

There are three ways by which heat is transferred, radiation, convection, and conduction. This applies both when heating and cooling.

As an engineer, this is a topic I know quite a bit about. However, the first time I put saddlebags on my bike, my knowledge failed to save me from my own stupidity.

You see, the design of the DR650’s exhaust shield relies on three things. A foil which is intended to minimize heat transferred through radiation by reflecting heat away from the rider and the plastic, convection heat transfer by airflow between the exhaust and shield to carry heat away, and a lack of heat transfer through conduction by maintaining a gap between the exhaust and the plastic.

When I put saddlebags on without any support, I effectively negated all three of these measures.

The results: Notice the Dino-damage. The plastic is melted, and look, some new crash bars to hold the bags away from the exhaust.

Obviously I’ve learned my lesson. What I haven’t mentioned is that I really should’ve learned to respect the heat coming from the exhaust years ago, when a buddy of mine ended up with the FMF logo permanently branded on his calf, or maybe when, after taking a friend for a ride, she leaned against the exhaust, producing a sound I can only describe as waiter bringing a fajita out from the kitchen.

Clearly, I became an engineer by working very hard, not by being smart. But, hey, at least I can explain why the stupid things I do are stupid.

Yet another story visibly burnt into my bike. Next week is Christmas. So, I think I will give the gift of content, and release some video from a trip I took to Colorado riding parts of the TransAmerica Trail.