Firstly let me say that this series of articles is my logical approach on some of the problems noted on my bike and what others are experiencing on theirs in this forum.
Issue of Heat: Too much of it, yes I know this is a large capacity bike but it appears that it is a real issue on the Voyager and Nomad especially in hot conditions.
Issue of Performance: Or lack of it to be precise, I'm not talking about race bike accelaration, but torque/pulling power and response when you need it in any gear, after all this is why we buy a large capacity bike isin't.
You will find that theres a couple of things that contribute to these issues.
1) The engine is very restricted in its breathing.
2) The mixture is on the lean side to comply with various regulations.
Both of these have an affect on the bike to varying degrees.
I have experimented with the Air Induction side first by checking out the Airfilter(s). The left side is where the air is inducted and noted that the air is taken in from a location between the cylinders, so it takes in pre-heated air from between the cylinders heads into the engine, not a smart move with a hot running engine on a hot day and sitting at traffic lights.
As some people may have read my threads on reducing engine heat by improving airflow around the heads, this involved taking off the plastic valve covers. If anyone has done this they will realise how much these covers reduce the path of the airflow in and around the top of the engine. I have already noted on my bike a small improvement and a longer time at idle before the cooling fan coming on. So I have improved the airflow around the engine heads and allow an increase of cooler air into the left aircleaner.
I know that not everyone will want to do this and its not required, just my own personal thing.
Next up article I will continue about the induction side with suggestions/ improvements and trials conducted
Issue of Heat: Too much of it, yes I know this is a large capacity bike but it appears that it is a real issue on the Voyager and Nomad especially in hot conditions.
Issue of Performance: Or lack of it to be precise, I'm not talking about race bike accelaration, but torque/pulling power and response when you need it in any gear, after all this is why we buy a large capacity bike isin't.
You will find that theres a couple of things that contribute to these issues.
1) The engine is very restricted in its breathing.
2) The mixture is on the lean side to comply with various regulations.
Both of these have an affect on the bike to varying degrees.
I have experimented with the Air Induction side first by checking out the Airfilter(s). The left side is where the air is inducted and noted that the air is taken in from a location between the cylinders, so it takes in pre-heated air from between the cylinders heads into the engine, not a smart move with a hot running engine on a hot day and sitting at traffic lights.
As some people may have read my threads on reducing engine heat by improving airflow around the heads, this involved taking off the plastic valve covers. If anyone has done this they will realise how much these covers reduce the path of the airflow in and around the top of the engine. I have already noted on my bike a small improvement and a longer time at idle before the cooling fan coming on. So I have improved the airflow around the engine heads and allow an increase of cooler air into the left aircleaner.
I know that not everyone will want to do this and its not required, just my own personal thing.
Next up article I will continue about the induction side with suggestions/ improvements and trials conducted
