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How noticeable is the Engine heat: F3 vs RT?

R

RetiredBikerKenJ

New member
New member here from College Station TX. Not even a Spyder owner yet but planning to be come early spring. In my heart, I've settled on the F3-LTD mostly because of the marginally lower seating height; all things considered, I like being closer to the ground. I already have a couple trikes: a Slingshot and a HP Velotechnik Scorpion recumbent trike which I ride about 100 mi/wk.

To those of you who've ridden both the RT and the F3, how noticeable is the engine heat on legs and feet for the F3 compared to the RT? Here in TX, my Slingshot is best appreciated winter and spring; summer riding is just about intolerable heatwise. Sitting right on top of the engine is an advantage in the winter/spring but not much fun in the summer. Anybody care to share an opinion? Thanks.
 
While my 2014 Spyder is not the latest generation nor was the new F3 I test rode for 25 miles or so in 2016 but in both roadsters I've never noticed any heat problem on legs or feet. Caveat: I ride ATGATT year round. FWIW, last September I sold a Vintage 2004 Greenspeed GTO that I went to after having both hips replaced and went to a trike because I've seen xrays of femur damage to a hip replacement bicyclist patient who fell on his replaced hip. The femur was absolutely shattered.
 
If you ride with all the gear, it's going to shield you some from the heat on both machines! The RT's covers are going to shield you some from the motor heat, yes, your feet are going to get some because the air rips through onto your toes, but between the covers and the sound shields, the heat from the body is, well, not that bad in my book, but I don't live in Texas! The F3, well it's open, your body is right there, only thing stopping it will be your clothes! You decide whether you like the riding style more than heat shielding, you're the one in Texas! Good luck!
 
JayBros said:
While my 2014 Spyder is not the latest generation nor was the new F3 I test rode for 25 miles or so in 2016 but in both roadsters I've never noticed any heat problem on legs or feet. Caveat: I ride ATGATT year round. FWIW, last September I sold a Vintage 2004 Greenspeed GTO that I went to after having both hips replaced and went to a trike because I've seen xrays of femur damage to a hip replacement bicyclist patient who fell on his replaced hip. The femur was absolutely shattered.
Click to expand...

Thanks and Semper Fi. Yeah, I'm on my second set of total knee replacements and I'm gonna try to make these last.


Mikey said:
If you ride with all the gear, it's going to shield you some from the heat on both machines! The RT's covers are going to shield you some from the motor heat, yes, your feet are going to get some because the air rips threw onto your toes, but between the covers and the sound shields the heat from the body's, well not that bad in my book, but I don't live in Texas! The F3, well it's open your body's right there, only thing stopping it will be your close! You decide whether you like the riding style more than heat shielding, you're the one in Texas! Good luck!
Click to expand...

Honestly, I can't imagine that however much heat there is will be that much worse than the Slingshot, so I'm thinking come early Spring, the F3 will be my third trike. Yeehaw!!
 
I was on a bike trip to the Twisted Sisters several years ago on my 2022 F3L Limited and going through Arkansas and into Teaxas the air temps reached a high of 106 degs. Yes it was hot but did not feel excessive air coming from engine to be intolerable. When it gets in the high 90-100+ air temps, stopping at street lights can become uncomfortable, but that is all part of the riding experience.
 
baxter said:
I was on a bike trip to the Twisted Sisters several years ago on my 2022 F3L Limited and going through Arkansas and into Teaxas the air temps reached a high of 106 degs. Yes it was hot but did not feel excessive air coming from engine to be intolerable. When it gets in the high 90-100+ air temps, stopping at street lights can become uncomfortable, but that is all part of the riding experience.
Click to expand...
Agreed. It's early June here in TX and my Slingshot is starting to sit in the garage more of the day than not. Summer riding... it is what it is.
 
Having ridden tens of thousands on both RT and F-3 Ltd all over the country, all times of the year, I have never been bothered by excessive heat on either model.
 
I ride a 2020 F3-LTD and the heat is tolerable even on a 100 degree day while at a stop light or in stop and go freeway traffic. Once the Spyder is moving I do not notice the heat at all.
 
Both my prior RT LTD and my current S2S are the same. In 100+F heat, stop lights are OK. In freeway traffic jams everything is OK until the fans kick on. Then it gets real toasty. If it’s a freeway accident and it’s going to be a while to clear, I’ll pull off onto a gas station and sit and drink a nice cool drink until it all clears up.

I’m retired, I’ve nowhere to be at any specific time, so I’ll wait out the jam. I’ll get out my iPad and read a book and stay hydrated. Perhaps I’ll treat myself to an ice cream too.

Perhaps I’ll then go home a back way once all the rat runs have cleared out.
 
My iPad Mini has the Kindle App, the Barnes and Noble Nook App and the Libby County Library book borrowing App.. I just leave it on the USB charge port in the trunk. By the time I’ve read something interesting,the traffic jams have long cleared up. I just make sure I’ve downloaded books as I’ve added them so I don’t even need Wi-Fi to read them.
 
One of the best, simplest, and cheapest ways to reduce engine produced rider heat on the Spyder is to remove the plastic splash panels from the bottom of the frame. This gives heat buildup in the engine compartment somewhere to go other than on you or your passenger. Not to mention the added simplicity for an oil change.

The next step is to replace the cat which can typically opperate at 800 degrees or more.

One more thing you can do is wrap your ehhaust with exhaust tape.

Do these things and you'll be surprised how much cooler your ride will be. Especailly on hot days or long trips.
 
I live in Florida where the temp can be as brutal as Texas in the summer. I ride my F3-T in shorts and sneakers (something I would never have done on my Harley's) with no heat problems. And even less heat since i had the cat removed.
 
Well, as I already drive a 'heater'(Slingshot), I doubt adding another trike(RT/F3) will be much of a surprise heatwise. I've been asked 'if you already have a Slingshot, why do you want a Spyder?' My answer is 'it ain't the same'
 
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