Open Tunnel

Dear Ralph:
I just looked at a brand new Yamaha Phazer and saw the “open tunnel”. What’s up with that? Wouldn’t this cause one to get a wet butt? Doesn’t make any sense to me.
Hunter K.

The reason the tunnel is open under the seat on the new Phazer models is to keep the exhaust system cool. The snow from the track will cool the exhaust system, much like snow cools an extrusion and the coolant inside.
While there is clearly more snow visible under the seat and on and around the tunnel, there didn’t seem to be much of any difference in the amount of snow that would get all the way up on to the seat. The seat is fairly high, and most of the snow that collects is down on top of the tunnel instead.
It’s kind of funny, some people suggest Yamaha left this open to save weight. The amount of aluminum saved would amount to a small piece of aluminum foil, a couple of ounces at best, so that’s not it. Primarily it is for exhaust cooling, but one has to admit the styling afforded by being so different carries some “weight” as well (no pun intended). It looks different and it is different.