r&g shoc sock & shock temp and performance

[Shaunomercy]

After my 16 mile thrash home this morning in 14.c temps, i was messing with a piece of damp proof course plastic with a view to extending the rubber flap that protects the shock absorber.
now my bike doesnt have a sock shock, as I was advised against them.
Well i touched the spring and it was bloody hot.  Uncomfortably hot to the point of removing my hand sharpish.  Clearly heat from engine and exhaust.
which made me think, if you have a sock fitted round, then the heat will penetrate, heat the spring and shocker and as its a sock, also insulate and keep the heat within the sock and as I was told, create condensation.
if the shocker gets hot then you will loose damping as well.
anyone checked to see how hot the shocker is getting after a run with a sock fitted ?
rocker ?
certainly something to consider !!!

paul

[Rocker66]

I didn't fit the sock to my CR but put it in my NC700X as this is the bike more likely to be used in bad weather on my commute to work. No problems with it so far.Others that I know that have used the socks also report no problems so I'm keeping my fingers crossed

[xrunjoe]

My socks are far too smelly and full of holes to be any use on the bike.

Seriously though - thanks for raising the subject.

[Rocker66]

Originally Posted by xrunjoe

My socks are far too smelly and full of holes to be any use on the bike.

Seriously though - thanks for raising the subject.

 Any chance that you can get some new ones before Sept 16th

[xrunjoe]

OK and will put a new set of undies on a week earlier than usual as well.

By the way = Question for Paul - do you think the little flap keeps heat in and if a hugger fitted - you could get rid?

[Shaunomercy]

the little flap of rubber is far more effective than we give honda credit for.  ive had a wipe round the spring and shock today and its still clean even though ive had to commute in heavy rain.
i dont think the hugger would affect any cooling of shocker. neither would removing flap increase cooling but would allow spray n muck to get to the shock.   has your hugger started to blister from heat from the exhaust joe ? right side of bike ?
as for the sock shock, i certainly wouldnt fit one for the reasons ive given.
have a feel of the spring n shock after a long ride.  your going to be surprised how hot the spring and shock get.
Rocker.  id certainly check to see how hot that spring & shock is getting on the nc with the cover on it and check for corrosion.  if that sock gets wet then your going to sweat the shock and spring.

paul

[Smeagol]

I don't think the engine and exhaust is contributing much to the temperature of the spring and shock.

It's not really a surprise how hot the shock gets.  Think about how much energy that thing is dissipating, every time the shock moves it is absorbing energy and converting it to pretty much just heat.

When your sitting on the bike you just don't realise how much the suspension is working, my videos from the CBF that show the front wheel show that it is in constant motion.

[Shaunomercy]

im betting joes hugger has started to blister near exhaust.  i think a lot of the heating of spring is due to exhaust.  my hugger blistered on the vtec
paul

[Rocker66]

I have done that and there is no sign of any problem. Maybe the fact that I coated the shock in ACF-50 before fitting the sock helped. As I use it for commuting the bike has been through some very heavy rain

[xrunjoe]

Originally Posted by Shaunomercy

im betting joes hugger has started to blister near exhaust.
paul

Just checked as am giving bike a clean following a ride in the wet last night on way to Honda Owners Club meet. No sign of blistering anywhere on the hugger. I hope this means it wiill not blister in the future  - the bike has done very long runs up to 9 hours (inc some stop time) so if it was going to deteriorate it should have done by now.
My guess would be that the air rush whilst in motion is sufficient to keep heat from engine and exhaust away.
Maybe the layout of exhaust v hugger on VFR800 vtec was different?