Any problems with engine heat on the rider?

13354 Views 38 Replies 18 Participants Last post by bombim, 3 mo ago

mebgardner

Discussion Starter · Feb 17, 2021

Hello All,

I'm considering an 1100 ATAS purchase, and I would like to read about your opinions on engine heat output onto the rider.

Years ago, as I was considering the 1000 AT purchase, I was told that the heat output onto the rider was pretty high, and some thought very high. It was solvable then, with the purchase of Honda OEM set of "wings" to re-direct the engine heat / radiator output away from the rider.

Has this problem been solved with this new model?

Thanks.

1 - 20 of 39 Posts

Wavshrdr

· #2 · Feb 17, 2021

I can say I would be one of the people who clearly had an issue with my 2018 ATAS DCT roasting my chestnuts. It just shoveled hot air into my crotch and I hated to ride on any days that were in the upper 80's F or higher. I couldn't find any way to solve that issue and it really lessened the enjoyment of that bike.

I have a 2020 ATAS ES DCT and I can't really quantify how much better it is as I haven't seen temps in the 90's F here yet when riding it. I can say that it definitely feels not at hot as in the 80's. It will be mid 80's here on Thursday and I plan to take it for an extended ride and see how it is. On my 2018, I pretty much stopped totally riding it if temps were going to be above the mid 80's. The problem with it is the faster you went, the more it seemed to funnel everything right where I didn't want it. Doing 80+ mph on a 90F day was a recipe for a very unpleasant ride.

On a lot of other bikes the issue has been when at a stop. Indian - are you listening? Actually they did with cylinder deactivation but on the AT, speed made it worse on my 2018. I'll have a more extensive report this week if you want more feedback. At least it is more encouraging than it was.

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Reactions: 1

DoubleThumper

· #3 · Feb 17, 2021

I can't say I had a negative heat experience and it gets pretty hot and humid in southern Ontario, Canada. The fans do come on as they need to, but I found the air did not blast onto my body at all, but rather far out to the side. Unlike some other liquid-cooled bikes I have ridden in summer, the AT was a pleasant surprise - so far. I do much freeway mileage and never noticed an exacerbated issue. July temperatures easily climb over 100F with humidity.

Reactions: 1

bdalameda

· #4 · Feb 17, 2021

I have ridden my 2019 AT DCT in some very hot 102F+ conditions on both high speed and slower dirt roads without any heat issue except one. My RH foot gets a little hot if I keep my foot close to the engine as the exhaust runs under the RH footpeg. I just have to move my foot out a bit and I am fine.

Dan

Reactions: 1

Cuchulainn

· #5 · Feb 17, 2021

I have had a 2016 AT and now a 2019 ATAS. I can't say that I have either to run particularly hot. It's really a pretty low key engine.

It could also be that I have had some bikes that do run particularly hot and are now for roasting the chestnuts, such as the Triumph Sprint 1050 which runs that triple exhaust under the seat

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

mebgardner

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 17, 2021

Wavshrdr said:
I can say I would be one of the people who clearly had an issue with my 2018 ATAS DCT roasting my chestnuts. It just shoveled hot air into my crotch and I hated to ride on any days that were in the upper 80's F or higher. I couldn't find any way to solve that issue and it really lessened the enjoyment of that bike.

I have a 2020 ATAS ES DCT and I can't really quantify how much better it is as I haven't seen temps in the 90's F here yet when riding it. I can say that it definitely feels not at hot as in the 80's. It will be mid 80's here on Thursday and I plan to take it for an extended ride and see how it is. On my 2018, I pretty much stopped totally riding it if temps were going to be above the mid 80's. The problem with it is the faster you went, the more it seemed to funnel everything right where I didn't want it. Doing 80+ mph on a 90F day was a recipe for a very unpleasant ride.

On a lot of other bikes the issue has been when at a stop. Indian - are you listening? Actually they did with cylinder deactivation but on the AT, speed made it worse on my 2018. I'll have a more extensive report this week if you want more feedback. At least it is more encouraging than it was.

Yes, please! I would appreciate that very much.

mebgardner

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 17, 2021

I am sensitive to this issue, because, well, Tucson AZ.

The Triumph 800's were particularly bad for this reason.

Reactions: 1

WileyA

· #8 · Feb 17, 2021

Well come and live in the UK chaps it will cure the heat issue because its raining, cold, grey and we are in lockdown so the bikes are tucked up safe and sound in the garage.....

I just sold my Tiger 800 because of the heat transfer...

Reactions: 5

Wavshrdr

· #9 · Feb 17, 2021

I am in NE Florida. Terrible humidity in the summer here and pretty warm. Typically we are in the mid to upper 90's ever day in the summer but I live close to the ocean so raraly breaks 100F here. But i go inland a bit, worst of all, higher temps and still crazy humidity. I lived in Arizona and New Mexico for several years so I have always been concerned about heat transfer when riding.

zippysworld

· #10 · Feb 17, 2021

WTH is this thing they call Heat???
Next you'll be telling me of trolls, goblins and cars that run on Electricity! lol

Zippy - UK dweller

Reactions: 4

WileyA

· #11 · Feb 17, 2021

Our American buddy's will be telling us that the earth is round next ...... Phhhh

Reactions: 1

hit-man

· #12 · Feb 17, 2021

I've got a 2017 AT manual and have had no issue with heat from the engine. Where I'm located in California, winter temps dip into the 20sF and summer temps rise to 115F. At no time do I discern any noticeable heat source baking any part of my anatomy especially the chestnuts.

Reactions: 1

Wavshrdr

· #13 · Feb 18, 2021

A quick update. ambient temp at nearest weather station was 85F when I was riding. The "feels like" temp was 88 according to Dark Sky. Temp according to the bike instrument console was 93F. The sun was bright and intense but not yet a summer sun here. Humidity was also lower than here in the same at an almost pleasant 62% compared to the normal 80+% humidity. I rode in a variety of directions to account for crosswinds coming from different directions.

My overall impression is definitely better than my 2018 ATAS. If you put your hand below the tank, in front of your knees, the heat coming from the radiator and engine is definitely felt but doesn't feel as intense as on my previous Gen AT. I can't say I won't have issues when the ambient temp is in the 90's and the temp on road is in the 100+F range, but it is promising so far. As mentioned earlier, the heat was worse at high speeds (70 mph +) than at lower speeds. The engine is working harder so giving off more heat. I ran it up into the triple digits (not on a public road of course) and heat was not an issue for me today. I tried gripping the tank closely as well as splayed a bit and my chestnuts were only slightly warmed, not roasted today.

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phydough

· #14 · Feb 19, 2021

No problems with additional bike heat when riding my ‘19 in 122 degree heat. Fast or slow, on or off road, still pleasurable as riding in 25 degree cold weather.

BumpyRider

· #15 · Jul 20, 2021

There is definitely plenty of heat dumped on your knees and shins.
On cools days its great, any other time I find it annoyingly hot.

Has anyone tried the EU deflectors?
OEM Honda Deflectors - CRF1100 Adventure Sport new (ruggedroads.co.uk)

AT-Dragon

· #16 · Jul 20, 2021

OK… I guess it’s just me, but huh?
I’m sitting almost on top of and straddling a twin cylinder engine is not one supposed to feel some heat ?
Granted I come from many years of 2 stroke air cooled then liquid cooled engines with a huge stove pipe out front. So I guess I’m a bit jaded about heat from a motorcycle engines..
Lol, my bikes ( back in the day ) had sand blasted heads to get the OEM paint off the fins to help cool them down, now there’s some weenie roasting days, water cooling to us was hitting a big puddle and getting a free steam bath, to boot..
OH!! Wait! No “ back in the day “ story can’t be complete without - Barefoot in the winter, up hill..
There now it’s finished….

Reactions: 2

ursman

· #17 · Jul 20, 2021

Coming from a full dressed out Harley AND a hell raising chopper as my other bikes, i'd say that the 2020 ATAS heat is tolerable to me. I do feel it on the RH side as others have said here, but it's not too terrible. I've definitely ridden other bikes that will roast the hell out of you regardless of being in traffic or on the open road. It depends on what you consider "hot" Some people are more sensitive to it than others

wheelwatcher

· #18 · Feb 21, 2022

Wondering if the lean fuelling required by EURO5 regulations has made the newest version AT run hotter than before. Has anyone had their ECU remapped that can compare before and after?

Reactions: 1

Kimon Vlasidis

· #19 · 11 mo ago

wheelwatcher said:
Wondering if the lean fuelling required by EURO5 regulations has made the newest version AT run hotter than before. Has anyone had their ECU remapped that can compare before and after?

Fuel leaning does not mean that you are have a poor mixture. It's like in a aircraft where they lean the mixture as they climb higher because the air is getting thinner. Less air equals less fuel for a correct ratio of 14.5 to 1.
Euro 5 is achieved by less fuel in the engine and less air but still in the correct ratio!
So in order not to loose power you increase the size of the engine.
Thats why it went from 1000cc to 1100cc.

DoubleThumper

· #20 · 11 mo ago

Kimon Vlasidis said:
Fuel leaning does not mean that you are have a poor mixture. It's like in a aircraft where they lean the mixture as they climb higher because the air is getting thinner. Less air equals less fuel for a correct ratio of 14.5 to 1.
Euro 5 is achieved by less fuel in the engine and less air but still in the correct ratio!
So in order not to loose power you increase the size of the engine.
Thats why it went from 1000cc to 1100cc.

Thanks for the insight @Kimon Vlasidis.

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