Transalp 650 hot right hand side - Normal?

[Fruit Loop]

I tried a TA for the first time the other day, with a view to buying, and I'm generally well impressed. However, I was a bit worried about whether the heat of the right hand side of the bike was normal or an indication of something not right with this particular bike.

I've found an old thread on this site that said the heat to the right leg in traffic from the two pipes and then the cooling fan was one of the less endearing features of the TA. I can live with that. On this particular bike I got some of that, but also found that the frame on the right hand side of the bike (above footrest and near where exhaust fixes to it) was almost uncomfortably hot to touch, and this after about 10, maybe 15 miles max, country B roads on a pretty warm day.

What does the team think? Is this normal, and if not what could the cause be?

Thanks in advance, folks!

[btbloke]

Normal to be warm,especially near the subchamber. You may find the dealer warmed it up before you took it out,if he left it running for quite a while it would take a fair distance to cool it down to normal levels,more than 10 miles anyway if he warmed it up on choke as there would be excessive heat from the subchamber as alps run rich even off choke and a lot of dealers don't know it.I would give it a longer ride,say 50-60 miles,mine only gets really hot in traffic or greenlaning in the summer,but i don't feel it on my leg as i wear decent trousers with pads so the material is a bit thicker than normal or jeans etc.

[T ALP]

Normally a cool running motor, but soon gets hotter in traffic on a warm day then you feel that heat coming back, frame is bound to get warm but if you could touch it I don't think it would be that hot.
Was the fan running? mine does not cut in untill the temp. guage is over half way then it really is hot!
maybe worth checking to see the rads are not blocked with road muck or flies even (from our barbeque summer!)

[StumpyFingers]

The heat from the exhaust will propagate through the frame as metal is an excellent conductor of heat.
In the really hot weather the righthand side of the bike can become unbearable, but in the inter months the engine takes a lot to get up to that type of temperature and it does help keep you warm.

[Fruit Loop]

Just an update.

I went on to buy that particular bike, and have had no problems with overheating, even on fairly long runs. (Mind you its barely been above freezing most times I've ridden it!)

I've read that the emissions contol systems on the Transalp burns off unburnt fuel in the exhaust, and that'll be while the bike's warming. So maybe this system means that the exhaust gets surprisingly hot surprisingly fast, then settles down. Plus it was a hot day. (Remember them?)

[SILVALP]

The heat from the exhaust will propagate through the frame as metal is an excellent conductor of heat.

Christ Guy's we have got a veritable Rocket cientist in our midst !

[pdsquire]

I went on to buy that particular bike, and have had no problems ... even on fairly long runs.

Plus it was a hot day. (Remember them?)

You bringing it to Ireland in June, Fruit Loop? We're starting near your gaff and it's unlikely to be cold!
The Longest Day 2010 - Honda Trail Bike Forums

[Fruit Loop]

You bringing it to Ireland in June, Fruit Loop? We're starting near your gaff and it's unlikely to be cold!
The Longest Day 2010 - Honda Trail Bike Forums

Probably not, I'm afraid PD. Nice of you to ask, though (I wasn't even aware of the event before). If I'm around I'll maybe tag along for a few miles.