During this terrible heat spell we've been having for the last week or so, I got to go for a short ride, and as luck would have it, ran into two older gentlemen riding their ST1300's as well.
All three bikes were stock (shields / exhausts) and all three of us had stock seats.
During a rest break (108 degree temps) we were drinking water and talking bikes. Other than the wickedly hot air blowing into my face, I was OK with the heat coming off the sides of the bike.
The other rider, agreed and was ready to push on, however, the third guy was complaining about how HOT his bike was (more so than the hot wind in his face) etc.
The two guys switched bikes and we went another few miles then switched back. The guy that complained about how hot his bike was, made the same complaint about the guys bike he just rode too.
I switched bikes and only rode for about 10 miles, but found it to be about the same as mine etc.
This got me thinking
all our bikes had the same shields/pipes/seats, we were all traveling at the same speed, on the same roads etc.
We were all wearing normal jeans (Levi, Lee, and Wranglers) I was wearing sneakers, both of them wearing MC boots.
At the next stop (Gizdich Pies) we discussed the heat issue.
Since switching bikes back and forth, I felt we got a fair comparison of different states of tune (air filters - TB sync - oil) etc. So that should not make a difference since two of us rode the offending HOT bike and were OK with it, while the guy on the hot bike stated that both ours were just as hot.
Our first thought is maybe he is just sensitive to heat? Is he on any medications that make him sensitive to heat more than us? (this has been the case for one member that I know of) etc.
I then noticed something that I had not thought about prior, While (I) ride, I position my legs with the balls of my feet on the riders pegs, and my heels on the platform of the passenger peg mount, and this gives me just a two or three inch gap between my thighs and the tank, allowing air to flow through in this area. Rider number two also keeps his knees and thighs off the tank. However, Rider three, with the heat issue, was riding as far forward as possible, and clamping down both of his thighs tight against the tank, sealing off all air flow from this area. This is why he felt our bikes were just as hot as his, and we felt his bike was no worse than ours etc.
Now to be fair, this guy was short, and what my doctor would say overweight (obese), so he had no choice in the matter. he was unable to ride without his leg resting against the frame/tank etc.
This just made me wonder, is our riding position causing heat issues for some folks? I also noticed that if you put the seat in the high position, it creates a gap of about an inch between the seat and tank, and lets air flow better too.
So, If your having heat issues with your bike, you may want to consider experimenting with your seating position or seat height.
Igofar
NOTE: this observation is in no way implying that some bikes don't run hotter than others, or that only large riders have these complaints. This was just three guys comparing bikes and talking about causes of heat and possible solutions.
