Author Topic: It's hot hot hot.  (Read 11306 times)

Offline beemuker

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1119
It's hot hot hot.
« on: May 21, 2021, 01:59:12 PM »
I now am the proud owner of 2 11's, a "93KLT and a '00 R11RT. I just rode the RT  from CT to FL. I got to know "orca" well, and I like it. It was a great bike to do a long trip on. It does not transfer much heat to the rider.  I haven't ridden the K much, as I got it as a non- runner and it took me a while to get 'er going. Still need to do the fork seals. But the little riding I did showed me this beast lives up to it's "hot ride" reputation. I was thinking replacing the lowers with RS ones from one of the kind folks mutilating their bricks . Any other clues to heat mitigation on a LT?
  • Panama City, FL
  • '00 R1100RT,’92 K75 RT,past tense:'83 R80ST, '93 K1100LT,,94 R1100RS K75s, Honda NC700, Suzuki Bandit 1200, bmw R75/5 Honda 750

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6857
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2021, 02:44:55 PM »
My k75RT is my touring bike, and I've had it in New Mexico and Utah in 120+F without suffering excessively.  The main source of heat now is the hot sun beating down on my riding gear and the lack of airflow because of the windshield.  I solved the airflow problem by getting a cut down windshield for hot weather riding.  I helps a lot, but can't be done with the power shield on the K11LT.

The main thing is to keep the fuel in the tank as cool as possible.  There are two approaches that I know of to accomplish that.  I built a fuel cooler and put it in the return line to the tank and put it in front of the radiator.  It works well enough to keep from frying my thighs and boiling the fuel in the tank.  I am not sure if the extruded aluminum cooler I used will fit in the space between the wheel and the radiator on the K11.

Another solution I've seen is to move the pressure regulator from the space behind the radiator to a spot above the fuel rail below the return spigot on the tank.  This moves the regulator out of the hot air coming off the radiator and engine block to a cooler spot behind the radiator trim.  It's a fairly easy modification that only requires a simple sheet metal bracket to be made and attached to the left side frame down tube.  A nice additional touch would be to put a little reflective insulation behind it between it and the radiator along with a few holes in the radiator trim to put a little cool airflow on it.

Another approach is to put an insulated blanket below the tank and seat to reflect the heat rising from the engine.  There is information here, just search on "Johnny Blanket".  Yes, we can thank our own beloved forum honcho for this invention.

The brick will never be as cool to ride as a boxer, but by adding the Johnny Blanket and keeping the fuel cooler you can make it more comfortable in hot weather.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline beemuker

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1119
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2021, 03:39:31 PM »
thanks MG. I wonder if there's anything tho kep the heat off the lower legs, that's where it bothers me. 
  • Panama City, FL
  • '00 R1100RT,’92 K75 RT,past tense:'83 R80ST, '93 K1100LT,,94 R1100RS K75s, Honda NC700, Suzuki Bandit 1200, bmw R75/5 Honda 750

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6857
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2021, 04:40:24 PM »
Can't help you there.  The heat on my bike was pretty much knees to waist.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Scott_

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 2281
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2021, 04:41:03 PM »
thanks MG. I wonder if there's anything tho kep the heat off the lower legs, that's where it bothers me.
Not really, as that's primarily where the hot air off the radiator exits the engine space.
I haven't had much of a chance to ride my 1100RT in the heat yet, so I can't compare it to my LT.
  • My Garage
1997 K1100LT 0302488 (resurrected)
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
1995 K1100LT 0302044 (R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb

Offline beemuker

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1119
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #5 on: May 21, 2021, 05:19:28 PM »
Not really, as that's primarily where the hot air off the radiator exits the engine space.
I haven't had much of a chance to ride my 1100RT in the heat yet, so I can't compare it to my LT.
night and day
  • Panama City, FL
  • '00 R1100RT,’92 K75 RT,past tense:'83 R80ST, '93 K1100LT,,94 R1100RS K75s, Honda NC700, Suzuki Bandit 1200, bmw R75/5 Honda 750

Offline daveson

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1318
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2021, 08:13:10 PM »
Don't know if this helps cause I ride a k100rt. When I first started riding this brick I was surprised by the heat on my lower legs. Shortly after for some reason I temporarily removed the gaiter type thing closing the gap in the fairing where the forks go through. I think that's when the heat problem stopped, and I just left them off. I think that allows cool air in to mix with the hot.
  • Victoria, Australia
  • Current; '85 K100RT~100,000km; four other bricks. Past; Vulcan 1500, V Star 650, KLX 250(dirt bike) TT250(dirt bike)

Offline beemuker

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1119
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2021, 12:29:40 PM »
went for a ride on the brick this morning. Felt a lot more hot air on the L side. Turns out I let the rubber that goes between the fairing and tank slip and there is a big gap that is allowing hot air through. now I know why it was so hot.  112350 112350
  • Panama City, FL
  • '00 R1100RT,’92 K75 RT,past tense:'83 R80ST, '93 K1100LT,,94 R1100RS K75s, Honda NC700, Suzuki Bandit 1200, bmw R75/5 Honda 750

Offline volador

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1167
  • NEEDS MORE CHROME
  • NYC NY
  • 1991 K100RS 1993 K75S ABS
5 BOROUGHS SISYPHEAN SOCIETY  MAINTAINING THE OBSESSION

Offline Snowman

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 281
  • Aberdeen SD.
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2021, 10:54:40 AM »
I was thinking there must be something missing or modified because I really do not get a lot of heat from my LT. I do notice it a little when sitting in traffic on a hot day with the fan running but on the open roads even on hot days, no.

Offline beemuker

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1119
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2021, 12:17:59 PM »
The Johnny blanket material must be selling like hotcakes I couldn’t get it from either Lowes or Home Depot had to order it off Amazon
  • Panama City, FL
  • '00 R1100RT,’92 K75 RT,past tense:'83 R80ST, '93 K1100LT,,94 R1100RS K75s, Honda NC700, Suzuki Bandit 1200, bmw R75/5 Honda 750

Offline mw074

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 452
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2021, 01:13:45 PM »
These were made for the K100LT to divert the heat. They worked well. As far as I know, they were not made for the K75s or the K1100s.
  • Michigan

Offline frankenduck

  • Adrninistrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 5513
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #12 on: August 29, 2021, 02:32:01 PM »
These were made for the K100LT to divert the heat. They worked well. As far as I know, they were not made for the K75s or the K1100s.

They also work on K100RSs. K Guards can be adapted to fit a K75. You just need to make an adapter to fit the four coil screw holes of the K100 to the three of the K75.

They weren't made to divert heat. Their purpose is cosmetic. If anything they trap heat.
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline frankenduck

  • Adrninistrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 5513
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #13 on: August 29, 2021, 02:39:11 PM »
One thing that can help reduce thigh heat is riding pants with armor that wraps around the inside of the thighs.  My Motoport pants have that and it helps noticeably reduce thigh when heat riding the K1100LT.
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 11648
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #14 on: August 29, 2021, 03:30:44 PM »
K Guards . . .  weren't made to divert heat. Their purpose is cosmetic. If anything they trap heat.
Opinions vary. Here's one that differs from yours.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 102,000 miles

Offline beemuker

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1119
Re: It's hot hot hot.
« Reply #15 on: August 29, 2021, 03:56:57 PM »
I installed a "johnny blanket" today. If it ever stops raining I may get a chance to test it. We are getting rain bands from Ida, and we are a long way from it.Pray for those people in LA.
  • Panama City, FL
  • '00 R1100RT,’92 K75 RT,past tense:'83 R80ST, '93 K1100LT,,94 R1100RS K75s, Honda NC700, Suzuki Bandit 1200, bmw R75/5 Honda 750

Tags: