engine heat

[ttudesperado]

Hey guys,

quick question to set my mind at peace, my 09 nomad is my first cruiser, i have had 3 dual sport/light sport touring bike. I really thought that with the engine heat fins on the block and the liquid cooling that the nomad would run super cool, instead it seems that i feel more heat coming off the engine than i do riding during a hot texas day? I realize that my last 2 bikes were 650cc and the nomad is 1700cc could explain it but just wanted to hear it from the forum

[AlabamaNomadRider]

You do feel a lot of heat and it seems more so from the right side. Might consider installing a Cobra or TFI fuel module. Seems to reduce the heat some. Also consider debaffling the Nomad as this tends to cool the exhaust down a lot.

[bigmacbkr]

Originally Posted by ttudesperado

Hey guys,

quick question to set my mind at peace, my 09 nomad is my first cruiser, i have had 3 dual sport/light sport touring bike. I really thought that with the engine heat fins on the block and the liquid cooling that the nomad would run super cool, instead it seems that i feel more heat coming off the engine than i do riding during a hot texas day?

Did you have the dealer install the heat shield kit? Mine is now well within a tolerable range after the kit was installed, no more excessive than any other bike that I've owned@!

[cactusjack]

Big engine gives off heat. 1700's are notorious for this, which is why Kaw has a dealer fix for it.

[schoeney]

I don't have a 1700 but even if you get the "fix" from the dealer expect a big V Twin to feel warm especially in the summer.

[macmac]

The coolant is almost a joke. I have no idea what the 1700 holds, but the 1500 and 1600 hold 2.5 quarts! Oil, fins are real cooling parts on these bikes as well as the piddly 2.5 qts.

Even in NH in cooler weather than a lot of places, and with a fuel modual, and V&H baggers I am dreaming up an air scoop to blow the heat off these pipes. Either than of get Cj to dream up AC.

[metalman]

I was out in the heat (91-94) on the 06 Nomad today. The heat on my right calf was pretty strong. However, when stopped a traffic lights I am able to hold my legs out and away from the bike to keep the from cooking. Of course wearing shorts is probably not a good idea, but they are my hot weather riding apparel. Yes, I know riding in shorts is not a good idea, but I've been doing it for 47 years and I have the scars to prove it.

[pastorgumby]

The up side is that you can heat up food in a jiffy!

[socwkbiker]

Wear thicker jean?

[ken]

I find it interesting that most of you mention heat on the right side, but my problem heat is on the left....my mechanic (recall I have two left hands) says my problem is a) lowers, b) Seibel(?) horn mounted on the engine guard and c) driving lights, also mounted on the engine guard. the three of them cut the air flow. I'd like to relocate the horn. I'd like to remove the stock horn and use that location but I don't see how it can be done and keep the compressor vertical. My bike is an 2005. Recommendations, comments and catchy cat calls welcome. ken

[macmac]

Ken, that's odd. The left side has a hollow cover with no oil and no pipes. A pic might help, but with out on a simple fix is another set of lowers mounted on the crash bars, with 'P' clamps, or better. Just a slim air deflector to draw air in at the engine and your legs. It won't help at a red light though.

I don't have that horn, but it seems to me others have mounted it in the stock location. Other clamps can be had to mount a veritical compressor to the frame in closer to the engine.

Last I would have guess wrong, that Germany was more like New Hampshire weatha' wize.

Of course I live and ride rural, in the mountians, with no real traffic,and no traffic controlls other than a few stop signs and a few lights that don't see me.

[kenk]

ttudesperado, you're now tucked behind a big wind screen and that a lone makes any bike hotter and some what surprised that no one mentioned that already. A

[peterdarby]

With my 09 I was cooking my right foot in slow traffic, even with the heat fix. I took off my engine guard chaps and it isn't so bad now, even in stopped traffic.

[scott2007nomad]

I didn't notice a change in heat after adding my TFI but I did notice more heat after adding large lowers.
I get the most heat on my right calf too but I was able to reduce the heat above that my raising the inner section of my windshield.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Ken

I find it interesting that most of you mention heat on the right side, but my problem heat is on the left....my mechanic (recall I have two left hands) says my problem is a) lowers, b) Seibel(?) horn mounted on the engine guard and c) driving lights, also mounted on the engine guard. the three of them cut the air flow. I'd like to relocate the horn. I'd like to remove the stock horn and use that location but I don't see how it can be done and keep the compressor vertical. My bike is an 2005. Recommendations, comments and catchy cat calls welcome. ken

You're chasing a ghost here. What "problem" are you talking about? Unless your engine is overheating, there is no problem. It's an engine. Normal operating temperature is around 220°F.

Anyway, here's how you mount a Stebel horn in the original horn location.



I used the original horn bracket, just flipped it end-for-end and turned it over, with a 1/2" spacer between the bracket and frame. Regardless of how it looks here, it sits level when the bike is off the stand.

I also have driving lights on my crash bars, large lowers, and ride when it's over 110°. I recently added a fairing, which allows more airflow, but the heat wasn't bad prior to that.