Heat Issues At Knees/thighs.

[turbohawk]

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.

Just curious, what is your other bike?

I rode 500 miles yesterday on my Rally, ambient temps rose to 98 and I actually got into some traffic with one/way road block work scenes and can honestly say there was not any worrisome heat directed to me at any point of the ride. I was REALLY looking for it due to your posts... It was hot outside, sitting at idle for a couple of minutes till the fans activated I could feel some heat but then started moving & everything cooled off quite quickly with the initial few seconds of air flow removing the hot air, yes you are going to feel a burst of heat for literally a few seconds. Is THIS burst of heat removal when the engine is REALLY warm what you are concerned about? If so, get used to it or sell. Welcome to motorcycles. Maybe an E-bike would suit you better?

I've seen these kinds of things before with other bikes, take the 2008-9 Kawasaki Concours: Some of the motojournalists decided in their write-ups to all chime in on the heat coming out of the lower fairing...they confessed that they did so since they couldn't honestly find ANYTHING to put in their "CONS" category on summary...but Kawasaki took that seriously and changed the fairing completely for the next model year (2010+). People STILL complained about the heat largely because of those "write-ups" from a previous design!! I rode mine for 13 years and 60k miles from coast to coast and never once did I feel this horrible heat they cried about. But wouldn't you know that this was mentioned almost EVERY time people discussed how I liked the bike, "How do you deal with all the heat?"...amazing. There isn't any I'd say, and they would say "Well EVERY magazine review I've seen mentions it as a problem"...Don't get this bike then...seriously this is some sort of mass psychosis.

Wanna feel some heat? Ride a BMW RS "anything boxer" and check your shins for meat falling off the bone! lol Or even worse, Harley ANYTHING with that rear cylinder cooking your RUMP even with motion!

You appear to be fixated on this. Perhaps you need to sell the bike? Not trying to be mean but I've seen this fixation many times and I can tell you it's not an issue with any of the Tiger owners I know. But I only know about a dozen personally and they are all here in HOT Texas.

 

[turbohawk]

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?

I'm only 2 hours west of Houston and we have over 70+ days in a row of 100+...Houston didn't?

 

[sikatri]

I'm only 2 hours west of Houston and we have over 70+ days in a row of 100+...Houston didn't?

I think we may have been close to a record, but I think we had a 98 F at the end that broke the string.

 

[sikatri]

On a side note to @turbohawk ’s response, I had some heat burn on my 2005 Thruxton on the side of my leg near my knee. I was wearing jeans and still learning to ride my Thruxton which has a slightly different riding position from the motorcycle I learned to ride on. Turns out I needed to adjust my sitting position to get my knee higher and back. I was sitting too forward which put my knee low and closer to the engine. I finally figured there was a reason the bike had knee pads and my first clue should have been my knee wasn’t on the pad. LoL. Live and learn.

 

[turbohawk]

On a side note to @turbohawk ’s response, I had some heat burn on my 2005 Thruxton on the side of my leg near my knee. I was wearing jeans and still learning to ride my Thruxton which has a slightly different riding position from the motorcycle I learned to ride on. Turns out I needed to adjust my sitting position to get my knee higher and back. I was sitting too forward which put my knee low and closer to the engine. I finally figured there was a reason the bike had knee pads and my first clue should have been my knee wasn’t on the pad. LoL. Live and learn.

Yes sir! BTW, just to be clear I'm not saying NO bikes have heat issues, quite the contrary (as I mentioned a few) but for me and the people I ride Tiger 900's (GT's, Rally's) not one has brought up heat as a problem of any sort. I have seen a few utube videos mention it but that's about it. Learn and live.

 

[sikatri]

Yes sir! BTW, just to be clear I'm not saying NO bikes have heat issues, quite the contrary (as I mentioned a few) but for me and the people I ride Tiger 900's (GT's, Rally's) not one has brought up heat as a problem of any sort. I have seen a few utube videos mention it but that's about it. Learn and live.

There’s so many variables from personal comfort, dress and riding position that can come to play. Even a person’s size may put parts of the body near heat that others won’t notice because their body proportions are not the same. I’m sure for some, like the OP, heat is a real issue. The question is what is the reason and solution. One can’t easily modify one’s size so if that is contributing to the heat then looking at mods or remediation seems reasonable. Hard to say without actually seeing the person on the motorcycle and evaluating the variables. Look forward to seeing how the OP addresses the issue.

 

[turbohawk]

There’s so many variables from personal comfort, dress and riding position that can come to play. Even a person’s size may put parts of the body near heat that others won’t notice because their body proportions are not the same. I’m sure for some, like the OP, heat is a real issue. The question is what is the reason and solution. One can’t easily modify one’s size so if that is contributing to the heat then looking at mods or remediation seems reasonable. Hard to say without actually seeing the person on the motorcycle and evaluating the variables. Look forward to seeing how the OP addresses the issue.

Well said, many variables to be sure, with not the least one being "fixations". When I was a tech going back to early 80's and have worked on and owned many brands/models, it's quite evident that some people just get fixated on an "issue" (vibrations, rough shifting, bad suspension, etc.) and perhaps it's real to them, but it's interesting that, as I've stated with the Concours 14 example, many people just get "hung up" on something that really isn't THE issue. So with my 40+ years of seeing complaints that just weren't issues to the majority I've come to the conclusion that when a customer fixates on something that a team of engineers worked on and ok'd, that perhaps the only real solution for THEM is to sell it and move on to another model.

 

[sikatri]

Well said, may variable to be sure. I was a tech going back to 1981 have worked on and owned many brands/models. Some people just get fixated on an "issue" and perhaps it's real to them, but it's interesting that, as I've stated with the Concours 14 example, many people just get "hung up" on something that really isn't THE issue. So with my 40+ years of seeing complaints that just weren't issues to the majority I've come to the conclusion that when a customer fixates on something that a team of engineers worked on and ok'd, that perhaps the only real solution for THEM is to sell it and move on to another model.

Sure, if no remediation works, finding another model that fits better is the last solution. Hopefully for the OP a remedy is found.

 

[Newchamp]

I set out to take actual temperature measurements of the area by the vents since the temps on the area by the frame have already been taken and honestly removing that cover between the radiators helped get some air flow in that area to dissipate some of that heat. As stated earlier I didn't notice the areas by the vents as much prior because the area by the frame was where it seemed to be originating, especially since my inner leg/thigh make direct contact with the frame there with only the pant in between.

Here is the setup I used with probe placement, where my knees are in the riding position and my results. Ambient temp was 90*F. I couldn't take a picture of the thermometer display while riding.

I rode until bike was up to operating temperature. Temperatures while riding around 35 mph ranged from 140*F when the fans were off and 155*F when the fans were on. The pictures below were while stopped at idle(IMG_285) and while revving at 2,500 rpm(IMG_299). I have already ordered the deflectors for that area and am awaiting delivery. I think by redirecting that airflow out and away will help but not sure how much.

I am just at 256 miles on the clock in 14 days of ownership. Might this not be the right bike for me? Maybe, but nearly all motorcycle dealers don't allow test rides(for insurance reasons they say) and I was only allowed a 4 mile "guided" test ride on this bike. I researched bikes as much as I could for nearly a year prior to purchase but that is no substitute for hands on experience.

I am just trying to figure out potential solutions for what I am experiencing before it gets to the sell the bike and take a few thousand dollar loss. If someone else doesn't experience a similar issue, great. If I can help someone resolve a similar issue with theirs even better.

 

[Vector]

Engine heat is part of riding. My Rocket 3GT is a bit hotter than the Harleys I rode.
Keep the bike and live with it as is.

 

[CarlS]

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.

I agree with Qship. My 2012 Tiger 800XC spewed a lot of hot air on my right leg, especially when the fan kicked in. I rode in 100 F plus temps. I got used to it and tried to avoid riding in traffic as best I could. I feel the heat on my T120; but it is bearable and little less than my Tiger. I just ride and ignore it.

 

[turbohawk]

I set out to take actual temperature measurements of the area by the vents since the temps on the area by the frame have already been taken and honestly removing that cover between the radiators helped get some air flow in that area to dissipate some of that heat. As stated earlier I didn't notice the areas by the vents as much prior because the area by the frame was where it seemed to be originating, especially since my inner leg/thigh make direct contact with the frame there with only the pant in between.

Here is the setup I used with probe placement, where my knees are in the riding position and my results. Ambient temp was 90*F. I couldn't take a picture of the thermometer display while riding.

I rode until bike was up to operating temperature. Temperatures while riding around 35 mph ranged from 140*F when the fans were off and 155*F when the fans were on. The pictures below were while stopped at idle(IMG_285) and while revving at 2,500 rpm(IMG_299). I have already ordered the deflectors for that area and am awaiting delivery. I think by redirecting that airflow out and away will help but not sure how much.

I am just at 256 miles on the clock in 14 days of ownership. Might this not be the right bike for me? Maybe, but nearly all motorcycle dealers don't allow test rides(for insurance reasons they say) and I was only allowed a 4 mile "guided" test ride on this bike. I researched bikes as much as I could for nearly a year prior to purchase but that is no substitute for hands on experience.

I am just trying to figure out potential solutions for what I am experiencing before it gets to the sell the bike and take a few thousand dollar loss. If someone else doesn't experience a similar issue, great. If I can help someone resolve a similar issue with theirs even better.

Might try this thread https://www.other forum/threads/triumph-tiger-900-heat.982601/

 

[Greyfell]

Might try this thread https://www.other forum/threads/triumph-tiger-900-heat.982601/

This link doesn't go anywhere for me. Please double-checlk it.

 

[brooke]

If I recall correctly a Kawasaki H2’s 750 cc’s didn’t produce enough heat to keep your sneakers warm , but times have changed . We wanted more performance and we got it despite emission standards being tightened and passed with regular gas , lean mixtures and 12 to 1 compression ratios , all things that create more heat . And power too of course which we demanded . Cuts down on the need to use the heated pants and insoles though , possible frost here tonight .

 

[turbohawk]

This link doesn't go anywhere for me. Please double-checlk it.

This site won't let me post it...it auto changes URL's for some reason...

 

[Greyfell]

This site won't let me post it...it auto changes URL's for some reason...

It was going to a different Triumph forum, with whom we are only slightly associated. In the meantime I foun this Youtube video:

 

[sikatri]

It was going to a different Triumph forum, with whom we are only slightly associated. In the meantime I foun this Youtube video:

Makes sense now that I see there’s a fan in front of the scoop vent. It would appear it absolutely pushes air toward one’s knee. Diverting seems like a simple solution to try. I can see that at stops the fan if it’s on would continuously blow hot air. Interesting video, gives clarity to the issue.

 

[Newchamp]

I had seen that video before I purchased the bike and saw he had moderate improvement. After I bought the bike I found this video
View: https://youtu.be/yMK8uAYg3Ds?si=YHZktz9BkibwmV3U
using the same deflectors and she shows little to no improvement. As stated in my initial post I could feel the heat more from the frame area at the inner thigh and knee. After removing the cover at the lower portion of the radiators in front, creating more ambient airflow in that area, the heat coming from the radiator fans became more apparent.

I still believe some sort of fairing/cover for the frame area will help but also an improved deflector to redirect the vent area from the radiators. From what I can tell the deflectors seem to be more focused on deflection on the lower portion of the "V" on the vent. I do have those deflectors on order. Prior to installation I am going to use those deflectors as a mold/template and create and oversized version using Kydex thermoform sheets. That way I can try deflecting a larger area and can easily trim to hopefully get a desired result.

 

[CarlS]

GB and Spain have moderate climates. Triumph engineers should do some testing in Arizona and Florida or Louisiana in mid summer. They would quickly learn what heat is like to a rider.

 

[turbohawk]

This site won't let me post it...it auto changes URL's for some reason...

There was a very in-depth discussion about people talking ways to mitigate and of course many saying there is no issue, such as myself, where I have found the Tiger 900 motor to be quite pleasant even in 100+ heat. But no worries, I PM'd the OP and maybe he'll find something useful in the long thread.