Why you need KOTT grills

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Last fall going from Wing Ding in Montana to visit my son in Eastern Iowa I drove through zillions of grasshoppers in Iowa. When I went to the car wash in Muscatine the factory grills were packed solid with grasshopper remains. I don't know why the engine didn't overheat, but it didn't! Didn't think to take a pic of them. As you can see in the pics below a lot of remains made it through the grills and onto the radiators. Power washing and compressed air from the backside did little to clean them out. The only way to get the radiators clean was take the frunk off so I could get on them directly.

Right radiator before.jpg Left radiator before.jpg

After a good dose of Pledge, Simple Green, and hot water followed by brushing with an old toothbrush and vacuuming, this was the result.

Right radiator after.jpg Left radiator after.jpg Vacuuming.jpg

They aren't perfectly clean, but sure a whole lot better than before. A flashlight shines through nice and bright. I used a small nozzle on the shop vac to create as high an air velocity as possible. It was a challenge to brush the remains out without pushing them into the fins. And you have to be careful not to bend the fins over. It's easy to do!

I bought SyderPop's KOTT grills at Red Rocks last fall and am now getting ready to install them. I sure hope they keep this from happening again!

[ARtraveler]

Last fall going from Wing Ding in Montana to visit my son in Eastern Iowa I drove through zillions of grasshoppers in Iowa. When I went to the car wash in Muscatine the factory grills were packed solid with grasshopper remains. I don't know why the engine didn't overheat, but it didn't! Didn't think to take a pic of them. As you can see in the pics below a lot of remains made it through the grills and onto the radiators. Power washing and compressed air from the backside did little to clean them out. The only way to get the radiators clean was take the frunk off so I could get on them directly.

Right radiator before.jpg Left radiator before.jpg

After a good dose of Pledge, Simple Green, and hot water followed by brushing with an old toothbrush and vacuuming, this was the result.

Right radiator after.jpg Left radiator after.jpg Vacuuming.jpg

They aren't perfectly clean, but sure a whole lot better than before. A flashlight shines through nice and bright. I used a small nozzle on the shop vac to create as high an air velocity as possible. It was a challenge to brush the remains out without pushing them into the fins. And you have to be careful not to bend the fins over. It's easy to do!

I bought SyderPop's KOTT grills at Red Rocks last fall and am now getting ready to install them. I sure hope they keep this from happening again!

x 2. My radiators looked like yours. The KOTT grills do the job nicely. Thank you SpyderPop.

[PMK]

Prior to KOTT guards, we had similar concerns and bugs in the radiators. I did remove the frunk a couple of times to clean the radiators.

I read on here about using Hydrogen Peroxide to clean away dead bugs in the radiators.

Now, with the radiators cold, as I prep the bucket and soap, the radiators are soaking in Hydrogen Peroxide I spray on them. So figuire they get a few minutes to soak and dislodge abit. Then prior to washing the rest of the machine, I will rinse the radiator with water.

The Hydrogen Peroxide does nothing to prevent the bugs, or bug build up, simply helped in the aftermath.

[Bob Denman]

[kywinger]

For the smaller bugs screen door screen behind the grills work well.

Used this on my 1984 Goldwing for years and always had clean radiators.

[bandito]

Prior to KOTT guards, we had similar concerns and bugs in the radiators. I did remove the frunk a couple of times to clean the radiators.

I read on here about using Hydrogen Peroxide to clean away dead bugs in the radiators.

Now, with the radiators cold, as I prep the bucket and soap, the radiators are soaking in Hydrogen Peroxide I spray on them. So figuire they get a few minutes to soak and dislodge abit. Then prior to washing the rest of the machine, I will rinse the radiator with water.

The Hydrogen Peroxide does nothing to prevent the bugs, or bug build up, simply helped in the aftermath.

I always carry a small spray bottle of peroxide with me. Nothing beats it for removing dead bugs from windshields and body work. Spray it on, wait a couple minutes and hose it off. Now here is another reason to carry it.

[Chupaca]

This is a good reason to check there often. I have seen folks with wrappers, paper, weeds etc. It's like a wide mouth bass trolling for plankton.... with both radiators up there..

[JimboRTS]

This is a good reason to check there often. I have seen folks with wrappers, paper, weeds etc. It's like a wide mouth bass trolling for plankton.... with both radiators up there..

Will the KOTT grill guard fit a 2012 RT

Jim

[Chupaca]

I believe they have them for your year and model. Check spyderpops on the home page...

[JayBros]

The KOTT Grilles were my first farkle. In almost 22K miles including two trips to Spyderfest there's one small bug that's made it to the left radiator.

According to Spyderpops' catalog there are no grilles for the 2012 RT.

[SPYD3R]

1059.jpg
AGREE....
Dan P
SPYD3R

[Bob Denman]

Hey Dan!
What did you do: run though a flock of sparrows???

[SPYD3R]

Hey Dan!
What did you do: run though a flock of sparrows???

Not exactly Bob.....
it's a combination of bugs from: Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Californicate, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky & Tennessee to back home in South Carolina........ but it was 6500 miles of SMILES....
Dan P
SPYD3R

[eddieshep999]

You could do a search for Bug & tar removers on e bay etc
There appears to be many who claim to work on all types of vehicles and surfaces
Although fitting an extra grill will limit those kamikaze bugs trying to ruin your pride and joy

[Deanna777]

I bought the grills from Pierre ( SpyderTV) here is are some pictures: Spyder Grills RT 003.jpg I bought these last year @ Spyderquest( Lake George, New York) . Deanna

[Gldwnger]

Here is what my Kott grills looked like after riding thru Kansas last june.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Here is what my Kott grills looked like after riding thru Kansas last june.

That's a light spattering compared to what I had after crossing Iowa!

[seaweed]

So what is the difference between the grills from Pierre ( SpyderTV) and the KOTT grills? Is one easier to clean than the other, easier to install, durability, and costs?

[Buckeye Bleau]

Here is what my Kott grills looked like after riding thru Kansas last june.

Pit appears to me that scraping them off mixing in a little molten chocolate that you should have plenty of snacks to share at Spyderfest. You did savethem, right?

Joe

[cognaccruiser]

So what is the difference between the grills from Pierre ( SpyderTV) and the KOTT grills? Is one easier to clean than the other, easier to install, durability, and costs?

In my opinion, it is mostly the appearance that is different. I can't remember about cost but that should be easy to determine by going to Can Am Spyder Accessories which is Pierre and Spyderpops whose site you can find here as a sponsor. As far as I know, they are mounted the same way and therefore equally easy to install or remove. I have Pierre's and they are made of thin stainless steel. I like their appearance better but that is a personal choice. I can't really speak to durability but I assume that if either type takes a large chunk of something like a rock thrown up they will show being hit. Bugs and trash is not a problem. I took mine off once to clean with no issues.
In my opinion, either one will let some bug bits through the holes when they hit the grills but will keep a lot of crap out.

Gary

[Ex-Rocket]

Not exactly Bob.....
it's a combination of bugs from: Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Californicate, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky & Tennessee to back home in South Carolina........ but it was 6500 miles of SMILES....
Dan P
SPYD3R

You should be glad that you didn't go through Arkansas. We have some really big bugs, they are called the Arkansas Swamp bugs. Funny thing they only dive bomb motorcycles.

[Bob Denman]

You should be glad that you didn't go through Arkansas. We have some really big bugs, they are called the Arkansas Swamp bugs. Funny thing they only dive bomb motorcycles.

Kind of like this; right?

[Fat Baxter]

When I was living in Orlando in the '70s, we had love bug season twice a year. A common accessory on most cars was a rectangular bug screen on elastic cords, that went across the front of the cars. Quite effective at stopping the bulk of bug splatter. Some bug juice still made it through to the bodywork, but it made cleanup much easier.

Something similar might be the ticket for the few times you go cross-country. I can see a little screen that covers the radiator intakes, that hooks around to catch the edges of the bodywork where the front suspension exits the Tupperware. Just the thing for us cheap Charlies who don't want to fork over the cash for a KOTT kit, or don't otherwise travel as extensively as to warrant them.