K11 Owners Group

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:16 am Post subject: OK, stick a fork in me, I'm done.

I have to admit that I knew K bikes ran "warm", but I did not know that last Fall I bought a convection oven disguised as a BMW.

HOLY $@#&^**#! It is only April and we live in northern NH. This is nuts. How bad is it going to be in July??

Yesterday Cathy and I took a ride up North. Mind you there are still some snow piles around and a couple of bank building thermometers only read high 70's. But the sun was definitely out and I was getting broiled riding the bike.

Today is supposed to be like yesterday, so I will try a ride with the fairing lower piece off (screws in place to retain the hardware). I also searched this forum for other info on calming down the heat inferno and making the bike rideable this Summer.

Is there any downside to using this product? http://www.heatshieldproducts.com/bgcq_index.php
like possible damage to the exhaust system? As I have seen, the BMW exhaust headers are not very sturdy and $$$ to replace. Has anyone used this product and want to give a review?

I know that this topic has been discussed many times over, but if I don't do something that works (other than removing the lowers) I can't see keeping a ride that is REALLY uncomfortably HOT when I want to travel.

On another thread I stated my interest in going to an "R" before I get beyond medium-rare.

'93 K1100RS- like the bike, REALLY hate the heat.

John

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:57 am Post subject:

Take a look at the link below. I've done this to both of my K11s and it works quite well for heat mitigation.

http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4215
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Jim · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:50 am Post subject: RS heat

John - I've haven't ridden an RS - but from the information I've read on this board, I understand the heat can be literally thigh blistering. The K's get extremely hot, but not that hot. Have you tried the fan switch mod? The foil faced bubble blanket?

I imagine the two bikes run at the same temperature - they just throw the heat around differently. Other than trying the mods in the other heat threads here, the only thing I can think of that might help you is trying a different bike...
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

owrstrich · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

we were 2 up for several hours last weekend when it was 95 degrees in the central valley of california...

the foil bubble wrap blanket actually worked with no melting or other adverse effects of heat... yes i pulled the tank and checked... again...

last year in the heat i never really got the thigh roast but my seat would get very hot under my bung which wasnt good...

this year the fuel tank never got too hot... the seat never even got hot at all... no hot air blasting out between the tank and seat either... no hot air blasting out from under the seat...

the hot air did blast out down underneath the the side covers which was the plan... it bypassed my ankles and feet and mickis ankles and feet for the most part...

we are very happy with the inexpensive addition...

i think this stuff would work... the concept is to reflect the heat away from the tank and seat while making it airtight all the way to the bottom of the engine covers...

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=13358-56291-13358&lpage=none

http://www.heatshieldproducts.com/heat_shield_cloth.php

happy motorbiking...

johnny
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

Owning both an RS and an LT, I can tell oyu that both will bake your thighs. The LT closer to the knee, the RS further back on your thigh. I found the RS heat ot be much more annoying for some reason. (Maybe because I had a K75RT before the LT and was used to it.)

My amateur analysis of the heat issue is that the major cause is HOT air coming out at the crack/seam above the side panel. A secondary cause is the tank geting very hot. Not only because of it sitting above the eninge but also because the fuel return line also heats up fuel returning to the tank.

Another issue on the LT is that there is virtually no air movement around the knee on the LT. Even in cool weather I notice that my knee/thigh can get very hot when I have all of my gear on. And it's not caused by heat from the bike, it's that I have all the gear on and there's no air movement around the knee.

I've put the "Johnny Blanket" on both my bikes and it's really helped the heat issue. Since I've always thought that the hot air at the seam was the major issue, I'd pondered ways of getting rid of that air flow but never came up with a solution - Johnny did. Kudos to him.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

Hey thanks for the replies so far...

Just got back from about 100 miles without the fairing bottom. Heat is decreased on my legs and the temp gauge seems to read slightly lower (?) (was straight up when we were moving yesterday- today it reads halfway down to the next lower white mark) Is that possible?

It doesn't look TOO bad with the lower missing.

Time for the foil mod. I do have some quilted foil in the garage and will try that next, but may have to buy the real thing.

I really want to like the bike- hopefully a few tweeks will bring the inferno down to a reasonable level.

Thanks again.

Still tryin' to stay uncooked,
John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

mnb · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

The right knee gets a bit warm when I ride my LT, but I've never even considered it a problem - hardly bothers me at all. I rarely even notice it.

Now my Harley... Those two heaters it has, oh, what do they call them, oh yeah, cylinders! They get freakin hot in the summer. Getting stuck at lights in town on a 95 degree day can be literally painful.
_________________
M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

owrstrich · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject:

i heard that all harleys will be water cooled in 2010...

johnny
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

mnb · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject: COOL (and I mean my legs)

Hey Johnnie,

Tried your foil wrap idea today. You are definitely onto something!

Been using the bike for a few days with the lower fairing off, which is somewhat better at losing heat. But as I have been riding, I would use my bare hand to feel where the hot air is coming out and that convinced me to do a foil wrap imitation of your bike.

What I used is uninsulated double layer foil with a mesh of fibers between- we have part of a roll left over from when I did the radiant heat in our house. To really give it a test, I reinstalled the fairing lower.

It worked really well. It seems to channel the hot air back to the rear tire/fender area. And it was just a quickie job that I did- about 5 minutes installation. May have to improve upon it in a few days.

Thanks for the mod idea. Now if I can only get the #%@!#&%* ABS to stop blinking (my other post)

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

stick with the brick...

johnny
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

OK, this thread is back.

I have "foiled" the bike from the steering back to the top of the rear fender- it drapes over each side to the bottom of the side covers.

Yesterday Cathy and I took a ride in the afternoon along the Connecticut River. 30 to 55 mph roads, temps in the high 80's to low 90's, mixed sun and shade. Left the Aeroflow in the garage, obviously.

We are ATGATT.

So needless to say- we were TOAST after an hour or so, truly broiled. Couldn't wait to stop and get off.

This really takes all the fun out of riding.

I'll take the lower fairing off again, but I am still eyeing R bikes- jealous of uncooked riders. The bike will go before we ride without full gear.

Never had a bike that I didn't want to ride all the time, but I think twice on warm days.

Just my "well-done" rant.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

mike toon · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

Sonu · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject:

Friends,

I had an independent wrench do a little bit of engine work for me. To keep costs down I took off the lower fairing, knee guards etc. I rode around for a few weeks in that mode even after the bike was fixed. What a difference!

I'm keeping the LT. I can deal with a few days of heat. I stick with a stock windscreen and ride without a face shield on my full face helmet and a VANSON mesh air jacket. I know that this is not the same as wind on my legs but it FEELS much better.

Also the Johnny blanket has been a HUGE improvement.

Sanjiv
_________________
1997 K1100LT "Ziggy" _GarminGPS_Corbin saddle_K Guards _Hyperlights_Fog lights_Eastern Beaver Relays_Cee Bailey_4"speakers_Michelin PR4's_MoS2_Spiegler lines_TPMS_VDO

Off the grid · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject:

Mine gets hot too, and I live a good 6hrs south of you and ride AGATT most of the time.

It gets uncomfortable at times, but not unbearable. (And I prefer the cold weather)

I will do the Johnny mod soon but from the research on this board it seems a fan switch is THE BEST thing you can do to reduce heat.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

owrstrich · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:12 am Post subject:

i did about 420 miles in about 10 hours in 90+ degrees and 70+ humidity...

as soon as i get my piggybank back in order im gonna install a blanket on the l t... you all know about roasted nuts... well... i can tell you a thing or two about steamed nuts...

johnny
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

CheapJapCopy · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject:

I just rode an R1150GS for a bit today while mine was being serviced and I just about froze to death. I'd got used to that nice flow of air keeping my legs warm! Be grateful..

In summer weather (Not what we're getting now in Southeast England!) I've had to pull over once or twice to cool down though, I'll admit. It's the tank that really gets to me in the end I find, no need for a camping stove for us K1100 owners..
_________________
1992 K1100RS - Red and gold.

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject:

CheapJapCopy · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject: