Heat and dealer comment..

[ponch]

Originally Posted by IndyRay

Thanks for all the input. I will wrap the exhaust this weekend and get the air kit asap. Also, funny the dealer offered me 9k for the Vaq with 260 miles on it. Basically told me he didnt want anymore of them and didn't order any new ones. He had a leftover 2010 stratoliner deluxe on the floor asking 10,999. I offered him my bike and 500 to do the deal he said no it would take 1,500. I checked 3 other dealerships within 3 hr drive and all came back with 9 to 9,200 trade value. I will take the bike to the service dept and see why the temp is runnning this high and wait for him to tell me "we've never seen that problem or they don't know about a problem". Then I will pull the sales mgr to refresh his memory. Top Cat, that's what twists me is I shouldnt have to spend that much to make the bike run cool enough to enjoy. Ponch, I also think there is an issue with the bike running to lean or rich causing this much heat. There is no excuse for a water cooled engine to run this hot producing this kind of heat. Either way this is a great site with tons of info. If I can get my seat back in time I will run this one on the last half of the American Legion Legacy Run.

It's running too lean. An air kit by itself won't help. You have enrichen the F/A mixture.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by mobandy78

I'll trade you my '05 Nomad for your Vaquero. I just put Cobra exhaust and an air intake on it. It doesn't run hot at all... that'll solve your heat problem.

Or buy a R1200R or GS and not worry about engine heat. My RT doesn't have the problem either, but the bodywork keeps the air off me to the extent that I cook from the ambient temps in hell. That said, I never feel the engine heat.

[Gandalf]

I test rode a new 2012 Goldwing a few days ago and it almost roasted my left ankle to death!!!! It was about 100 degrees during the ride and I had dress shoes on but it was enough to cut my ride short. The heat was there whether I rode 40 mph or 70!!! On a Wing, both of your feet are right next to the cylinder heads. My 'R' series BMW's never did that!

Sam:)

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Gandalf

I test rode a new 2012 Goldwing a few days ago and it almost roasted my left ankle to death!!!! It was about 100 degrees during the ride and I had dress shoes on but it was enough to cut my ride short. The heat was there whether I rode 40 mph or 70!!! On a Wing, both of your feet are right next to the cylinder heads. My 'R' series BMW's never did that!

Sam:)

I never rode a goldwing, but my RT engine doesn't roast me. I never ride with dress shoes though. Sometimes sneakers, most of the time riding boots.

[Gandalf]

Yeah Jim, I normally ride with boots myself. I couldn't remember if my last Goldwing, a new 1997 Aspencade put out that much heat or not. My Harley's didn't but then again my legs were out maybe 10 inches or so from the cylinders.

When I test rode the Vaquero a few weeks ago at about 90 degrees, I wasn't aware of a 'heat' issue at all.

Take care.

Sam:)

[ponch]

I didn't notice a heat issue with the Voyager, but it was October in Iowa. I imagine it would be a different story down here this time of the year.

[IndyRay]

Update: I called Evansville Westside Honda where I purchased the bike 3 wks ago. Business Manager called me back and said after checking my trade in actual cash value on the 2011 Vaquero with 260 miles would be $7,500. After I picked myself off the floor, he said he spoke to the Kawasaki rep and "they've never heard of any problems". Imagine that. But now that there may be a problem, he doesnt want one back on the floor. I was a GM of a dealership in Miami years ago and I've never seen a bike loose $5,500 dollars coming off the floor unless you paid above retail. Thought you all would get a good laugh from that one. I told him that its funny him and his staff thought it was a great bike 3 wks ago. Guess it's wrap time this weekend and the fun begins!

[ponch]

It sounds like he wants you to keep the bike and get out of his hair and if you are stupid enough to accept his offer, he'll make money twice on the same bike.

[REDKAW1700]

As much as I luv my bike,,,,,,It runs Toooooo hot.....BBQ's da thighs !!!

[REDKAW1700]

don't think people are "imagining" it........

[puckoach]

Ray, sorry to hear about your problem. Me thinks the GM should be doused with a fire hose, his pants are on fire.....

Kawi is certainly aware of the issue. That some riders are not that upset, lends thought towards the possibility that some of them are worse than others, for some reason.

I've been watching the issue for some time. Below is a paste from my post on the Vulcan site, in July, on a thread about the 1700's being too hot.

"The intial "too hot" fix was supposed to be added to the 2010, and done as a recall to the 09's.

The 2012 has a fan set-up.

Took my 06 1600 Nomad to the Kawi Street Demo in my area. Hot day for here, in the 90's.

Rode the Voyager and the Vacquero. Then jumped on the Nomad and did the same route. The 1700's are both much hotter. I thought the Vacquero, with much smaller windshield and no lowers was certainly cooler than the Voyager. Reported this on the survey.

The heat issue is why I bought the older 1600 in May. Although, it only had 4k miles and was less than half the cost.....

It was explained to me, that the problem is due to the change from shaft, to belt drive. The belt taking the pipe space at the base of the frame.

Hoping they get this solved for the future. "

As the 2010 fix was done as a recall to 09's, Kawi and their dealers are aware of the problem. The 2012 fix, a fan set up that was engineered and added, further re-states Kawi's awareness of the issue.

Good luck and keep us informed. I love the new Voyager, and hope they solve the heat issue, so I can get one !

[IndyRay]

Rest assured Ponch I'm not taking 7500 and that dealer can bite me. I rode last night to check some more, it was around 83 here last night after some rain. I took it to a parking lot 4 miles away. Ran at 55mph there and did some figure 8's in first gear took about 10 mins and the temp was just a bit over 3/4 but not completely into the red. Jumped back on the highway up to 60 and it did come back down but stayed betweenn 1/2 and 3/4 the rest of the time.
I'm with you guys, Kawi knows there's an issue with some of these. Does not appear to be all of them though. Some on here say there's hardly ever goes past 1/2. I will start a new thread and ask guys to respond on their year, what there service dept has said or done to this point and some info. I will contact Kawi and become a PITA until we get a rep thats going to shoot straight. I know first hand when I was a GM if groups of riders/clubs speak loud enough, manufacturers will take action because it's in their best interest, not because they truely care. Thanks for the feedback.

[ponch]

I wonder if it has air in the cooling system? They could check that, the coolant level and the thermostat.

[drof]

I agree that my Vaquero runs hotter than any of my other bikes. It also is the largest motor I've had on a bike. I live in Iowa and we have had hotter temps this year than in a long time. July was horrible! Almost everyday heat index was 103+. Given all that there was only one time I got uncomfortable to the point I wanted off now. I was parked in my driveway waiting for the wife to jump off so I could put the bike away. Sure it was warm other times but nothing from what you are experienceing. The only change I had currently done to the bike was a pipe. Why? Because I want some sound from my bike. In my opinion there isn't a bike out there that sounds good stock. Not that I've heard anyway. I'm not sure what you have going on with power issues either. I've road with other bikes and never had trouble running pace. Unfortunaltely I've had to check the mirrors to make sure a certain manufactures bike didn't get lost. The Vaquero is no ZX14 but it will go faster than I ever need it to. I thought that pretty much everyone changed things on their bikes? I didn't feel that I needed to change one thing on this bike for it to run....even in Iowa Summers. I've changed every bike I've ever owned. Guess for me its just part of the fun.

[ponch]

Happiness is often a stock bike...As far as Iowa summers go, they have nothing on where I am now. Winters too from what I am told...