Regulator/ rectifier. Part of the charging system. The heat sink is because that's where the excess energy ( heat ) gets dumped when the stator is pumping out more than the battery needs. EG: a healthy, fully charged battery while the engine is barreling down the highway at sustained rpms...there's tons of excess energy being produced by the stator that the battery won't need at that moment.

 

Voltage Regulator - Rectifier (VRR)

On older models it is hidden under the saddle tray and outer splash guard; stupid location. New location gets it out in the air flow to keep it cool.

All likely mosfet units and have not heard of issues in older models but know of one guy who relocated it to about the same location but on the left side; why I don't know as aftermarket shock reservoirs usually go there on the left.

 

Just beat my draw but I'm an old Shootist...unusual for my profession.

 

Thanks - I now know what it is/ what it does, but my question remains; can it be at least partially covered or hidden while retaining the necessary ventilation. Wouldn't want the bike to catch fire!! 😢

 

Anything you do to reduce it's cooling efficiency will likely result in an increased chance of the R/R failing. When it fails any number of things can happen, the battery can overcharge, or not charge at all. Wires can melt or not. I've had 3 R/R fail on me over time, on the same bike. None resulted in catastrophic failures, but a couple times it did melt some wires around the battery terminal and stator connection.

So it's your call, if you think it's worth the risk do it.

 

Thanks, budo - fair warning if I should proceed with some sort of ventilated cover! But it does look unfinished!

 

Personally, I'd say you would be okay to cover but not enclose it, the purpose of fins on a heat sink is to increase the surface area, the transfer of heat from the metal to the air is relatively inefficient and doesn't change if the air is static or moving the hot air will move away so as long as it has somewhere to go you'll be fine. I have seen aftermarket side panels online, Pyramid rings a bell but looks like there are a few. That said, I actually prefer the fully naked look and don't mind the heat-sink at least its engineering on display. To my eye the parts that offend the overall aesthetics would be the horn, exposed wires with that soft PVC wrap, front and rear reservoirs, that gap at the front of the seat between the bottom of the seat and the frame rail, Istiban reaches for the aftermarket parts catalogue again...

Istiban

 

You buy another mt09?

 

As @Istiban said the aftermarket side panels are your best bet. I'm not going to criticise you for buying the bike because it's a great bike for all kinds of different reasons but I'd have thought most owners would have been onboard with the stripped back utilitarian design concept when purchasing. The fact that these aftermarket side panels and belly pans etc exist shows that I'm wrong. I don't get it personally I love how the bike looks, including the exhaust. I do have 2 other fully faired bikes in the garage though so maybe the MT is the ying to their yang.

I'd worry slightly about the RR overheating if you cover it too much or move it, on most bikes they're bolted to the frame or subframe with thermal paste to help with heat dissipation. Atleast it's not a Honda, they're renound for cooking stators and RR's.

 

but I'd have thought most owners would have been onboard with the stripped back utilitarian design concept when purchasing.

Agreed. I do love it as is. Nekid! Gives me a boner whenever I look at it.

 

As I said, earlier models had them squireled away. So a side panel, possibly with some ventilation slots or holes added should not significantly contribute to a failure.

But if it does poop out, I'd take off the cover before taking it to the stealership whether or not it was still under warranty.

 

I streetfightered a honda vfr 800.
It had a cooked stator when i picked it up from the dealer (pre srip down).
The electrics are known to be over-engineered, over complicated, and prone to failure.
The reg rec is normally under the seat/tail fairing, so it cooks.
I upgraded it and moved it to the front of the frame, in the airflow.
Not just hondas though- my brother has a 2014 aprilia tuono. A bit under 40,000ks, and on its 3rd stator.
Almost like replacing the stator at every service.

 

Yeah the VFR 800 (my previous bike) had a notorious problem with failing R/Rs. But most that have upgraded to a newer mosfet model seem to have solid reliability. You added a voltage meter too? That's another popular VFR upgrade haha.

 

Yep, changed a couple things.
Got rid of the coil packs and went coil on plug.
Mounted the reg rec on the old coil pack mouting holes on the left side of the frame.
And the usb charger had a built in voltage display.
And got rid of the stupid 7 way earth connector and soldered them all together.

 

Dude that bike looks like a RIOT.

 

It was. 185kgs wet and about 110hp like the 09.
But v4 and gear driven cams, hi pegs and clip ons.
Engine had 160,000ks on it and was still like clockwork.
Wiring harness was a fair bit newer.

 

Unfortunately, you can't ride a bike and look at it at the same time. Since your leg covers that area almost entirely, anyone else seeing you on the bike wouldn't even be able to see the rectifier.

That said, your leg probably blocks much of the airflow to that location. Some sort of partial cover, perhaps 3D printed, could be fabricated to shield it from view and not significantly reduce air flow.

 

It's a machine. I like it to look like one. I think it fits the android/futuristic look of the MT. It being covered on the XSR makes sense.