bogus come summer. Is there a fix for this?: :coolit:

[John Anthony]

Welcome to the site and congrats on your new ride!! I suggest you do a search on the forum as there are many posts on heat. Honda has not completly extinguished the problem. Proper riding gear (e.g. boots, good riding pants) can help a lot. I never even notice it any more.

Enjoy your ride!!

John

[Pat Thompson]

:D Boy, I couldn't stop the tank slapper long enough to worry about the heat!! :D

:hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana :hotpepper :bannana

[curmudgeon]

I would pull the seat up and look to see if something is wrong. It's possible some seal is missing or misaligned. I'm speaking of the seals that block air flow around the fairings. No changes of any consequence have ever been made to the ST1300 for heat. Some shields were added to the lower fairing, but I doubt they help much.

I wear jeans often and never notice heat in the crotch area, but do feel some heat around the legs when temps start to climb above 80. I have never felt discomfort from the heat even at temps up to 114. Riding pants are a good idea for safety, but shouldn't be necessary for heat. Unless you're one of those who seem to be excessively sensitive to temperature. In which case you might have bought the wrong bike.

Phil

[Imrubicon]

for those that cant take the heat .you can add a ittle foam that blocks the air flow at the front of the seat when its set higher and those that seem to wrap the headers feell little heat .
Course I would miss some of that in winter LOL .
most notice it very little while some its a deal breaker

[STPaulK]

Wasn't it also true that an engine produces more heat during it's first few hundred miles?

[dduelin]

My guess if this guy can't tell his crotch from his ankles he's a troll.

[Herleman]

Trust me, it only happens to 07s. I suggest you drop it by my house where you can exchange it for a very cool 06.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

You could trade it for an 05, but they've all melted by now.

You WILL get used to it. Go faster.

[GRN]

ATGATT... what heat?

Is BLUE that much faster? :p:

[Raven]

a number of folks have found that jet coating the exhaust is helpful

definitely a +1 on checking to be sure all the gaskets are in place and make sure the seat is seated properly (no pun intended)

fortunately my '06 doesn't seem to have any heat problems (probably because it's so fast)
:D

[mjhenne]

I'm picking up my 07 tomorrow afternoon. I'm already hot, starting to sweat. Planning on riding home in shorts and flip flops since it might be 40 degrees by early afternoon tomorrow. If it becomes too unbearable I'm going to drive it right into one of the snowbanks lining the road.

My serious plan if I think it is too hot is, in this order seeing if I'm happy before the next step, wrap the headers, puncture the inner cowls, reflective insulation stuff, fairing deflectors, cover various and sundry holes on the nether regions.

[ST Dan]

fortunately my '06 doesn't seem to have any heat problems (probably because it's so fast)
:D

I think you might be on to something here, no heat problems with my 06 either!:D

the mystery is solved!!!!;)

[Putt]

Heat???
Yeah, when it's 115 outside, its hot..

Putt..

[nm6r]

ATGATT... what heat?

Is BLUE that much faster? :p:


YUP!

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[UNTMatt]

One post and this guy's for real? He's a beemer rider or a yammahoppie*.

If you're crotch is on fire, stop riding in your miniskirt (or at least don't pull a Britney :eek: )**.



*sarcastic humor also known as a little elbow rubbing. NOTE: if you can't take the heat...

**sarcastic humor towards a drive-thru poster

[sandman]

I took delivery on my 2007 ST1300A today...my crotch was cookin' in two blocks....I thought Honda fixed this problem on the new models...confused: . I pretty much like the rest of the bike. But, this is going to be totally bogus come summer. Is there a fix for this?: :coolit:

This is a common problem if the seat is not set up against the tank properly.

If you can stick your finger between the tank seal and tank without having to push the seal out of the way the seat is not installed properly.

Check the owner's manual to see how to install it correctly.

Welcome to the club and don't take the offhand comments of some of these old timers to heart they're just touchy about anybody making derogatory comments about their pride and joy.

There are methods to help with the issues concerning heat, do a search and you'll find lots of tips.

Gordon

[UNTMatt]

Welcome to the club and don't take the offhand comments of some of these old timers to heart they're just touchy about anybody making derogatory comments about their pride and joy.

Nah...everyone has their own issues with their own ride. If someone has an issue with heat on the ST, then so be it. Personally, I don't...have never felt it and I have 14k on the bike now. I have had other issues with it but not heat.

Of the heat complaints though, by far they are on the legs. Second, this guy has one post. One. Not one hi hello how are you. First place he goes is the known issues section and posts on a 'heat' problem.

Sorry, call me skeptical, not buying that it's legit.

[TOM BOGNAR]

Nah...everyone has their own issues with their own ride. If someone has an issue with heat on the ST, then so be it. Personally, I don't...have never felt it and I have 14k on the bike now. I have had other issues with it but not heat.

Of the heat complaints though, by far they are on the legs. Second, this guy has one post. One. Not one hi hello how are you. First place he goes is the known issues section and posts on a 'heat' problem.

Sorry, call me skeptical, not buying that it's legit.

+1 on that. It's February & we'er talking heat problems already..ugh. New post please:biker:

[Lou65]

There is a thin film aluminum product used for insulation, it
reflects 97% of radiant heat back in the opposite direction.
It may be called reflectech....has anyone tried this yet...
It may be sold on big roles at Home Depot

It is an amazing product and may be just the right thing for
under the seat....

Be Safe

I know you believe you understand what you think I said,
but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant

[RibsST1300]

I have 8000 miles on my 06, and I have had heat problems in the crotch area since day one, so don't trash the guy...(my ankles and shins are fine).

I find the heat is an air blast coming out the side by the valve covers and blasting over my knees into my crotch. The bottom half of my gas tank is consistanly hotter from the wind blast than the top of my BLACK tank sitting in full sun.

The higher the windscreen, the higher the heat wraps up, speeds around 55-60 indicated with shield up seem to be the worst, faster speed with shield lower redirects the heat back instead of up.

Installing a mylar/fiberglass/aluminum blanket running under the tank and seat had very little positive affect.

[SteveST1300]

Try the fairing wind deflectors they throw the heat from the heads away from the bike. :03biker: When its over 90 I feel heat otherwise no problem.

[hotgazza]

The ST1300 has 2 fuel tanks, the upper tank (which is the one with the filler cap) empties first and gets hotter as the fuel is used. The remainder of the fuel load is carried under the seat. Try topping up the tank more often.When the top tank is nearing empty, I do feel heat in my upper legs and crotch area, but who cares ?

Hotgazza, Brisbane, Australia

[Sailormilan2]

I took my bike for its first ride in 2 weeks to test its new Farkles. Spencer seat mod, MCL bar risers and peg lowerers. I bought this bike the first of November, and this is the first "warm" day it has been on a ride. Warm being a relative term here. Indicated air temp was between 75* - 81*. Above normal temps for this time of year, but way below the normal summer temps of of 90* - 110*. I have a 32" inseam, and ride with the seat at its highest position.
It got a little warm around the tank. Actually, the gap between the tank and the seat. I found that if the windscreen was raised to about 1/2 way or higher, the heat just billowed out. As long as the WS was low, the heat wasn't an issue. It seems that low pressure behind the screen is sucking the heat right up around the tank.
I normally ride with the shield up, as I am 6' 2", and the helmet gets noisey in the air stream.
I have a Clearview with centervent on the way. Hopefully, that will help the issue. Tomorrow I am off to the hardware store to find some thick weather stripping that I can attach to the front of the seat and alleviate the problem

[MrClean]

I have a Clearview with centervent on the way. Hopefully, that will help the issue. Tomorrow I am off to the hardware store to find some thick weather stripping that I can attach to the front of the seat and alleviate the problem

I, too, am considering a "Clearview ".
So , please , let us know what you think.
To me , it looks soooo big and I'm thinking it may make the bike handle very different

[4INer]

The ST1300 has 2 fuel tanks, the upper tank (which is the one with the filler cap) empties first and gets hotter as the fuel is used. The remainder of the fuel load is carried under the seat. Try topping up the tank more often.When the top tank is nearing empty, I do feel heat in my upper legs and crotch area, but who cares ?

Hotgazza, Brisbane, Australia

Ah ha, we finally get to the real reason for the heat. It's always comes back to the hydrocarbons..............

[M&M Take2]

AARRGGHH! Stick a fork in this, cause it's done! :D

[GAgirlTrixie]

HAHAHA! I thought I was the only one who filled up often because the nice cool gas in the top tank is a welcome relief from the heat!!!
I put the fairing deflectors on, also. Heat isn't too bad of a problem!!!

[Rotorhead]

OK, I felt compelled to respond (My first post for that matter). I've been abit of a lurker since I purchased my '06 back in August. The mods have'nt quit since....anyway, I too noticed the heat right off and nothing gets hotter than Georgia asphalt in August 'cept my shins. I did alot of surfing through the various sites (including this one of course). and came up with the best sure fire method to alleviate the heat issue. Remove the inner fairings.

Anyone who says the outers won't hangon over triple digit speeds is, IMHO, wrong. Done it plenty of times with no ill side effects what so ever. I took them off after my second ride and put them on the shelf. Without a doubt the biggest fix you can make to avert the heat.....and don't worry about the radiator getting enough air....it will.

Coating the pipes will give minimal relief and I speak from experience on this one. I'm sure someone can come up with some raw numbers for temp reduction but methinks its cost verses outcome is too high. Wrapping the pipes is another possibility but the engineer types tell me this holds in to much heat on the pipes and they get far hotter than they should ultimately resulting in premature cracking of the pipes and welds as they were not designed to retain so much heat. I dunno but it sounds reasonable.

To recap.......Remove the inners and you will be extremely pleased!!!!;)

[Sailormilan2]

Since I don't have a service manual yet, what are the "inner" fairings and how do I get to them? I fear I must find them quickly, as it is warming up here in Bakersfield more rapidly than usual.

[Rotorhead]

They are the two part black plastic pieces that surround the radiator, that is to say on the left and right side of the radiator. Don't bother trying to modify them or the like.....you'll just have to buy new ones when you sell the bike then. As I mentioned before, I have had them out for some time now with no ill effects (My shin bone toasted the first ride, but no more!).

You can do a search on this website and find mucho info regarding this as well.

Happy Trails!!

[bmcdonau]

I took my bike for its first ride in 2 weeks to test its new Farkles. Spencer seat mod, MCL bar risers and peg lowerers. I bought this bike the first of November, and this is the first "warm" day it has been on a ride. Warm being a relative term here. Indicated air temp was between 75* - 81*. Above normal temps for this time of year, but way below the normal summer temps of of 90* - 110*. I have a 32" inseam, and ride with the seat at its highest position.
It got a little warm around the tank. Actually, the gap between the tank and the seat. I found that if the windscreen was raised to about 1/2 way or higher, the heat just billowed out. As long as the WS was low, the heat wasn't an issue. It seems that low pressure behind the screen is sucking the heat right up around the tank.
I normally ride with the shield up, as I am 6' 2", and the helmet gets noisey in the air stream.
I have a Clearview with centervent on the way. Hopefully, that will help the issue. Tomorrow I am off to the hardware store to find some thick weather stripping that I can attach to the front of the seat and alleviate the problem

I think you may be on to something there. I experienced the same thing, but couldn't corelate the windshield height to the level of heat. I have a clearview windshield with center vent coming on March 27th so I'll be able to do a little experiment.

[threexcharm]

Wasn't it also true that an engine produces more heat during it's first few hundred miles?

Paul....

You better get back on that Yahoo VFR site where you belong!!!!!

You making the switch too????

Joe

[TahoeBound]

Man, its exactly these discussions that are making me shy away from a new ST :( I've got an '04 FJR and I don't want heat any more. Don't really notice it until its about 85+ (but in Kali its over 85 a lot - prime summer roadtrips). Sweaty balls aren't a huge deal, but I just don't feel like dealing with it. Wished Honda would've stepped up like the other companies who keep improving their ST bikes (Yamaha & BMW come to mind). Might as well pick up an 06 or 07 FJR - where the heat "issue" has been eliminated.

We'll see.

[turbocity tom]

I have run my 04 ST for 48K and have never had a real heat problem. It does not produce any more heat than any other bike I've owned. Most of the heat that I feel comes from the vent at the heads. I can feel some raise in temperature around my knees. I run with the Aeroflow windsdreen up about 1-1.5 in from the bottom. I can feel a slight raise in temperature behind the windscreen.

Now for the purpose of my post. I buy exhaust thermal insulation in bulk for some of the turbo stuff we do. About a week ago I desided to insulate the exhaust on my ST.

This is one of the best things that I have done!!! Now there is a lack of temperature. My knees have been cold for the first time in 3 years.

It works so well that I have put together an insulation kit with the proper amount of insulation and the right sized clamps to do the job.

Again, I have never had a heat problem, but with insulating the exhaust the ride has become far more comfortable.

Anyone in the area is welcome to come by and take my ST for a trial run.

http://www.turbocity.com/product_info.php?cPath=64&products_id=631


The last picture is after it is heated/run. It does darken some.


Thanks Tom


You guys don't miss much! The zip ties are part of the "engineering" of the kit. The kit comes with stainless clamps.

[vossman]

Nice, maybe that is something you can add to your list of products. I'd be interested at taking a look at it.
I need to go see the aeroflow people so maybe I can make it a 2 stop day.

[RibsST1300]

I've been wanting to do this, but was not sure how much wrap and parts to buy. It looks like you got it all packaged at a good price too!

Tom-do you have a selection of wrap colors? -I was thinking about black...is the one you show considered silver?

[lorenzell]

Just my humble observations from someone else who lives where it tends to get HOT!!!!!!

Proper riding boots and pants will definitely help on the heat problem on the lower legs and ankles. Last summer, I simply removed the covers for the tip over bars, in a simple effort to get more ventilation through the engine compartment and it seemed to help quite a bit.

Also, the Clearview windshield will affect the handling, in a very positive way. We get a lot of wind here in west Texas. I don't know why, but the wind seems to have less affect on the bike with the Clearview. I also upgraded to a Sargent seat, and a Olympia Jacket, riding now is a 100% joy.

Just my 2 cents.

Loren Zell

Americans: People who buy things they don't need with money they don't have to impress people they don't like.

[turbocity tom]

I've been wanting to do this, but was not sure how much wrap and parts to buy. It looks like you got it all packaged at a good price too!

Tom-do you have a selection of wrap colors? -I was thinking about black...is the one you show considered silver?

The insulation material that we use only comes "natural" a tan color when new and a darker tan when heated. When the fairings are installed you can not see the exhaust.

Thanks for your interest. Tom