stanythomas

Just got my hands on a new 2008 Yamaha R6..The bike is a pleasure to ride, smooth and precise. It has completed 1200 Kms.Today when i took it out for a spin, i could feel the area of the tank near my thighs get HOT...so HOT infact that it made my skin red..The bike does heat up a bit at times during city riding but this thing had never happened before.I am still new to superbikes, so i request all the experienced members to give some input and some possible explanation as to why the tank is heating like that.I have uploaded the pics with the area highlighted.Thanks in advance.

Sunny

Query Approved

I havent ridden a R6, but the R1 which I am currently riding does get stupendously hot in traffic affecting the thigh areas. I do not think that there is anything wrong with your bike. The fans blow off hot air through the vents in the side fairing and onto your thighs.

What is the max temperature the gauge shows in traffic? Do you switch off the bike at long traffic signals?

The ideal way I have found is to ride in the city is with the thighs a little wide apart from the tank so as to allow flow of air.

However do check the coolant level as well.

rossiter

Burnt thigh? Welcome to the world of high performance biking.

R1s and R6s are known for the killer heat coming off the engine and on to the frame, which is the area that you've highlighted. And to make it worse, the frame does not cool very fast.

As I see it, you have 5 options:

1) Get a tank hugger which may reduce the heat coming on to your thighs.
2) Get high performance coolant (Have not verified the efficiency of such coolants first hand, but I hear coolants like Engine Ice etc brings down the heat by a few degrees.
3) Get a manual fan switch, so you can activate the fan whenever you want.
4) Get leathers which is pretty good in insulating your thighs from the heat. And as a by product, will keep you safer in case of a spill.
5) Line the insides of your riding pants with suitable material so as to keep the heat out.

Hope this helps.

satyenpoojary

Isnt that an invitation to trouble....

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prakash_mvpa

women are so lucky..

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stanythomas

Thanks for the help, appreciate it..BTW The max temperature the gauge shows is 102 after which the fans turn on and start cooling the engine. I usually dont turn the bike off until the traffic signal is red for over 40 seconds.

However when i reached home i felt the entire tank and only that single patch on the left hand side was hot, the other side was considerably warm but not that hot. I almost thought that the fuel tank might burst or something.

Any other tips anyone would like to share..I wud highly appreciate!! Thanks in advance

EL LOCO DIABLO

Can it be because the bike is not reaching proper speed to be able to cool off the heat generated? After all it is a high-performance bike (which is new) and we do live in a country where it's either hot or hotter and added to this we can also blame the traffic significantly. If i seem to make any sense, then my suggestion would be to take every sunday to rip the hell out of your bike, till it breaks in

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Old Fox

As sunny and rossiter have stated, these r's are notorious for throwing off copious amounts of heat, esp in the stop and go traffic. And the legs take the worst.

Heat all around is not an issue and 102 degC is not much either. The "one I am using these days gets above 115 degC in traffic during noon time. Its like being next to a furnace. The fans work away furiously and switching off the engine makes matters worse.

Lop-sided heating, and that too of the fuel tank, can be an issue for concern. The left-side region marked by you is where the fuel pump is installed. That could be over-heating for some reason. It could be something as simple as some gunk or dirt partially clogging its inlet or (less probable but possible) sticky pump bearing. Centrifugal pumps are mighty sensitive to restricted flow (whether 'in' or 'out') as the fuel also functions as the bearing and pump coolant. These pumps generate an output pressure of about 46 psi, which requires considerable energy, meaning the motor works hard and could easily heat up.

My opinion: if the left side of the fuel tank heats up considerably more than the other side, get the pump checked asap.

sigh! How true!! Ouch!

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rossiter

Damn.. time to get my fuel pump checked.

stewarch

An all R1's and R6's that I have ridden run hot as both Sunny and Rossiter have stated. The heat is always felt more on left side and is not an issue. The guys love to ride the R1 during monsoon as you dry out quickier after a shower. 102 seems OK as my bikes can run 109. The 3 options stated

1. Do not hug the frame with your legs in traffic
2. Leathers
3. Switch off engine at lights but ensure completely shut down or fan will drain battery very quickly

are the best solutions. The most important thing to look for is the fan switching on.