Since New, the front brake handle is spongy, barely locking up the front when pulled tight, feels like air in the lines, but local dealer has bled them out 3 times.
The 17 500s brakes feel much better and work as  should

The heat issue is coming off clutch cover/right side leg/calf area. Hot enough to burn my leg,
Was thinking about adding some heat shielding as the dealer told me it would not be a warranty issue. .

My question is, is there an update for this? or has /is anyone else having this issue?

Some have had pesky air in there lines. I would recommend a mighty vac to bleed them. I do recall someone adding some heat shield, might do a search if you haven't already.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

With the reservoirs as small as they are you only have three pumps to move air all the way to and out of a caliper manually and if not, while refilling the air bubble will just move back up the line. So, to really get all the air out of one of these one would have to have a pressure/power or vacuum bleeder of some type. 

Cforce 800 has the same problem with heat on the right side