Author |
Message |
Newbieking
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 12:12 pm: |
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Hello again, I have heard that the Lightnings get really hot when you are, say, at a stop sign. Is this true? If so, is it any reason not to buy one? Thanks, NewbieKing |
Andymnelson
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 12:26 pm: |
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No and no. Run a quality oil, and don't be an a** by revving the engine needlessly while at a stop and there's no issues. Our bikes are air and oil cooled, not water cooled so they are not meant to sit and and idle for long periods of time without the air running past the engine. Never an issue for me anyway. -andy |
Boltrider
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 12:26 pm: |
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The frame on the right side does get warm during the summer if you're stuck in traffic. Once you get going, airflow will cool things down. |
Boney95
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 12:29 pm: |
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They don't get that hot, unless you live in a hot azz location like Arizona, then again what bike would not get hot in 100+ degree temps. You're in San Fran so you'll have no issues. Don't get me wrong your balls will do some sweating on warm days, but nothing major. Any air cooled bike will get warm while not moving. You can also buy heat barriers from specialops if you feel the need to. |
Nuerburgringer
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 12:32 pm: |
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I can't think of a single example of an internal-combustion vehicle that doesn't get hot when its running but not moving. Liquid-cooleds are less bad than air-cooleds, but air-cooleds are engineered with greater heat in mind. If they're not OVERheating, then there is no problem. I'm on my third XB, and live in a climate that routinely exceeds 100F. I have never had a problem, whether roadracing, or crawling around downtown. Is the engine heat apparent under extreme conditions? Yeah, sure it is, but we live with it. The XB motor is designed to endure incredible temperatures, and does. Oh yes, absolutely run synthetic. The owner's manual doesn't recommend it without reason. Synthetic transfers heat better, and endures extremes better as well. (Message edited by nuerburgringer on February 04, 2009) |
Midknyte
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 01:26 pm: |
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Another factor is mods. If you change out your filter for a free-er flowing K&N for example, you'll run leaner and therefore hotter. |
Saratoga
| Posted on Thursday, February 05, 2009 - 09:19 am: |
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How hot it gets is a matter of opinion... yes the damn thing gets hot while you're sitting still, what did you expect it to do? It's not a diesel engine that gets cooler the longer it idles. People saying that they've burned their legs from the heat that gets blown out from under the seat by the cooling fan either wear shorts when they ride or have the skin of a newborn child. I dress properly and it has never been an issue for me, even in the dead of summer in August. I had an 04 1600 Kawi Mean Streak cruiser before which was water cooled. That sob would blow some hot air when sitting at lights because the radiator had a cooling fan that was mounted in front of the engine. You would get doused with hot air at stop lights and in traffic. |
Chadr81
| Posted on Thursday, February 05, 2009 - 09:44 am: |
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I don't know why, but I never thought the XB's were that hot on the right side. I think my S3T gets hotter than my XB does. Both are modded and I run synthetic in both. In my mind, I know the exhaust is on the right side of the bike... so I expect it to be a little warmer. |
Nuerburgringer
| Posted on Thursday, February 05, 2009 - 11:48 am: |
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"I don't know why, but I never thought the XB's were that hot on the right side." They're not. I've ridden a lotta bikes that are worse. I don't understand why people whine about it. A powerplant is a very hot thing, without exception. And THIS powerplant is literally between the rider's legs. If the heat is so detrimental to the rider, maybe he oughta be driving. Just my $0.02. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Thursday, February 05, 2009 - 11:52 am: |
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If the frame and/or seat do get too hot for you, it's not difficult or expensive to improve things: - Jet Hot coat the headers - Line frame with adhesive-backed, foil-faced insulation (available at hot rod shops) - Install Special Ops heat blankets under the seat. These things can make a big difference in the amount of heat that gets transferred to the rider. |
Dynasport
| Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 06:42 pm: |
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No expert here, but I have test ridden many different Buells while I am waiting on the finances to allow me to buy one. Some of the ones I have ridden have been noticably hot, others have not. You could argue it was the conditions I rode them under or some other issue. I kind of think it varies a bit from bike to bike. Last year at Daytona I test rode every Buell model they had. The only one that was hot to me was the XB12SS, but on other test rides I have noticed significant heat on an XB12X, but not on an SS. I too am a bit concerned about the heat on these bikes living in the warm state of Florida. I don't know, even on the bikes that were a bit warm, it wasn't terrible. I have heard some say they got blisters riding. I haven't experienced anything so severe. Mostly hot air on my right lower leg. Not pleasant, but not painful. |
Nuerburgringer
| Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 07:17 pm: |
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"I have heard some say they got blisters riding." That's ridiculous. "Mostly hot air on my right lower leg." On the XB-S specifically, (not the R, I have no experience with SS or Uly,) the way the subframe is formed, you get some extra heat out of the fan exiting below your RH thigh. I live in central California, and we can go a whole month at +110F. I ride the whole time. Believe it or not, you stop noticing that heat by your thigh after awhile; I never even think about it. Minor quirk, wholly offset by my love of the bike. Don't lose sleep over it. Wear proper clothing, ceramic-coat your header, run synthetic oil; that stuff helps. But there's always gonna be heat; motorcycles in general are less-than-ideal from that perspective. |
Brumbear
| Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 10:12 pm: |
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Got fan wonderfully loud and attention getting fan yes hot not so much |
2dflyer
| Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 11:19 pm: |
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I'm one of those candy ashes that has a low tolerance for heat. I rented a Ulysses last fall after Aaron Frank ripped on and whined about the heat so I was looking for it. Sure it got warm occasionally - mainly I think when the fan was running - but only an issue when hugging the frame. Move the leg off the frame a little and it's gone. It won't stop me from getting one and 95% of my riding is city. |
Midknyte
| Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 02:00 am: |
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I dress properly and it has never been an issue for me, even in the dead of summer in August. I'm with Saratoga. If you're not wearing shorts & flipflops, it's tolerable to just not noticed. |
Petebueller
| Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 04:22 am: |
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A Right side scoop like American Sport Bike or Pegasus Customizing makes a HUGE difference. Add alloy ceramic coated headers and you don't notice the heat. The temp hit 46.5 C (116 F) in the city (Melbourne) today, so I know about the heat from the frame. |
Skinstains
| Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 07:24 pm: |
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That right side scoop is awesome. Two of my Buells have them and the other two will be getting them as soon as I get the loot to pay for them. I have also disabled the 'Flash To Pass' and wired the fan to it. If it does get warm ay a light I just pull the switch and the fan is on blowing all the heat away from the rider. (Message edited by skinstains on February 07, 2009) |
Brumbear
| Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 07:27 pm: |
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that aint a bad Idea there I hope ya don't mind I 'm gonna steal that one stains |
Petebueller
| Posted on Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 01:33 am: |
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Skinstains - That's a real hot idea Edit to change the clipart (Message edited by Petebueller on February 08, 2009) |
Bombardier
| Posted on Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 03:19 am: |
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Did you wire that through a relay or direct? |
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