Nevertheless, it's
very common, and my last two R/Rs failed in this mode, for the reasons you postulated.
Honda finally showed tacit acknowledgement of the problem (even if they didn't admit to it) by fitting one of Shindengen's beefier, finned R/Rs to the 2002 VFR, after years of having them fail due to being too lightweight and mounted in a hot location. The new ones are mounted on the frame on the RH side above the radiator.
The new replacement VTR ones are still the same size and shape, but finned, and a waste of time, unless you want "plug and pray" simplicity. The standard location is too hot, and the R/R too weedy.
On my VFR, I ripped out all the wiring from the stator to the R/R and battery, then mounted my new R/R under the headstock, like bike manufacturers used to do:
http://community.webshots.com/album/35458602cOCSNv
On the VTR, I did a similar though less radical piece of surgery:
http://community.webshots.com/album/88297322swwFNk
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