Burning Norge question.

[drdwb]

Short question, Norge owners, have you experienced very high temps almost to point of blistering skin on your right calve? If so what is the fix?

Long explanation, my 07 Norge now has 42,000, I have put on 22,000, Yesterday  I made a short run for breakfast, total time on bike a little over 1 hour ( 1 hour break between 1/2 hour ride ) with  ave speed 65-70, outside temp upper 80-91 F. With in 10 minutes from start I noticed my right calve being unusually hot, I spread my knees out but it didn’t seem to make noticeable change. I wear Aero stitch 2 piece suit, mid cave height insulated leather boots, so I’m somewhat protected from engine heat usually, and in the 22,000 miles I’ve put on this bike I’ve never noticed this before. When we got to restaurant I checked calve very hot and red. On the return ride I immediately experienced the intense heat, the wind speed and direction had not changed, temp had gone to 90-91 F. Very uncomfortable all the way home, my left leg was warm but not that hot, I tend to ride with my heels on the passenger pegs to relieve lower back stresses, when ever I’m on open roads. But despite trying multiple leg foot positions there was no change or relief from the heat. When I got home the right calve was red and raised almost pre blistering. 24 hours later redness has decreased but still noticeable.

The Norge currently has the lowers of the fairing removed, but I’ve ridden it this way for the last 2 years and never experienced this level of heat. Even all day driving across South Dakota in late July with 90 + temps.

So my question is: Is this level of heat just on the right side an indication of something mechanical? it’s not using oil,I don’t see oil leaks and haven’t noticed change in performance.

Any thoughts, similar experiences or suggestions?

[Huzo]

Mine is an ‘07 Norge and I have absolutely no idea what you mean.

[Snowman]

I have an '09 and do not experience what you are describing. Even in traffic on hot days my legs are not uncomfortable.

[BRG-BIRD]

Just rode 500 plus miles in 90+ degree heat and no issue with heat from the Norge

[kingoffleece]

cat plugged partway perhaps?

[Sye]

You may have excess fuel igniting in the R/H pipe. Have you noticed any drop in your MPG?

[guzzi ride]

I took my lower fairing pieces off once and it seemed to exhaust more heat. Put them back on and never noticed
any excessive heat again.

[drdwb]

Thanks all for responses, I’ve been wondering about the lowers, but at several Guzzi rallies over the years I see a lot of Norge with lowers off. The riders all told me it decreased the side wind effect, and helped decrease heat to the rider, so I took them off couple years ago, and didn’t notice any drastic changes to either, so just left them off.

 I’ll be doing crank case to oil pan spacer gasket change , new belt, oil pressure sensor, air filter change, and other maintenance soon so when that’s done I’ll put lowers back on and see if that changes. I hope it does I love this bike and hate to part with it or just ride it in cooler conditions.

I was hoping someone would tell me definitively that the removed lowers were the culprit. Not sure how I could check for a loaded up cat converter, but that might be an option also and give me a reason to swap out the exhaust, which I’ve been trying to convince my wife that I really need, since I got the bike.

[PJPR01]

My Norge was running rich on the right side, I pulled the plug and it was a bit more sooty than the left side, as a result, I was getting unburnt fuel thru the exhaust (ended up melting my left hand pannier on the bottom).

Once I opened up the air bleed screw 1.5 turns, my mileage came back, the bike ran properly again with no additional firing of fuel in the exhaust and the plug has been light brown since.

I didn't notice any additional heat on the RHS however...but you might want to check if the exhaust bolts at the manifold have loosened up as well as checking the plug condition to see if it's running rich or lean.

Cheers

[Nick]

I was hoping someone would tell me definitively that the removed lowers were the culprit.

Yes, the lowers do make a big difference. I take them off for the winter and reinstall them for the summer.

[Guzzistaracing]

Unknown symptom for me too. Have never noticed any exess heating to my calf. As suggested above, check out the overfueling issue.

[Ncdan]

Yes, the lowers do make a big difference. I take them off for the winter and reinstall them for the summer.

Just curious Nick, but do you possible have that in reverse. Every bike I’ve ever owned the lowers were put in place in the winter to all a little heat build up and keep cold air and rain off the fee, legs snd upper body and removed in the warmer weather to keep the motor from over heating???