Front Mounted Radiator

I asked this somewhere in a thread after the new VFR 800 came out with a front mounted radiator. Do they run cooler than the side twin mounted rads? Does someone have experience with both? AM's coolant overflow made me think about it again.

 

I'm curious as well, I always figured the side mounted rads had to be heavier and less efficient than a front mounted solution, although further from the exhaust headers.

 

We all know how hot the twin rads run. Lots of threads on temps and attempts to lower them. Damn that old RC51. Lol

 

It might run cooler but I don't think Honda has ever claimed it would. According to their USA website, the change was made to reduce the width:

"By moving the radiators from the fairing sides to in front of the engine, we’ve slimmed down the bike’s middle cowl area, giving it a more sleek style and reducing the width."

 

What kind of temps do you see in stop and go traffic Greg?

 

Man, it looks like that lower radiator would catch 7 kinds of hell.

No motorcycle does well in stop and go traffic.

 

She's definitely a hot child in the city - I usually see temps in the 210's and 220's in stop and go traffic on hot days. She prefers runnin' wild and lookin' pretty in the less congested suburbs Fortunately I rarely ride in stop and go traffic because my bike is used for pleasure mostly and I pick routes of course that keep me clear of heavy traffic for the most part. I read somewhere that our V4 is prone to running hot because of the way the cylinders are arranged.

 

I do stop and go and longer rides. In temps of 70-101 F. I see the bike riding at a steady 218-222 F. Given the riding style I use and assume most are as aggressive to slightly aggressive with gearing. 3-5 gear at 5600 - 8900 rpm

 

I'm a little confused Jason on your response. Enlighten me, is it the temps or the gearing and rpms? I may have exaggerated the rpm levels as a constant for sure, ;-) but used them to give some a good range of riding hard and keeping the same engine temp. I do ride most of the time from 70mph to 75mph on the freeways. The legal limit is 70 so I do on average 75. In Utah you have to be more than alert being on a bike and your anticipation of the motorist intended actions or lack of indicating intent here. They are the most dangerous drivers in the states. You have to keep the revs up in order to escape the SUV's, Trucks and all of them that still do not know what a 3 sec rule is or what equipment in a car it refers to! ;-)

 

Oh thanks, I just saw a arrow pointing up to my post. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Anyone else have seat time on the 2 different bikes?

 

I do not have a comparison of 2 VFR’s, But the 2014 runs as hot as my last bike within a few degrees (6-10). The 2003 Suzuki Sv100s 90 degree V-twin, Radiator and oil cooled. The radiator was high and larger unlike the smaller one on our bike and the oil cooler was placed behind the pipes coming off the header. As I remember it ran about 217 F. I did add the optional OEM full fairing. The original did not have it. but the fairing was so open in front that it did not restrict air flow or protection to the oil cooler, To compare the two I will add these. View attachment 73077

 

Those old SV's were cool bikes.

 

I kick myself every time I see my old bikes photo. 445lbs wet and a 110-117hp, I sold it pay off some debt. That didn't work so I sold it for no reason. Stupid! 23,800 miles on it and any OEM aftermarket add on (Sv tank bra, Gel seat, Full fairing, OEM tail tidy, carbon fiber adds to the gas cap and the bars and that killer metallic copper or orange was great. I paid $7500 for it back in 2004 with all of the add ons. It was similar to the VFR, discounted because they where overstocked and overlooked. I would have bought my current bike still just for the price paid and wanting one, but I would have babied and gone back an fourth between the two.

 

Mine sits about 82 out on the road. Mates 5th gen sits about 86.

In traffic his fan cuts in before mine.

Lower rad is protected behind the fairing vee. The top rad is more exposed to road debris.

 

Absolutely correct. Mine is gone at 15,000miles and I cannot find a used one anywhere which is what led me to this thread.
Any sand or mud you ride through gets spun onto the lower radiator by the front wheels.
I see flashing warning lights on the dash in traffic every time I ride now.