I take mine off for summer. It's a 5 minute job and while I don't know if the motor runs any cooler, I sure feel better.

 

Good point, SR, though I've never used the leg deflectors I've noticed on a Fatboy with solid wheels the wind at certain angles ( i.e. 20-45 headwind) over about 70 mph really pushes the bike sideways. Question on those deflectors would be does the wind get deflected to the side, down, up, in or a combination? Like a "wing" on the back of a race car pushes down on the back of the car at higher speeds what exactly are these deflectors doing to the bike as speed increases? Harleys are not aerodynamic masterpieces to begin with and I personally feel 100 mph is the realistic limit for safety depending on wind conditions ( or less) and depending on the specific bike's set up ( at least for mine right now) . I'm on my way right now to my mechanic's to get the Glide Pro swingarm bushing upgrade/front motor mount, Custom Cycle s.s. spherical cleve bearings, and stock height Progressive Suspension fork springs installed. I'm hoping to eliminate some of that mushy, floating, unstable feeling myself.

 

My deflectors ride the air up into the freedom wings on the underside of my front fairing. On cooler days the air goes around me, on warmer days I open the wings and divert the air into me. The smooth stream of air beats buffeting. So I guess yes, the air does hit me in the chest, when I want it to.

As for the floating, I had my fork oil changed for the first time and what a difference. The mechanic said 50K on fork oil is rediculous, 20K is the max he recommends and he personnaly changes his front fork oil every 10K. I had no idea that it would make that big of a difference but leaned over in a long sweeper in rush hour at 80 mph on rain grooves the front end feels solid again. I get feedback from the grooves but it feels in control.

 

All pre 2008 Baggers should check out the "Tech" section at Glide-Pro dot com; if for nothing else a short info session complete with the actual hardware showing what a HD bagger's suspension is all about. I recently installed the kit including the front motor mount and Custom Cycle s.s. cleve bearings to replace the OEM rubber set up. Wow, what a difference. Now when I shake the handle bars only the front end moves and the bike feels like it's on a rail cornering.

 

Wife got burned (red skin) below the knee on the right side on an 80 mile trip last weekend. Just too much heat back there with my RK Classic. So, today I removed the fork deflectors hoping that will throw a little more air back her way and keep it a little cooler on the back right side. I'll let you know how that works out after the next test ride.

 

Have to agree with you!