A bit more respect for Tupperware!?

[MidLifeCrisis]

I was listening to the sales people pitch the BMW F800GS over the R1200GS to my bro-in-law who is now in the market for a new bike after his recent crash. I won’t get into the details of the pitch, because it’s pretty irrelevant, but noticed the F800GS comes with a Rotax engine. It peaked my curiosity, so I did a whole bunch of reading about the bike on various forums, reviews, etc. and found something kind of interesting about the shared platform. HEAT!

It seems there are tons of comments about the F800 being really hot to ride, running hot in stop and go traffic or going slow on trails. Some complain about cooking upper legs, etc. I’m not trying to start another :bdh: thread, but it got me to thinking….Maybe the biggest reason why the Spyder is so covered up with Tupperware IS because of research and not the lack there of. It seems a wide open Rotax has more heat complaints than our enclosed ones and most people with the exposed ones are having a tough time diverting any of the heat. That seems to suggest at least some level of genius to the Spyder Tupperware design, though still less than perfect.

I’ve definitely been one who’s been of the mindset that the Tupperware IS the reason for some heat issues, but not after everything else I’ve been reading. nojoke

The F700GS is a detuned F800GS and as one would expect, less complaints about heat. Not without, just less. Could also explain why there aren’t bigger engines in our rides.

On a bit of a different note, the Rotax has been a solid and trouble free performer on the F series bikes. It seems to run and run, regardless of what it’s put into….just hot.

:chat:

 

[Bob Denman]

It's kind of a different animal...
All engines are going to produce heat; the Bimmer GS bikes are going to be ridden slower than the typical Spyder in at least SOME conditions since they're a pretty good dirt road bike...
The fact that it's got a Rotax hiding in there might just be irrelevant.

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

It's kind of a different animal...
All engines are going to produce heat; the Bimmer GS bikes are going to be ridden slower than the typical Spyder in at least SOME conditions since they're a pretty good dirt road bike...
The fact that it's got a Rotax hiding in there might just be irrelevant.

True, but the same doesn't seem true with the bigger Boxer GS or the smaller GS bikes. Are you trying bust my light bulb?:joke: It just went on!:roflblack:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Hey, Teddy has found the solution .......................... j/k

Interesting ........ I never noticed a heat problem myself, except when legs/ankles were to close to the pipes

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

I guess I should have included their complaints were in temps above 80, much like some of our own. Not sure what the temps were when you were driving Ted's sled around, but that may be why. Seriously, I wasn't trying to make a case that engines are hot. I just found it interesting that the Rotax seems to get more complaints about heat, when in similar conditions with other platforms.

I personally really like the engines in our bikes, but thought an exposed engine would help keep us cooler. It just doesn't seem to be the case. Kinda makes me wonder if that's why so much of even the underside was designed with Tupperware.

Maybe I was having an Roger moment....without pain meds!

 

[Bob Denman]

Maybe I was having an Roger moment....without pain meds!

But where's the fun in THAT? :shocked: :gaah: :roflblack:

 

[Chupaca]

Have to agree..!!

with you..the trick is to get the air flowing through the tupperwear to draw the heat out..and it does while your moving along at a clip. Have seen some interesting added vents with claims of improvement. Stop and go traffic will be hot no matter what you ride...a lot does go into the design of body coverings other than looks...:2thumbs:

 

[OldDog]

New RT-Naked Retro?

Interesting ........ I never noticed a heat problem myself, except when legs/ankles were to close to the pipes

Dave, is that the new RT Naked Retro? :joke: It's cool!(pun intended)

 

[Bob Denman]

That's the "Backstreet Brawler Limited Signature Edition"...
Be the first kid on your block to own it! :2thumbs:

 

[eddieshep999]

Dave, is that the new RT Naked Retro? :joke: It's cool!(pun intended)

It's new for 2014 - Doesn't come in various colours but either Fully dressed or undressed

Fully dressed for Winter riding
Undressed for Summer riding

The owner has the option of reversing the above at no extra expense

Fully dressed for Summer riding - Keeping the heat inside the tupperware
Undressed for Winter riding - Allowing the heat out to keep the rider warm during those cold rides

It's also available as a Limited edition - Limited by how much more you can remove

 

[Ex-Rocket]

I can see that doing oil changes would be a easy task with the Tupperware already removed.:yes:

 

[spydercatjohn]

I think the tupperware does help to manage heat. I do not have any heat complaints with our Spyder. My v twin cruiser was hot.

 

[OldDog]

Honda CB1000 Naked Retro

I like this. :thumbup:

 

[reverendg]

Interesting ........ I never noticed a heat problem myself, except when legs/ankles were to close to the pipes

I always though "ride naked" meant something completely different!!! Silly me.

 

[Bob Denman]

It does; but just not for me! pps:

 

[daveinva]

You're definitely on to something. And I say that not just because I agree with you :joke:.

Obviously, with the sadly necessary disclaimer that there is a minor-yet-significant difference between "hot" and "on fire"... bikes are hot. Some bikes are hotter than others. Some bad bikes are cool(er), some great bikes are hot. You have an internal combustion engine between your knees, you can't avoid heat.

I think much, but not all, of the Spyder's "issues" with heat stem from people who never rode a bike before (or rode pillion) and were surprised that the Spyder is NOT like a car (sorry, BRP marketing!).

That all said, there have definitely been some heat issues that could be improved upon. And frustratingly, it appears that whatever changes have been made to the fix the past problems may have created *all new* problems... ahhh, whack-a-mole is always a fun game.

 

[flaggerphil]

You want heat? Ride a Harley Heritage Classic around the island of St Maarten. I did that in 2011 and with all the stop and go riding, the heat of the day, the air cooled engine and the five hours we were out, I ended up with a nasty little burn on my right thigh.

I'll take my Spyder any day.

 

[Bob Denman]

I think much, but not all, of the Spyder's "issues" with heat stem from people who never rode a bike before (or rode pillion) and were surprised that the Spyder is NOT like a car

That all said, there have definitely been some heat issues that could be improved upon. And frustratingly, it appears that whatever changes have been made to the fix the past problems may have created *all new* problems... ahhh, whack-a-mole is always a fun game.

Thank you! :clap: :thumbup:

And now; let the flaming begin!

 

[OldCowboy]

You want heat? Ride a Harley Heritage Classic around the island of St Maarten. I did that in 2011 and with all the stop and go riding, the heat of the day, the air cooled engine and the five hours we were out, I ended up with a nasty little burn on my right thigh.

I'll take my Spyder any day.

:agree: You want hot? Ride a big twin Harley in the summer. Even when you're moving, you're aware of the heat on your right leg. Stop and go traffic can be absolute torture and if you're not wearing long pants can result in a physical burn.

 

[Magdave]

My problem is not the heat but where it is directed from the radiator on the RT. I see RS's shoot straight out the side allowing you to put your foot forward and not get torched. On the RT it is pointed more to the rear. I have visions of a air deflector (adjustable) instead of a block off plate to send it out away from the foot area. Of course this would work in stop and go traffic when the radiator kicks on and off as well as cruising speed.