After 6 months in Germany, it was back to Ohio for Thanksgiving, and retirement. Connie sat quietly in the garage, and was kept charged, and warmed up every other week. A little sluggish at first, but she's now back in form. Put over a thousand miles on her since the first of December. Not bad for this cold Ohio winter.
Next to my German apartment building, there was a 1994 Kawasaki ZZR parked. One look at it, and you could see it was from the same family as Connie. But looking at the large side vents, you could see right into the back of the radiator. No vent flaps needed on that little beauty. Looking at the front of the radiator, the first thing I noticed is that the opening between the radiator and oil cooler is blocked. Not the 1.5" gap that Connie has. Connie's side scoops, and the 1.5" radiator opening are unique, as far as I know.
So once home and winter riding again, I decided to block the radiator opening, to see if it had any effect on the heat I receive. Made it from a piece of aluminum scrap, under the two screws. During the trials with the vent flaps, I didn't have any way to actually measure temperatures around the bike, so months ago I ordered five small thermocouples, with displays, so I could get a digital temp indication, at different points. $1.50 each from HK, in degC. Only took 3 months to get them, but they work! See attached.
I spring clamped one temp sensor to a vent hose under the tank in the carb area, and then taped two sensors on each side, high and low. Tried to get them close to the same positions on the sides. Put the rigged up display in the map window of the tank bag, so I could watch them under different riding conditions. Got up to 42 degF yesterday, so I took her out for a trial run, to see the temps. Test rode it without any modification (OEM), then with just vent flaps, then with just radiator opening closed, and finally with both vent flaps and radiator opening closed. I don't use the scoops on my Connie. See summary of temps.
My first conclusion is that for winter, I'll ride her with just the radiator gap closed. Slightly warmer. And no obvious negatives.
And come summer, will leave the radiator opening closed, and put the vent flaps on. So far, so good!
Dave