[Ferdi]

I have see 2 big no ense solution in the new SM 650.
1) Voltage regulator it is locadetd under the engine or rear, ubjet to water, debris and impact.
2) USB socket: i located behind the left side panel and is almost useless. Nobody understand why the USB isn't on the handlebar as Meteor 350
What you think about? Thankss

[JessHerbst]

I have see 2 big no ense solution in the new SM 650.
1) Voltage regulator it is locadetd under the engine or rear, ubjet to water, debris and impact.
2) USB socket: i located behind the left side panel and is almost useless. Nobody understand why the USB isn't on the handlebar as Meteor 350
What you think about? Thankss

Yep, pretty useless as there would be no power to USB with bike off, and who is going to ride with side panel open.
 So how do they envision you using this port?

[Ferdi]

good morning I'm starting to wonder why such an inopportune choice by Royal Enfield to position the voltage regulator in such an unholy position does not produce any interest and any opinion. I'm attaching a photo so you too can see the work they've done. Does this seem normal to you?

[him a layin]

that's not the voltage regulator, that's the mud accumulator.

[JessHerbst]

While you are at it, how about that plastic rear brake master cylinder sitting right out front in direct path of any rock or debris coming off the front tire?

[Dexter]

good morning I'm starting to wonder why such an inopportune choice by Royal Enfield to position the voltage regulator in such an unholy position does not produce any interest and any opinion. I'm attaching a photo so you too can see the work they've done. Does this seem normal to you?

Your picture needs some light on it. Very hard to see. Is it in front, or behind the centre stand?

I think I can see it has a huge heat sink, so good airflow is obviously needed.

[JessHerbst]

Your picture needs some light on it. Very hard to see. Is it in front, or behind the centre stand?

I think I can see it has a huge heat sink, so good airflow is obviously needed.

Try this
(simple exposure & highlight edit on my phone)

[Dexter]

MUCH better, thanks! Since I see the chain to the left, I am assuming this picture is taken from in front of the rear wheel and on the left side of the bike.

While it IS in a bad location as far as exposure to the elements goes, it appears to be shrouded inside that U shaped metal plate from below and covered from rear wheel spray, for the most part, by the large heat sink.

Hard to see where the wiring connection is, but if I'm seeing it off to the left of the VRR, it appears well protected right up to the VRR as well.

I'd say just go in there every once in a while, if the bike was out in wet weather often, or ridden on dirt roads and give the heat sink a bit of a scrub to keep it clean. A bit of dirt on that size a heat sink should be of no concern.

[Aitrus]

MUCH better, thanks! Since I see the chain to the left, I am assuming this picture is taken from in front of the rear wheel and on the left side of the bike.

I think you're right on the side of the bike we're viewing this from.  On the crossbar of the centerstand there's a pad.  If the centerstand were to swing back to the "right" of the picture, that pad would hit the underside of the frame in a spot that looks designated for the pad to sit.  So perhaps this heatsink is behind the bulk of the engine, and the centerstand won't hit it as it flied up due to the pad on the crossbar.

Maybe the heatsink is where it is so that it wont' get hit by 1) rocks and 2) mud being slung up from the front tire.  Even though it's not in direct airflow, it stays cleaner and thus can function better?

[Kranis]

I note that it is actually a ShinDengen! Not the SH847, but still. Good choice by Eicher! Also, it is not a component that is sensitive to the elements. It is mostly a lump of alloy with some sealed power silicon inside. Needs cooling though.

/Kranis

[stevec]

Absolutely ridiculous location for the RR,  guys must have smoked to much charas that day.   “This unit has fins and needs cooling so let’s mount it behind a hot engine out of the air flow and close to the road so it can get covered in crap.”  “ Stack that chillum and lets move on.”

[MMRanch]

Maybe ? a mud shield fastened under the bottom bolt ?   

I had a Kawasaki that had the RR under a side cover ??
Also , a Suzuki with the RR under the seat ?  Hay I had a Yamaha with the RR under the seat too !

The Guzzi had it up front behind the front fender where it should be.

They all do Stupid stuff.   The most STUPID thing I ever seen on a bike was a 2004 1200cc Sportster that the crankshaft was made out of Case Hardened Doe-ball-steel.   I was rebuilding the splines when I found it.   

[Dexter]

Heat IS a concern with the VRR, but often when it is tucked away in a seemingly unexposed place, the engineers design it's placement to be mounted on some metal part that affords a very efficient heat sink in itself, to absorb the heat from the VRR.

That was the case on my Honda ST1100, where the VRR was mounted beneath a side cover, but it sat on a huge piece of cast aluminum which also formed a mounting point for the rear foot rests and other bits.

[expatbrit]

No heat related issues with the regulator yet after a summer pounding the hills. A 90degree usb cable off of amazon can put power up top. Tripper does the nav job for me and personally I dont handsfree, vlog, jam out, or do anything else to distract from the ride. imho this is correct. Not flaws for me.