C14. MY 2007/2009 / Ankles cool in Summer

[alexx45]

I can't get the video to work on my PC. Can someone please post some pics showing what's being removed &/or modified please. I figure I'll have to do some dismanteling of the fairings in order to install the canyon cages I have ordered so that would be a good time to perform some additional mods. Thanks to everyone for your help.

[pasini510]

Since I removed the foams and just went out, mine seems hotter than before.
I may try pulling the lower black fairing piece next.
Hmmmm

[SkipH76]

I can't get the video to work on my PC. Can someone please post some pics showing what's being removed &/or modified please. I figure I'll have to do some dismanteling of the fairings in order to install the canyon cages I have ordered so that would be a good time to perform some additional mods. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Face the front and on the inside of the fairing at radiator level you'll see a black plastic cover (sort of triangle shaped) and wide foam strips on each side of the radiator.  The plastic covers are held on by 2 bolts and a top plastic rivet under the headlight area.  The foam strips can be removed by a loooonnng phillips screwdriver from the side fairing gills (3 screws per side) and carefully wiggled out.  A magnet retriever is handy because the screws, washers, and sleeves WILL fall in unhandy crevices.  The top foam pieces I refered to are actually above the radiator on each side and the mid fairings must be removed.  Side note:  The LD Comfort riding tights really do lessen the hot spots on the inner knees.  I didn't believe it but thought what the heck, ordered a pair and they work.  I feel NO heat on my inner knees while riding in them with vented mesh pants.

[Zteve]

I'm kinda wondering why Kawasaki did all that work redesigning the bike in 2010. Blocking the rider form the heat. All they had to do was talk to this guy in Italy and remove a few parts. What were they thinking?   

[texrider]

Judging from owner reports, seems fair to say the 2010+ design works well at blocking airflow with the fairing. All the large exits are moved forward.
The first design really doesn't lend itself to effectively stopping rearward flow. What some of us are finding is that more airflow, rather than less, is an avenue worth pursuing.

[Zteve]

Keep in mind that this is a liquid cooled motor and those front fairing pieces are there not to block air but to direct air across the radiator and also to help support the other fairings.

[MGvalerio]

Keep in mind that this is a liquid cooled motor and those front fairing pieces are there not to block air but to direct air across the radiator and also to help support the other fairings.

Non sono d'accordo sulla sua diagnosi,Il tutto serve per il periodo invernale per tenere una temperatura d'esercizio del motore costante.
 
 
MGvalerio.

[carlntia]

To save others time going to google translate:

Non sono d'accordo sulla sua diagnosi,Il tutto serve per il periodo invernale per tenere una temperatura d'esercizio del motore costante

I disagree on his diagnosis, Everything is for the winter to keep a constant engine operating temperature

[Mal]

To save others time going to google translate:

Non sono d'accordo sulla sua diagnosi,Il tutto serve per il periodo invernale per tenere una temperatura d'esercizio del motore costante

I disagree on his diagnosis, Everything is for the winter to keep a constant engine operating temperature

I keep google translate open, just for MGv. Maybe I should shoot the link to him... 

[pasini510]

Here are Pics of black fairing removed. It helps greatly with the heat. Looks good IMHO.

[texrider]

Thanks for the pics! Was thinking of keeping the lowers, but adding a few more air slots to them.

[SVonhof]

Um, yeah, I will be leaving the lowers on. Like the looks better that way.

[SkipH76]

As a final thought (at least from me!  )   The temp of the motor remains the same (or very, very close) no matter what mod I've done to divert heat from the rider.  YMMV

[Gabriel]

My 08 was hot as hell on my ankle area so I bought Zsteves heat shields , my 09 is not! So apparently the foam pieces in the lower fairing were changed or were never install right on some models?
I do have a lot of heat swirling out of the side vents, they should stick out more to the side to help this.

[VirginiaJim]

Holy shades of thread resurrection, Batman!  I salute you sir for looking through the threads to find this one! 

The heat management system wasn't changed for the 09 models.  That only started with the 10+ models.  Some 08/09s were hot as hell and some were not.  Could be that the heat management (what little there was..open to some debate amongst the knowledgeable) was out of place on the 08 and the factory did a little better on the 09 but there wasn't anything changed per se.

I do know that windshield position has a great affect on ankle heat, believe it or not.  A shield all the way down restricts air flow over the front sides while up a bit (at least an inch or so) does not.  Counter intuitive, I know, but it works as I can tell the difference in the air flow.

[Conrad]

Holy shades of thread resurrection, Batman!  I salute you sir for looking through the threads to find this one! 

The heat management system wasn't changed for the 09 models.  That only started with the 10+ models.  Some 08/09s were hot as hell and some were not.  Could be that the heat management (what little there was..open to some debate amongst the knowledgeable) was out of place on the 08 and the factory did a little better on the 09 but there wasn't anything changed per se.

I do know that windshield position has a great affect on ankle heat, believe it or not.  A shield all the way down restricts air flow over the front sides while up a bit (at least an inch or so) does not.  Counter intuitive, I know, but it works as I can tell the difference in the air flow.

+1

[SkipH76]

Just one more idea...  Because of the mirror(s) location and windshield, little to no air reaches the area where your knees hug the tank.  A low - I mean really low - windshield will allow air to "tumbleweed" over and move some air in the area around the knees.  I cut down a Calsci shorty tinted screen another 4 inches which makes it about that much lower than the original 08-09 factory screens.  Try a ride with no screen to get the effect. YMMV   

[Conrad]

Just one more idea...  Because of the mirror(s) location and windshield, little to no air reaches the area where your knees hug the tank.  A low - I mean really low - windshield will allow air to "tumbleweed" over and move some air in the area around the knees.   I cut down a Calsci shorty tinted screen another 4 inches which makes it about that much lower than the original 08-09 factory screens.  Try a ride with no screen to get the effect. YMMV   

Thusly?   

[smg id=349]

[pasini510]

I put the lower fairings back on but left the internal stuff the man from Italy said to remove . Too hot here too test for me tho  , plus ninety this week. 
My latest cool project was to put the stock low windshield back on and since it was far from perfect , painted it flat black and added orange duck tape to add in being seen by cagers and it looks great !

[SkipH76]

Conrad, looks VERY similar!      I would have cut mine down another inch or so if I had it to do over but it's made enough of a difference that I rode in 109 degrees a couple of weeks ago without issues.  Not to mention, I'm now NOT thinking about trading for a 10 or newer model!