Heat Issues At Knees/thighs.

[Newchamp]

Hello,
I just bought my 23 T900 GT pro 3 days ago after months of consideration. My concerns I wanted to pay close attention to on my test ride were a couple of things I've seen brought up throughout various forum posts, YouTube videos etc. Those are vibrations and heat at knees.

The vibration that has been brought up doesn't seem to be an issue any more than any other bike, but I believe the heat issue on the legs is. I know there are some aftermarket shields to redirect air coming from the radiator fans away from the knees but I don't think that's the issue. The heat is coming from the frame. So if your legs are tucked against the tank and frame that's where the heat seems to be coming from. I measured the temperature of various parts of the frame with a laser thermometer after riding for about 30 minutes and letting the bike sit for about ten minutes. I will attach a picture to show what I found.

The area highlighted red on the frame temperatures were around 170* F(77*C) and the areas highlighted yellow were around 150*F(66*C). That seems high to be placing your inner thigh on when you grip the tank even with gear on. Of course the cylinder head is right there also which will obviously be hot but that is recessed and your leg doesn't make direct contact with that but probably contributes a fair amount to the issue. A solution might be some plastic fairing highlighted in blue to cover that area. I will bring up this information at the dealer and see what they respond with.

 

[sikatri]

Interesting issue. I was trying to picture how the rider looked on the motorcycle, had to search a picture. Seems that triangle area is the general location for knees depending on the riders height and leg length. It would be interesting to hear from other Tiger riders how they deal with heat at that area. I’ve seen riders with heavier looking riding gear and also a crash bar added that might keep the leg and knee area off the frame. Following.

 

[brooke]

I can see that area of the frame getting hot . It got to 31.5 C on the hiway last week , with the humidity felt like 40 . There are special bikes that people have to ride in these conditions . They are older Harleys , with tall handle bars and special foot pegs so they can ride with knees out and arm pits exposed . They usually just do coffee shop runs but on those real hot ones they hit the hiway for a half hour to cool down . Standard apparel includes shoes , blue jeans , half helmet , T shirt , sun glasses and perhaps no gloves . They go by on the outside lane enjoying the fact that your roasting in your $2k Klim stuff .

 

[solomon]

They usually just do coffee shop runs but on those real hot ones they hit the hiway for a half hour to cool down . Standard apparel includes shoes , blue jeans , half helmet , T shirt , sun glasses and perhaps no gloves

You forgot this...

 

[sikatri]

You forgot this...

View attachment 55861

Actually your picture gave me a simple idea. Wrap the frame with exhaust pipe wrap. It should help a bit.

 

[Newchamp]

Actually your picture gave me a simple idea. Wrap the frame with exhaust pipe wrap. It should help a bit.

I actually thought of that or this stuff ref=sspa_dk_detail_3 , but tape would be fairly labor intesive removing the tank and all the plastic and there are welded tabs and wiring to prevent the velcro stuff from being easily installed as well.

 

[sikatri]

I actually thought of that or this stuff ref=sspa_dk_detail_3 , but tape would be fairly labor intesive removing the tank and all the plastic and there are welded tabs and wiring to prevent the velcro stuff from being easily installed as well.

Probably no easy solution without some trade off. I installed a turbo blanket on my MINI some years back. It’s also possible to fabricate a turbo blanket style cover to stretch over the area and use some exposed fasteners to hook it together around the frame. These materials are extremely good at keeping the heat off. I can run the engine and touch the original cover which I put on for esthetics without any issue. There’s a solution out there, I’m sure of that.

 

[Qship]

The older Tiger 1200s like mine run hot in the lower regions. Think the older 800s were a bit warm as well. Will wait for someone else to chime in on that one.
I thought the new 900/1200s with the split rads helped to get more heat away from the rider. Keep us posted with what you do or find out.

 

[Newchamp]

So I've made a little progress in diagnosis and potential solutions.

There is a gap about finger width between the center radiator cowl and the rear cowl portion that directs there hot air out through the vent by your knees on both sides. This allows the hot air to bypass the duct and go directly towards the engine and frame(img 225).

While at the dealership I was explaining the issue to the parts guy since the service manager is out for the week. I wanted to show him on a bike on the showroom. They only had Rally Pro's on the floor. When I went to show him I noticed the Rally Pro has a frame guard on the top part of the frame.(Img 217). The parts guy was unsure if they would fit but he said usually the part would specifically state(Except GT etc).

When I got home I pulled the plastic and can see the mounting holes on my bike where the screws will mount the frame guard (Img 221 & 222). The parts are on backorder in the US but found some in the UK and have those on order( PN T2072581 & T2072591). I've also ordered Amazon.com: 1-1/2 ID Fire Wrap 25" Heat Shielded Protection Sleeve Fire Thermo Armor Silicone Coated Fiberglass Hose 2 feet Length for Wires, Hoses, etc. (with Hook and Loop Closure) : Everything Else to use on the lower frame rail and ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00 to try and fill the gap in the cowl/ducts that directs the air out.
Then if that isn't enough I can then try these deflectors air-deflectors-for-triumph-tiger-900-850-sport
Or if there is someone out there with a 3D printer they could probably create a larger deflector similar to what I outlined in blue on my original post and use those existing mounting holes.

I realize that the frame right there will get basically as hot as the engine through heat transfer. But if I can mitigate the amount that is transferred to my leg the ride will be much better.

 

[Vector]

Excellent

 

[Newchamp]

A little more troubleshooting while I wait for parts to arrive. There is a cover between the two radiators. That may be there to block the mud and muck from getting towards the engine but it also blocks ambient temperature air from going through that area. It also may be just for asthetics.

I am going to remove that piece today and see if that helps. It is super easy to remove, just pull straight out. No tools required. Maybe a perforated version of that piece that allows air flow but blocks debris would help?

With that piece removed you can clearly see how air flow in the area would improve. You can actually see daylight towards the front of the bike. IMG_0229

It's dry and temps here are only in the mid 90's F(35* C) today.

In IMG_0229 you can also see the ends of the Tesa high temp tape used to seal that gap in the cowling. Just temporary to see if that helps block the air that was bypassing due to the gap.

 

[brooke]

Although the engine heat is not a big a problem up here in the North Country , it was an issue last week when we approached 40 C with humidity considered and it’s nice to see you investigating the issue . FYI , the frame guards you mention are being removed on a regular basis because they rub on riders legs and are causing discomfort especially during standup riding . I think they have been deleted from some of the latest models . My ‘23 Sport 850 came without them. .
Looking foreword to your future posts

 

[Newchamp]

A step in the right direction. Removing the cover between the radiators and taping the gap between the cowling on the right side(IMG_225 above) definitely improved things. Perceived heat seemed lower and more even on both sides instead of hotter on the right side. I'm not positive which contributed more but I think allowing ambient air to flow through by removing the cover is the main reason. There is still the gap on the left side cowling which I did not tape. The gap on the right is about 30% larger than the one on the left which is why I chose to tape that side first.

Temps on the ride into work was 94*F(34*C) and I was able to ride for the first time below 80*F(27*C) on the way home. Having removed the cover between the radiator and finally having cooler air I was able to really tell how much heat comes out from the radiator fans, it is significant. I could tell that it is focused at the vertex of the V in the cowl duct highlighted in red(IMG_237), which is also right at the knee for me.

I am going to order the deflectors for that area, air-deflectors-for-triumph-tiger-900-850-sport. I've seen mixed results in videos with those. It almost seems they will direct the air up toward the top of the leg and thigh area although it may be enough to direct the air up and over completely. Perhaps an improved design would be to follow the V contour(IMG_238) to direct air out and away more?

Also, the side fairing/cover I suggested in the first post would actually have to be smaller(highlighted in blue IMG_237) as the clutch cable would be in the way. I still believe such a cover would be a significant improvement as a barrier of the radiant heat from the engine itself and the frame rails.

 

[VirtualEagle]

Hello,
I just bought my 23 T900 GT pro 3 days ago after months of consideration. My concerns I wanted to pay close attention to on my test ride were a couple of things I've seen brought up throughout various forum posts, YouTube videos etc. Those are vibrations and heat at knees.

The vibration that has been brought up doesn't seem to be an issue any more than any other bike, but I believe the heat issue on the legs is. I know there are some aftermarket shields to redirect air coming from the radiator fans away from the knees but I don't think that's the issue. The heat is coming from the frame. So if your legs are tucked against the tank and frame that's where the heat seems to be coming from. I measured the temperature of various parts of the frame with a laser thermometer after riding for about 30 minutes and letting the bike sit for about ten minutes. I will attach a picture to show what I found.

The area highlighted red on the frame temperatures were around 170* F(77*C) and the areas highlighted yellow were around 150*F(66*C). That seems high to be placing your inner thigh on when you grip the tank even with gear on. Of course the cylinder head is right there also which will obviously be hot but that is recessed and your leg doesn't make direct contact with that but probably contributes a fair amount to the issue. A solution might be some plastic fairing highlighted in blue to cover that area. I will bring up this information at the dealer and see what they respond with. View attachment 55836

I've never had an issue with heat in that area on my 2023 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. However, I do feel some heat on my ankle around the T on the engine cover.

 

[Coolmoto]

Hello,
I just bought my 23 T900 GT pro 3 days ago after months of consideration. My concerns I wanted to pay close attention to on my test ride were a couple of things I've seen brought up throughout various forum posts, YouTube videos etc. Those are vibrations and heat at knees.

The vibration that has been brought up doesn't seem to be an issue any more than any other bike, but I believe the heat issue on the legs is. I know there are some aftermarket shields to redirect air coming from the radiator fans away from the knees but I don't think that's the issue. The heat is coming from the frame. So if your legs are tucked against the tank and frame that's where the heat seems to be coming from. I measured the temperature of various parts of the frame with a laser thermometer after riding for about 30 minutes and letting the bike sit for about ten minutes. I will attach a picture to show what I found.

The area highlighted red on the frame temperatures were around 170* F(77*C) and the areas highlighted yellow were around 150*F(66*C). That seems high to be placing your inner thigh on when you grip the tank even with gear on. Of course the cylinder head is right there also which will obviously be hot but that is recessed and your leg doesn't make direct contact with that but probably contributes a fair amount to the issue. A solution might be some plastic fairing highlighted in blue to cover that area. I will bring up this information at the dealer and see what they respond with. View attachment 55836

My solution for these condition don’t ride above 90 degrees for long periods, stay home

 

[turbohawk]

Issue? No, not at all. And I am in Texas and have been riding my Tiger 900 even when the ambient Temps are well over 105 degrees F.

Every Harley, EVERY sportbike from Honda, that I've owned/ridden etc spewed more truly evil heat than this 900 did in any condition.

Perhaps you need to try some other motorcycles to see this is the case?

 

[NJ900GTPro]

Hello,
I just bought my 23 T900 GT pro 3 days ago after months of consideration. My concerns I wanted to pay close attention to on my test ride were a couple of things I've seen brought up throughout various forum posts, YouTube videos etc. Those are vibrations and heat at knees.

The vibration that has been brought up doesn't seem to be an issue any more than any other bike, but I believe the heat issue on the legs is. I know there are some aftermarket shields to redirect air coming from the radiator fans away from the knees but I don't think that's the issue. The heat is coming from the frame. So if your legs are tucked against the tank and frame that's where the heat seems to be coming from. I measured the temperature of various parts of the frame with a laser thermometer after riding for about 30 minutes and letting the bike sit for about ten minutes. I will attach a picture to show what I found.

The area highlighted red on the frame temperatures were around 170* F(77*C) and the areas highlighted yellow were around 150*F(66*C). That seems high to be placing your inner thigh on when you grip the tank even with gear on. Of course the cylinder head is right there also which will obviously be hot but that is recessed and your leg doesn't make direct contact with that but probably contributes a fair amount to the issue. A solution might be some plastic fairing highlighted in blue to cover that area. I will bring up this information at the dealer and see what they respond with. View attachment 55836

With My 2023 GT Pro, it hasn’t really been a problem, I feel the Heat, but most of the riding I’ve done here in NJ/NY has always been long, flowing rides with good air flow. Some stop and go traffic sure, but I don’t really pay attention to the Heat.
My temperature gauge has never gone above half perhaps once one bar above 1/2.

 

[Rubens]

When I first got my Tiger 900 GT I didn't notice this heat issue. But then I got stuck on a main street with stop light after stop light in 100˚F weather. Every time I stopped at the light and the fan turned on I could feel a soft blast of hot air. Once I got moving again it was fine again. As others have said, air flow is key. Also, if I ride with thick riding pants and knee pads, I barely feel it.

 

[Newchamp]

Thanks for all the replies. I am trying to figure out and show possible resolutions for those that do experience issues with the heat. I average an hour to 90 minutes a day on my other bike 5 days a week. This past summer so far and we have had 70 days over 100*F, 47 of which have been over 105*F and 17 have been 110*F or higher and I don't feel that bike exacerbates the conditions.

On my test rides I rode the F900XR and didn't experience heat issues on that but it had it's own issues. I was able to put 50+ miles on that ride. My test ride on the Triumph I was only allowed to have a guided 4 mile ride so the bike is barely getting up to operating temp at that point.

I know from other forum post and videos that I am not the only one out there that has experienced this issue with heat. That is why heat was one of the two main issues I wanted to pay close attention on my test ride. I would rather have my ride not just tolerable but enjoyable all year around. I Imagine once temps are in the 50's or 60's it is probably welcome.

 

[sikatri]

Thanks for all the replies. I am trying to figure out and show possible resolutions for those that do experience issues with the heat. I average an hour to 90 minutes a day on my other bike 5 days a week. This past summer so far and we have had 70 days over 100*F, 47 of which have been over 105*F and 17 have been 110*F or higher and I don't feel that bike exacerbates the conditions.

On my test rides I rode the F900XR and didn't experience heat issues on that but it had it's own issues. I was able to put 50+ miles on that ride. My test ride on the Triumph I was only allowed to have a guided 4 mile ride so the bike is barely getting up to operating temp at that point.

I know from other forum post and videos that I am not the only one out there that has experienced this issue with heat. That is why heat was one of the two main issues I wanted to pay close attention on my test ride. I would rather have my ride not just tolerable but enjoyable all year around. I Imagine once temps are in the 50's or 60's it is probably welcome.

I can definitely sympathize with the above 100 F days. I don’t think we had that many in Houston, but enough. It felt bad the whole summer. I wasn’t able to ride due to recovering from surgery, but the prospect of going out on my motorcycle wouldn’t have been very appealing. Where are you located, west of Texas?