cutting down the engine heat on rider effect on a K75

[michael]

I' a new member from Ireland and get a lot of fun using my 1992 K75 RT year round. That's due to our dour but not too cold weather. When the summer heat hits, yes for about three weeks here, but much longer in france where the best touring is, its like a sauna riding my bike with all the protective gear on. Anyone got any ideas about deflecting or reducing heat? I have had two K75 RT's over the last 10 years and think them the best bikes ever. I want to get another but am put off by the engine heat problem. Any ideas please?

[mystic red]

Try the Johnny Blanket

[K75RT Keith]

K guards work well fit between fairing and frame.  Found a source in Tennessee that makes them.  You can see them on the pic of my bike

[WayneDW]

Keith, do you have a web site or similar for this product?
thanks.

[K75RT Keith]

Posted contact info in the Shopping Cart 

[Beemer01]

And the K100 is worse.  There are many things I did to make the K100 comfortable in the US level high temps.  Which in Utah are certainly higher than in France.

1. K Guards - probably the most effective think you can do.
2. I wore BMW Summer riding pants - breathable protective gear.
3. I used those foam pipe insulation pieces to protect the two fuel lines that come from the injection rail to the tank from the heat off the radiator - keeps the tank and fuel cooler too.
4. Heat can escape from the edge of the fairing where it meets the tank - get new rubber bits here from BMW.
5. Make sure the heat reflector is still on the underside of the tank.

Even after all this you'll occasionally have to look down at your pants leg to verify that it's not on fire. :yow

[michael]

I have tried a couple of things over the last three years. The best by far is to use the household radiator reflector type padded tin foil insulation. I read that someone had good results on a cross Death Valley summer trip....though he admitted he was wearing a super breathable jacket as well. The technique is simply to lift the tank roll out the material and cut it to fit the gaps from the fairing running alongside the engine. Plastic ties and gaffer tape can be used to secure it ti the frame. The engine does not overheat and I have detected no adverse effects on my 1993 K75. It does a great job though on re directing the heat to the back of the bike. At the end of the summer just remove the padded tin foil and have central heating available all winter.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I added the johnny blanket and a fluid cooler to the fuel return line.  The cooler made a HUGE difference in hot weather comfort.  The tank never gets above ambient.

[TX brick]

I added the johnny blanket and a fluid cooler to the fuel return line.  The cooler made a HUGE difference in hot weather comfort.  The tank never gets above ambient.

  Could you provide details on the cooler? I have a Johnny blanket, K Guards and have plugged gaps and insulated the fuel lines.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Here you go:  http://www.k100-forum.com/t9594-k75rt-fuel-cooler

I have about 8,000 miles on the bike with the cooler including a 3500 mile cross country trip, a lot of it last summer when temperatures were well up into the 80's and low 90's.   It never got warmer than ambient except when stuck in traffic, and then only a little bit and it would cool down quickly as soon as I started moving again.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Current link to cooler on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Speedmaster-PCE186-1018-10-Silver-Anodized-Dual-Pass-Transmission-Oil-Cooler-Wit-/262048633500?hash=item3d0350d29c:g:k9EAAOSwWnFV-A0K&vxp=mtr

Notes: 

1.  Stainless isn't required for the bracket, but I wouldn't use aluminum as it flexes too much and work hardens and will end up cracking.

2.  I chased the threads in the end of the cooler to allow the hose barbs to be screwed in as far as possible.  I also cut off the barbs so there was only enough to support the hose clamps.  This was done to get the hoses about 3/4" closer to the bike and out of harm's way.

3. An ExtendaFenda on the front mudguard will keep the fins clean.

You have to be registered with the K100 forum to view the photos.  If anyone can't see them and would like them posted here, let me know.  Maybe the admin will allow me to post them.

[Martin]

Ron if you go down the fuel cooler route don't pay through the nose for an Extenda Fenda. Mine cost me 90c, made a card board template of the desired shape and size. Using the template I cut out the Fenda Extenda out of a 90c black plastic bucket, attach the Extenda with 3 X 4mm aluminium mushroom head Allen screws. Make sure the screws clear the tyre. You don't have to use black, buckets come in various colours. The reason for using a bucket is it is already curved, but you could use anything flat and use a Heat Gun to form it :clap:
Regards Martin.

[alexis291]

If you lived in England you'd be glad of that lovely warm air heating your legs up.

[deftflux]

The Johnny Blanket looks interesting.  Similar to what I did, but a little different.

I went to my local Home Depot store and picked up some adhesive-backed foam insulation, maybe a quarter of an inch thick, and a roll of adhesive-backed tin foil.  I took the fuel tank off, removed what remained of the stock insulation off the underside, and applied the foam insulation to the entire underside, cutting the pieces around the edge to shape.  Then, same thing with the tin foil, except on top of the foam insulation.  The foil reflects some heat, and whatever it absorbs is insulated from the tank itself.  Works great.

I, however, also converted my RT to a naked bike, so I don't have a big fairing channeling all the hot air right onto my legs.   :riding:  I also did the pipe insulation and fuel cooler mods that were previously mentioned.

[TrueAce]

Me & my man Deftflux hold the patent on Home Depot inspired aluminum foil foam backed insulation, the stuff used for hot water heaters, pipes, etc. Works great to cut done on heat to the tank.