Does a faired bike help in a hot climate?

[sunshine229]

Helloooo...

I haven't posted a new topic in a while so in a way, it's my turn.

I have a good question! I think...

In a hot climate, does it help to have a faired bike rather than an unfaired bike to help cope with the heat output of the engine?



Thanks!!!!!!

[Lion_Lady]

A fairing keeps airflow off you, so the engine hear gets to you more easily. It can be really brutal if you get caught in traffic. I don't have a faired bike but my husband does, and he has commented that his bike is great in cold weather, but not so much in hot weather.

[sunshine229]

Interesting! I've only had unfaired bikes and the last one I had ran REALLY hot so I'm looking to avoid the killer heat with my next bike purchase. Thanks for your input!

[jstark47]

Faired bikes are great in winter. In summer, a naked bike is the way to go. The fairing on most big sport-tourers seems to trap heat, and if anything, direct it back on the rider.

ATGATT, stopped at a red light, on a 95 degree day, on a faired bike is a ....... memorable..... experience.

[madjak30]

The faring actually holds the heat in (doesn't allow the air to flow as freely over the engine), so it is better to have a naked bike...example...2003 Suzuki GS500 (naked bike), air cooled...2004 Suzuki GS500F (fared bike), air cooled & oil cooled...Suzuki added the oil cooler to help with the issue...the bike hadn't needed any cooling help since 1989, but as soon as they added a faring it needed some help...I believe the new GSX1250FA has a larger radiator than the Bandit 1250S had...same bike, just now with a full faring...

All that being said...the faring tends to direct the hot air away from the rider & with a fan the air flow issue can be alleviated...so new bikes do a decent job of dealing with this...and liquid cooling is much better in hot, it tends to keep it more even...

Good Luck!! (Calgary isn't that hot... )

Later.

[Wrider]

Yeah, the fairing holds heat in, but depending on the design and airflow, it can direct it straight at a rider's legs or let it simmer through the top of the bike into the rider. My sister's Ninja 250 is hilarious, because her fairing tends to hold a lot of heat in, and she has a common flaw in hers, the gas tank vent squeals whenever pressure changes. (I'm talking about it being in the garage and you being able to hear it from two rooms away inside kind of loud.)

The first generation of the Victory Vision was redesigned in the early stages because the fairing took the hot air, curled it around, and directed it onto the OUTSIDE of the rider's leg bad enough that test riders were being burnt through their leathers.

[gsJack]

Riding all day on Interstates at speed without a shield can be very annoying to me although many do like it. Even more annoying is riding in the winter in NE Ohio without a big shield. I change the shield on my naked 02 GS500 twice a year. Big NC Plexi 2 winters and small Spitfire spring, summer, and fall. One of many reasons I prefer nakeds and my GS prefers being naked in the hot summers too.

[sunshine229]

Wow, this is all very interesting and not really what I was expecting. But hey, that's why I asked because I didn't know the answer!

I am shocked about the Victory Vision. My jaw dropped when I read about the leg burns. OUCH!

I suppose it does depend on engine and fairing design as to whether a faired bike can be at least somewhat comfortable to ride during a hot day. The reason I'm concerned is that my UK Suzuki was absolutely awful for heat output, to the point that I couldn't keep my knees hugged to the tank on a warm day (not a hot day but just a warm day) so I really want to avoid this with my next bike purchase. However, my Kawasaki before that was a naked and it didn't have any heat problems at all.

Hmmm... decisions, decisions... what bike to buy?!?

(PS: is this the point in time where I tell you we aren't moving back to Calgary? viewtopic.php?f=14&t=44608)

[dr_bar]

Andrea, my bike has an option, as well as after market accessories to help redirect air towards or away from me while I ride. Keeps air circulating in the warmer climes and helps "pocket" warm air on those cooler days...

[High_Side]

Like others have said, a properly designed fairing and a well designed cooling system can really keep you cooler than a naked bike where the heat just wafts upward in stop and go traffic. That said, some fairings are really worse than naked bikes for wind management. With my old VTR 1000 I found out that the bike was less turbulent to ride than with it on. My new VFR is supposed to manage heat and turbulence really well but I haven't yet got to ride it so hopefully I can find out soon. Really every bike is somewhat different and without riding it you will not be able to tell. Kind of a cop-out, but there's more to it than black or white.