| Author | Message | ||
     Socalbueller |
Does anybody know if there is a reason for the piece of plastic that covers the right side of the engine? Is it just cosmetics? I was cleaning my bike yesterday and while I was prying off the reflectors on the forks I noticed that cover covers up the top of the front cylinder and most of the rear cylinder. I ended up taking it off since I like the way the engine looks and to help with cooling. I think it looks better without it. Today I noticed it took longer for the fan to come and when I got home today it was blowing more air than before. The only function I can see for that cover is to keep junk out of the throttlebody area. If that is the case I think I'll leave it off and keep an eye on the TB. | ||
| Anonymous |
It helps cooling. Really. Tested in 120 ambient in Arizona. | ||
| Cataract2 |
To help it even more. Right Side Air Scoop from Trojan or when he get's it done American Sportbike. | ||
| Socalbueller |
Anonymous, could you elaborate on the testing in AZ? Does it help cooling in traffic, highway, or both? Looking at it again it looks like it would draw air over the front cylinder fins if you were not moving and the fan is running. The XB is a sweet bike just wish it would show off the engine more. | ||
| Hkwan |
Socalbueller, I agree with you - XB needs to show off the configuration of the engine more. I, too, wonder if the cover actually does anything. It does look like it channels air passes the front cylinder, but then again, how significant is that channeling of air (if that's what it does) for cooling comparing to letting heat evaporate quicker while the bike isn't moving. Also, air tends to move through the route with the least restriction. If all things being equal, with the plate in place, the air will choose to route through the left side scope instead of our theory of the moving through the channel creates by the plate. (I'm just thinking out loud here). Also, would the plate serve the purpose of creating a channel while the bike is moving? Air comes through the left side scope and just be channeled through and out of the rear of the back cylinder. Without the plate, would air just escape through the right side after coming in the engine area from the left side scope? (again, I'm thinking out loud and am hoping to get some comment from someone....) Or may be the plate/cover probably doesn't do anything except for restricting airflow while the bike is moving... maybe Buell just trying to add a finished look(?) So, all in all, I do also want to know what type of testing in AZ was done with and without the cover. At this point, >$200 for a right side airscoop is not in the picture for me. I'm so temped to just remove the cover. If there is no drawback. That way I can at least show the engine a little more. Comment anyone? | ||
| Hogs |
Hey Guys, For what its worth I removed my original scoop and also that right side plastic covering the front cyl. Like a month ago , so far no scoops etc. and I ride next to my wifes 12 as well and her fan comes on before mine, even though she has only 6000 miles to my 11000 miles, and mine is Faster LoL... | ||
| Hkwan |
Hogs, not that I am looking for any highly scientific result from anyone, I'm just wondering if you notice if your fan runs longer / shorter after shutting off (comparing to your wife's bike)? So I guess your wife gave you the hand signal as to when her bike's fan kicks on and at that time you noticed your bike's fan hadn't kicked on yet? Now to test is a little bit further, is there a way that you can put your cover back on and have your wife take off her bike's? If the same happens (fan comes on later for her), then we know that cover is a restriction for the air flow. On another note, how do you guys tell if you fan is on/off while riding on hwy? Between the wind noise, road noise and engine noise, the fan noise will be the last thing I can notice. | ||
| Fullpower |
i ran with my right side plastic OFF for a few thousand miles. then someone on here claimed that it aided cooling in some arcane fashion, so i replaced it. now my bike weighs 12 ounces more. the chin fairing, ina ddition to looking dumb,and blocking access to the oil filter, weighs two pounds 14 ounces with the bracketry and hardware. 15 minutes with grinder, and a 3 dollar can of semi gloss black engine paint and my bike lost over three pounds of excess plastic and rusty steel. cheeper than a bunch of carbon fiber. sometimes LESS IS MORE. | ||
| Hkwan |
So Fullpower, do you notice the difference in cooling before / after the cover? | ||
| Buellj79 |
I live in AZ and that is the first thing i take off, IMO it just traps heat, plus i like the look better. J | ||
| Hkwan |
Buellj79, I guess you didn't get a before & after comparison before taking the cover off, huh? How many miles have you done this? I checked out the placement of the cover, the air scoop on the other side as well as where the fan is yesterday. Looks like that cover is for channeling air from the front of the front cylinder all the way through the back, passing the rear cylinder head, and out of the fan. Looks like if the right side cover is taken off, air will just go from the right side of the rear cylinder and out of the fan not letting it route through more of the engine components like it is doing now. |
