"MISSING AIR DAM" UPDATE

[Smylinacha]

I was thinking of getting one. It's been in the high 80's and low 90's here. Last week it broke 100.

I normally run 5 bars in the summer and the fan will go on and it will go down to 4 bars here and there.

I think the Spyder likes colder weather. Fall is my favorite time of year to ride

[JimAlpha]

got mine last week. fast shipping. installed and went for a ride. dropped 1 bar on average during day and night runs in Florida in 80 and low 90's. I am a believer. Simple, inexpensive and effective. Was easy to install. Thanks!

[effgjamis]

I was getting 3 bars for awhile in the 80's-90 with the MAD, then boom I jumped to 4-5 bars at 60-75+ in 90+F.
Went for service last week and Joe fround that I had a small slit in the Overflow tank.. Therefore I am thinking that I am losing pressure for the coollant to work correctly.
Will be going in for a new Overflow tank, hopefully Wed this week.
Will follow up the results upon installation of the new Overflow tank.
As it is, I am running 4-5 and sometime 6 bars at 100F.

[aaronsbs]

New to spderlovers. Fort worth Texas area. Just installed MAD this weekend and seems to help temp but increased hot air on right foot. After an hour ride yesterday large blister on ankle. Parking for now until it cools off. Is there anything that will help? only have 950 miles on 2008 due to surgerys. ready to ride but can't take the heat on foot.

[Spyderman01]

I'm guessing that with the MAD installed it is deflecting the hot air onto our legs now.......Dont know how to get around that, any ideas?

[kman]

Are you guys wearing shorts?The only time I notice it is if the fan is on sitting still while wearing tennis shoes.If I wear my boots (long pants)I don't have a problem.

[aaronsbs]

The heat is so bad on the right foot with boots on, I have a blister on my leg just above my ankle. super hot air after installing MAD. outside temp was 97.

[bjt]

I'm guessing that with the MAD installed it is deflecting the hot air onto our legs now.......Dont know how to get around that, any ideas?

Before anyone installs the MAD, the cool air flowing around the radiator was mixed with the hot air flowing through the radiator to lower the heat that is coming out of the opening on the lower side panel. With the MAD, it greatly decreases or totally eliminates the cool air flowing around the radiator so most of what you get coming out of the opening is radiator heated air. Some people have fabricated a baffle that fits the lower side panel to deflect the radiator heated air elsewhere but I haven't seen pics of that mod in a long time and I don't remember who did it and exactly how they did it.

[Red Recluse]

I ordered it and got it installed but so far I have not been able to tell any diffference in cooling.The temp got up to 6 bars and smelled like something burning by the time I got home. I am thinking of taking mine off because it had never got this hot or smelled like this before installed the air dam.

[Campverdefela]

Are you guys wearing shorts?The only time I notice it is if the fan is on sitting still while wearing tennis shoes.If I wear my boots (long pants)I don't have a problem.

I ride with shorts and sandels all the time, no problem and hey its Arizona. Now because of my mods my machine is running its best ever [not too lean is key] and in the process the big air box and carbon canister have been eleminated. This has allowed for more air circulation.

[aaronsbs]

Camp Verde , I remember them days live in phoenix 15 years. just wish I could ride like that. my 2008 is super hot on the right foot. park it today until i can figure a way to cool it. impossible to ride in this heat. Fort Worth Texas.

[BRPjunkie]

Before anyone installs the MAD, the cool air flowing around the radiator was mixed with the hot air flowing through the radiator to lower the heat that is coming out of the opening on the lower side panel. With the MAD, it greatly decreases or totally eliminates the cool air flowing around the radiator so most of what you get coming out of the opening is radiator heated air. Some people have fabricated a baffle that fits the lower side panel to deflect the radiator heated air elsewhere but I haven't seen pics of that mod in a long time and I don't remember who did it and exactly how they did it.

1,250 mile Lake Michigan Loop seems to confirm this; cooler engine, hotter foot.

[Spyderman01]

Perfectly said, "cooler engine-hotter foot"! Just think how good that hot foot will feel while riding this winter!

[mrb]

Before anyone installs the MAD, the cool air flowing around the radiator was mixed with the hot air flowing through the radiator to lower the heat that is coming out of the opening on the lower side panel. With the MAD, it greatly decreases or totally eliminates the cool air flowing around the radiator so most of what you get coming out of the opening is radiator heated air. Some people have fabricated a baffle that fits the lower side panel to deflect the radiator heated air elsewhere but I haven't seen pics of that mod in a long time and I don't remember who did it and exactly how they did it.

As I post this my server is down so the images dont load but hopefully it will be back when you view this

[docdoru]

As I post this my server is down so the images dont load but hopefully it will be back when you view this

Hey, that’s Silver Dream....

[effgjamis]

OK... this is a follow up on my previous post as I have the MAD installed and was running 4-5 bars. And found that my overflow tank was cracked.
Upon returning to Kissimmee, ( 90 miles ) from Clearwater where I had the overflow tank replaced, I found that the top bar was 4 at 93 F at 80+mph for a few miles, and then when I droped to 75-80 mph it flickered between 3 and 4 bars. Then when the little rain came forth, which dropped the abient temp to 87 F I went to a steady 3 bars, at 75-80 mph.
So I guess it does work and am happy that it does. However, got to install the REPOPS heat reflector for my right leg,foot. That will be another story.

[bone crusher]

After finally logging lotsa miles on my bike since the addition of the air dam, I have found that it has NO effect on the heat of my particular bike...I think the NE climate is the reason...here in MD it is in the 90s with about 90 humidity.

I read that it does great for people in hot climates, but I think the humidity negates the cooling effect....if anyone can chime in on this, that'd be great.

It doesn't do anything negative that I can see, so I'll keep it on. But, I still run 5 bars with an occasional 4.

High humidity anyone?

[qasamm]

I'm in the same area BC and have the missing air dam. Similar experience- 4-5 bars if the temp is above 90, hot air, hot feet and eventually hot seat.

I'm starting to restrict my riding to early or late in the day when the temp starts to move down a bit.

[M2Wild]

I'm in the same area BC and have the missing air dam. Similar experience- 4-5 bars if the temp is above 90, hot air, hot feet and eventually hot seat.

I'm starting to restrict my riding to early or late in the day when the temp starts to move down a bit.

4-5 is normal temp range. Hot seat and feet might be exaust leak.

[qasamm]

4-5 is normal temp range. Hot seat and feet might be exaust leak.

This weekend I'm looking at the gaskets. I have under 1500 miles and can't imagine they're an issue but I'll obsess about it until I check.

[SpyderWolf]

Very hot and humid here, many miles on my Spyder with MAD installed, and here is what I found.

Ambient temp < 80 = 3 bars
80 - 90 fluctuates between 3 and 4 bars depending on speed and traffic
90 - 100 stays on 4 bars solid
> 100 fluctuates between 4 and 5 bars depending on speed and traffic

Of course, when stopped for a while at a light, or in traffic, all of these numbers go out the window and I will hit 6 bars and occassionaly 7. The good news is it drops fairly quickly once I get rolling in clean air again.

We rode to the Fireworks event at Fort Gordon in Augusta on July 3. The ambient temp was 105, and we got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic barely moving for 30 minutes. My Spyder threw a Hi Temp warning across the cluster but nothing more than that. My wife's actually went into Limp Mode at one point, but we were forced to stop very quickly after that to put on Jackets per the gate guards instructions. We spent a good 5 minutes or so answering questions the MPs had about the Spyders. When we started them back up, they were still registering 6 bars but traffic was much lighter and they dropped back down to 5 and then 4 within about 1 mile or so.

At this point all I can say is I believe the MAD is well worth the $25 investment.

[spyder3rdr]

I installed the "m a d" last week and i rode around this weekend in temps in the high 90's and it dropped from 4 bars (normal) to 3 bars , so i'm sure this helps and for $ 25. , one of the best mods you can install

[bone crusher]

This weekend I'm looking at the gaskets. I have under 1500 miles and can't imagine they're an issue but I'll obsess about it until I check.

You're riding in the same climate as me. I have to be honest that my bike has felt hotter since adding the air dam. I am at 4-5 bars now, with the air dam, but I also think I have more heat being blown onto my right leg...the seat and metal under the seat seem to be much warmer.

I was figuring the air dam doesn't do any harm, but I'm getting suspicious now that I hear your issues...they are the same as me.

I changed my Y gaskets a month ago...I don't think that is your issue.

I think the heat and humidity create a different issue than just dry heat.

I might remove my air dam and call the dealership for the new fan. It is a warranty issue with hot-running bikes. If you're interested, maybe we can make a call and both have this done.

I go to Talbot in Easton, MD...about 70 miles for us, but nice ride over the Bay Bridge...

Thoughts?

[wyobrit]

This is my first post having just got my Spyder 3 weeks ago, and just want to tell everyone thanks for all the great info on this site. Installed the air dam today and I am really surprised how well it works, very low humidity here in Wyoming so maybe that is why results are so good. Stays at 3 bars all the way up to 90 deg ambient. Great mod and could not be quicker or easier.

[NITSPYDER]

I just got mine today, I am about to install it, my temps here right now are 80-90 but the humidity is awful, I will ride this weekend and post results. I am running 4-5 bars most of the time, 5 more at stop lights or in heavy traffic.