| Author | Message | ||
     Bigme007 |
Im looking to add something to divert as much heat away from my leg as possible and wondering if anyone has experience between the following options - American Sport Bike Comfort Kit -  http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/17327.html American Sport Bike Right Side Scoop -  http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/A17360.html Ebay Right Side Air Scoop -  http://www.ebay.com/itm/BUELL-XB-LARGE-PROFILE-RIGHT-SIDE-SCOOP-KIT-BRAND-NEW-/281184819244?nma=true&si=bo8OMHy0u7ZtZB%252BXiG0BTFMyYos%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Basically looking for anyone who might have experience choosing between which provides the best heat deflection/cooling vs cost. American Sport Bike right side scoop is the least $ (but appears to be rather small???) EBay Scoop is the in middle $$ (appears to be larger???) Comfort kit is the most $$$ Also does anyone know id the American Sport Bike scoop is the same that is in the Comfort kit (sans the rest of the stuff)? thanks | ||
| Buewulf |
Get the comfort kit. The scoop by itself does absolutely nothing to deflect heat. The shroud and heatshield that come with the comfort kit do make a noticeable difference. Since the engine itself doesn't seem to run any cooler with the scoop in place, I suspect it is mostly included as part of the comfort kit as a placebo or cosmetic component. I don't know what the comfort kit costs these days, but I bought it for $100 or so and consider it a good buy. Nothing is going to save you leg in 95° weather stuck in stop-and-go traffic, but it works well for normal riding conditions | ||
| Trevd |
+1 on the comfort kit. | ||
| Froggy |
Regarding all 3 scoops listed, they are all the exact same part. The comfort kit is the large two piece right side scoop plus a heat shield, under seat air channel, and related hardware. The second link and the ebay link are just the scoop portion of the comfort kit, as the under seat part will not fit on some of the other XB models. Like the others have said, get the complete kit. | ||
| General_ulysses |
I installed the whole kit in the spring prior to riding a while without it. Overall it works well, although like others have said, it won't stop high heat situations in stop n go traffic in the summertime. But once you start moving with any appreciable speed, I do believe it enhances airflow over the rear cylinder, which is surrounded by the frame and gets much hotter than the front. I noticed the fan did not cycle as much and the bike seemed to run cooler overall after installing the kit. It's not perfect but it's better than the stock setup without it. One word of advice is to use loctite on the screws that hold the scoop on. I installed mine without it and one of the screws vibrated out. | ||
| Buewulf |
"I installed mine without it and one of the screws vibrated out." Hell, I've had the two pinch bolts for the front axle vibrate out! Also lost an airbox screw and a couple of trim screws. Replaced my cheap torque wrench with a much pricier one and haven't lost anything since, but loctite all around might not be such a bad idea! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Im looking to add something to divert as much heat away from my leg as possible" As others have said, the comfort kit does seem to help our Ulys run cooler. However, the best solution I found for riding in sweltering mid-summer Orlando traffic was was a good pair of mesh armored riding pants. | ||
| Motorfish |
Some folks have used foil tape, used on duct work and insulation, to seal off the right side seat/frame gap. I have not done this yet, but always where riding pants, so it`s tolerable. I`ve read good things here about Odi`s heat blankets, too. +1 on the comfort kit. | ||
| Motorbike |
I have the complete comfort kit (minus the header pipe shield), the front half of Odie's Heat Blanket and the new fan program from the EBR ECM on my 08 XT. Right side heat is no longer an issue even on the hottest days in Minnesota. | ||
| Ftd |
'06 Uly with direct link tune from American Sport Bike, foil tape treatment and R. Crins' right side scoop (from Netherlands). I live in Orlando and heat is not an issue. YMMV Frank | ||
| Teeps |
I have used both the R.Crins right side scoop and the Buell comfort kit (complete.) Anecdotally, I find the comfort kit less effective than just the R.Crins RSS alone. | ||
| Bigme007 |
Thanks for the replies. According to the ebay seller, their scoop is larger than the one with that comes with the comfort kit. I am trying to get the dims for it to compare. It seems as most people are saying the full kit is the way to go, but I am wondering about a larger scoop plus a heat blanket (Odie's or similar). If the ebay sellers scoop is in fact larger, I assume this means more air and a properly located heat blanket should help to absorb/deflect the heat from the leg. Basically a comfort kit.. with a larger scoop ??? Is the comfort kit scoop the same size (or smaller or larger) as the left hand scoop? | ||
| Firstbatch |
I've had the Crins RSS scoop for some time and along with the Jethot on the pipes and the cooling fan duct mod I made up with Thermotec in this thread it has all worked great.http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/352214.html | ||
| Al_lighton |
That ebay seller isn't being entirely truthful. There are several different comfort kits. The one for the 08+ Euro header does have a smaller scoop than the one for the domestic models (all years). See http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/17359.html . But the scoop that was shown in his picture is the same as the one in all the domestic comfort kits, it is NOT larger. It CAN'T be, if it was, it would be in contact with the header. NO right side scoop is as large as the left side scoop, the asymmetrical layout with the header location precludes the right side scoop from being as large. The Crins scoop, as well as the American Sport Bike 9160 CF or 9160F Fiberglass scoop, both have a full bellmouth on them, like the left side scoop. The Buell RSS does not have a full bellmouth on it, because it was developed in conjunction with the 2010 models that have an O2 sensor on the front header that would interfere with the inside part of the scoop. The comfort kit includes the rear fan shroud and header heat shield in addition to the scoop. The shroud and the heat shield definitely help in keeping heat off the rider, but the RSS is less about the rider and more about the engine. The "comfort" part of the RSS is the not having to listen to the incessant droning of the fan while going down the highway. Highway testing (70-80MPH) that I've done shows that without an RSS, the pre-08 models will rise to the 428F fan-on setpoint, and then the fan will come on and pull the temp down to 380-390F (in 80F ambient). But the fan won't shut off until 356F, so it will drone until the engine load is reduced. WITH an RSS, the temp just rises to the 380-390F temp, and the fan doesn't kick on. On 2008 and later models, things change, because the original set point was 455F, not 428F. And then Buell released new fan on/off profiles and it all changes. I personally prefer the older profile and haven't updated my ECM to the new profile. Right side scoops have been very controversial over the years. The original XB design had them, but low vehicle speed/high ambient conditions (think Phoenix AZ rush hour traffic in summertime) caused fuel rail vapor lock issues because the larger flow area resulted in low convection coefficients there. So Buell abandoned the scoop. Fast forward several years, after Crins and American Sport Bike had released their own scoops (amid previously mentioned controversy), and Buell had changed throttle bodies and fuel rails from the earlier 2003 design. Buell purchased 4 of our American Sport Bike scoops for more testing, and then released their own scoops. I don't think it is coincidence that the side profile of the Buell scoop and the American Sport Bike scoops are virtually identical. There is much more that can be done for removing heat from the rider than just the comfort kit. Silver ceramic headers can reduce heat radiated from the exhaust. Lining the frame with thermotec heat barrier material can help with reducing the frame temperature, and lining the underside of the seat with it, or using an Odie blanket, can help reduce seat temp. Snake Gripskins applied to the frame rails can help with insulating your legs from the hot metal frame. There isn't one magic bullet, but doing some or all of the above can make a big difference. Al | ||
| Teeps |
Al, Have you measured frame temps with heat shielding countermeasures applied? | ||
| Al_lighton |
I have not. Al | ||
| Pagprivat |
I just installed the American Sport Bike comfort kit a week ago on a '07, (thanks to Al for expedite and flexible delivery! ) so far no regrets. I'm in Brazil, with upcoming summer (currently in the ~100+), and the kit definitely made a noticeable difference. Fan is not kicking in as often as it used to (engine running cooler) and my nuts and right thigh has more human conditions. Go for the whole kit, my 2 cents  | ||
| Schwiggy |
Sorry if I'm reviving a dead thread or posting off topic in this thread. But I installed the comfort kit on my 06 before last riding season and I notice the fan absolutely does not come on as often, but this makes the bike so much hotter when cruising around town. Previously I never had to lift my leg off the right side of the bike, now I feel like I have to do it constantly out of discomfort. Has anyone else experienced this? | ||
| Buewulf |
Schwiggy, I put the comfort kit on my '06, and I find the fan runs pretty much about the same as it always has. It made a noticeable improvement with respect to heat radiating from the right side. | ||
| Teeps |
Buewulf Posted on Monday, November 25, 2013 Schwiggy, I put the comfort kit on my '06, and I find the fan runs pretty much about the same as it always has. This is my experience, too. I find the fan operation fickle. I can do the same ride with similar ambient conditions. Ride "a" the fan runs nearly the whole trip. Ride "b" the fan runs for only part of the trip. | ||
| Arry |
Schwiggy, I, also, noticed more hot air in that area after I installed the comfort kit. The second scoop forces more air around the motor. Some of this hot air escapes thru a small gap, at the front right side of the seat (where the seat parallels the frame). With the seat off you can make a small barrier (air dam) with a couple of pieces of tape (or?), to block this gap. This seemed to help, for me. | ||
| Motorbike |
For you guys that are having heat problems after installing the Comfort Kit, are you installing the entire kit or just all parts except the cover over the top of the rear shock? If you do not install all the parts, the kit is worthless and does more harm than good. The only part in the kit that is not needed is the shield that clamps onto the rear header pipe. That is only there to keep from burning your leg on the pipe, which is next to impossible anyway. After you properly install the entire comfort kit, you also need to install an Odie's heat blanket or something similar to keep any heat from coming out the right side. A new EBR ECM with the updated fan programs helps a lot too. My 08 XT with these updates gives off less engine heat than my 86 Gold Wing did. Man that thing was hot when the electric radiator fan would turn on at a red light on a hot day! Thanks. | ||
| Uly_man |
Here is my 2 cents worth since I have had 06 and 10 bikes. You can do a number of things, on a 06 bike, that will help the bike/frame from getting over hot. If it is just the "heat to leg" thing a double layer of exhaust wrap works very well and is cheap and easy to do. The only problem is the way it looks and the need to change it every now and then. The header heat shield works real well and it should have been on these bikes from new. | ||
| Uly_pirate |
+1 on the comfort kit. I have an 09 XT and tried a couple of other mods before ordering the comfort kit. I agree with Uly_man, the header heat shield should have been standard. I think the redirected fan helps more than the seat heat shield I tried. I don't think the right side scoop by itself helps with rider comfort. Engine comfort maybe. | ||
| Portero72 |
I think that Schwiggy's bike is an 06. That means no new fan logic, and no fan running while in motion, pulling hot air out the backside. As far as I can tell, the CK directs enough air around the motor to keep it running cooler(and results in less fan operation), but without the pull of the fan, you are sitting on all the radiant heat. Feel free to tell me about the hot air coming out my backside. | ||
| Al_lighton |
I'm not sure where you got the "no fan running while in motion, pulling hot air out the backside. " for 06 models, but it just isn't true. If the ignition is on, and the rear cylinder hits 428F, his fan will come on unless something else is broken. Vehicle speed doesn't figure into it at all. | ||
| Portero72 |
I suppose that was written too literally. I am aware that after a certain temp, in motion or not, the fan kicks on. I have an 09 without the CK logic, and I find that PRIOR to the fan kicking on, all the heat pouring off the motor in slow traffic or at stoplights makes for an uncomfortable ride. Which is probably similar to Schwiggy's experience. | ||
| Schwiggy |
It is an 06, no new fan logic. Installed the entire kit. Total PITA getting the shroud around the fan. Thank god for this website and the pointers people give, otherwise I probably would have just thrown it in the garbage. I never really had discomfort prior to installing the kit, I just did it because it was another thing I could do to the bike. At first I thought I might have messed something up with the fan, as it wasn't coming on when I expected it to. I had to replace my fan last year, not something I really want to do again. But it did eventually come on. It is pretty much as Arry describes. I'll look into blocking the gap. | ||
| Uly_man |
"I'm not sure where you got the "no fan running while in motion, pulling hot air out the backside. " for 06 models, but it just isn't true. If the ignition is on, and the rear cylinder hits 428F, his fan will come on unless something else is broken. Vehicle speed doesn't figure into it at all". The idea, I think, is that the wide operation temp of this air cooled engine, in a XB, is better controlled to the base line, which is about 320 F, to stop high temps on the bike and allow for the influence of outside temp rises and hard riding of the engine. Yes the 06 bikes fan will come on while riding but it is then trying to get below its setting while you are making the the engine hot as well. That is while most of the time it is running flat out. Unlike a water cooled bike which controls the engine temp to a fixed point via the radiator thermostat a air/oil cooled engine changes all the time due to conditions. Also the XB engine runs a oil cooler with no thermostat and due to the nature of this type of engine does not heat and cool at the same speed as a water cooled one does. All I will say is if have a 08 plus bike get the comfort kit and fan flash. If you have a 06 bike get the comfort kit (or other) and do the manual fan control mod. Any and all/ other will help and are well worth doing. |
