Still have it. I took it for a ride just a few minutes ago. The air temp was approximately 82. Not cool, but not really all that hot. The bike is definitely throwing more heat than before the service. It's not just my imagination. I see the rubber gasket type material that goes around the back part of the engine, and that appears to be in place. I don't know what other types of heat shields are inside the fairing on a '10. The heat seems to be coming up from far down or even underneath, and then coming up, almost following the front contour of my leg. My ankles and lower legs get the hottest, but I can still feel heat as it travels up my upper thigh.
I don't feel any heat coming up between the seat and the tank, though. Guess I'm going to contact the dealer, but they probably won't be much help and just tell me that this is normal. And I would believe that if the same heat was there before the service, but it wasn't.
Royal
During my recent maintenance on my 08 with 56,000 miles I noticed that the two upper foam heat shields were deteriorated. The foam was brittle and crumbly. If I rubbed the foam material would slough off and there was already some material missing where the foam pressed against the plastic. The foam may even have become less dense and more porous. I think that this may be a big contributor to my perceived heat increase this summer. So I ordered replacements and installed. I have not yet ridden in extended heat to test the results. I noticed that the replacement shields seem to be made from a different foam. At least the color is slightly different.
That's disturbing. They used a foam material that doesn't last more than 3 years?? WTH?!?Yeah, kinda funny. The heat shields can't take the heat. The part numbers have been "superceded". Maybe they are better on the later models
Yeah, kinda funny. The heat shields can't take the heat. The part numbers have been "superceded". Maybe they are better on the later models
Note:
There are three (maybe more?) sets of foam heat shields ( kawasaki calls them "PAD,HEAT GUARD")
The set I replaced are the ones in the mid cowling that get the direct blast from the radiator. 39156M&? The other two sets are ok (other than the one a mouse chewed on)
Stupid mice, they have no respect! Guess we can add that to the list of things Kawi didn't plan for when they designed the C14, rodent proof heat insulation.At least the airbox is rodent free, apparently due to the intake being routed through the hard to reach ram air ducts. I have had to cover the air intakes on my other bikes with hardware cloth after I found their airnoxes full of hickory nuts and shells. It may have been mice that chewed the foam but I can't see a mouse hauling all those hickory nuts.
Not so fast, mister. I have an '08 and tried a '10 and '11, and they didn't mean any improvement to me. No heat wise. No mirror improvement. Nothing. Only difference was the shield (I run a Givi anyway) and the traction control, which is built-in in my wright hand, thank you very much.
At least the airbox is rodent free, apparently due to the intake being routed through the hard to reach ram air ducts. I have had to cover the air intakes on my other bikes with hardware cloth after I found their airnoxes full of hickory nuts and shells. It may have been mice that chewed the foam but I can't see a mouse hauling all those hickory nuts.
Kirby?