Heat???
Heat???
I'm in the process of planning my HD purchase. I currently ride a Honda VTX but really want to buy a new Ultra Classic. My biggest concern, particularly living in Texas, is the heat generated from an air cooled engine. I'd love to hear some input from those in warm weather States (anyone feel free to chime in really) regarding the additional heat, is it really THAT noticeable?
How said is this, I joined this forum almost two years ago and ended up buying a Honda and now here I am right back where I started. Geesh!
Anyways, thanks much in advance for your input!
How said is this, I joined this forum almost two years ago and ended up buying a Honda and now here I am right back where I started. Geesh!
Anyways, thanks much in advance for your input!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 56
From: north of Daytona
RE: Heat???
I live in Florida. (96 degrees ...104 degrees heat index in the summer).
My Fatboy does not over heat...nor does my Goldwing.
Designers/engineers are good people.
Enjoy your Ultra Classic.
Chuck
My Fatboy does not over heat...nor does my Goldwing.
Designers/engineers are good people.
Enjoy your Ultra Classic.
Chuck
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,378
Likes: 1
From: Boise, Idaho
RE: Heat???
'07s and later run pretty lean from the factory which equals heat. Best solution is to get a fuel management device (SERT, PC, etc) and richen up the mixture. Also, get a set of RJs Original heat shields. I ride in a lot of hot weather, frequently in the 100s with no problems.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Heat???
If you do a search on this site for heat issues, you'll find more than you can shake a stick at.
I have an '08 Ultra and have ridden in 100 degree temps. Yes, in stop/go traffic, it gets hot, but not unbearable for me. We have more problems with the heat on my wife's ankles when she's riding with me. There are mods you can do....which means $$$$, but I'm waiting a while. All I've done so far is add an oil cooler, which does little of nothing in stop/go traffic, and switched to synthetic oil at my 1000 mile service.
Somewhere down the road I may go witha stage 1, butI'm fine with my '08 for now. Plus, winter's about to set in, so the heat will be a bonus on those cold days!!!![sm=smiley20.gif][sm=smiley20.gif][sm=smiley20.gif]
Like a said, just do a search for heat issues and you'll get a jackpot of info.
I have an '08 Ultra and have ridden in 100 degree temps. Yes, in stop/go traffic, it gets hot, but not unbearable for me. We have more problems with the heat on my wife's ankles when she's riding with me. There are mods you can do....which means $$$$, but I'm waiting a while. All I've done so far is add an oil cooler, which does little of nothing in stop/go traffic, and switched to synthetic oil at my 1000 mile service.
Somewhere down the road I may go witha stage 1, butI'm fine with my '08 for now. Plus, winter's about to set in, so the heat will be a bonus on those cold days!!!![sm=smiley20.gif][sm=smiley20.gif][sm=smiley20.gif]
Like a said, just do a search for heat issues and you'll get a jackpot of info.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 956
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
RE: Heat???
Where I live in California it stays over 100 for months at a time. The heat doesn't bother me cause I'm on a Harley and not something else.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: Heat???
I've lived in Tucson over 10 years and have never had a problem. I don't even have an oil cooler on this or any other bike I've owned.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 204
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Heat???
'07 Wide Glide living in Phoenix, Arizona. In the summer stop and go traffic its hotter than Satan's arm pits. The friggen air is hotter than the bike!!! Harley compared to a juice pumper? Of course it's an air cooled engine, is going to feel hotter but never bothered me. Box-stock bike for now until I get some more miles under warranty. The Wide Glide doesn't have bags or fairings, so that helps carry the heat away from you.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Windsor, CO
RE: Heat???
I don't know about the rest of the guys posting here, but I've owned a VTX and now a Harley. Compared to your VTX the Harley is going to seemVERY HOT! You got to add in the water cooled aspect of the VTX, which will make a huge difference in external temperature. You will notice probably 30+ degrees of difference in engine temperature. The VTXalso has a larger frame, so you sit very different on the bike. So don't expect it to run like the VTX ... you will be very dissappointed.
Now, with that said the reality is that the bike doesn't run much hotter than a Yamaha Roadliner or even the Honda Gold Wing. I've owned all three (VTX, Roadliner and Gold Wing) and the VTX is by far the coolest running. I'd say the Roadliner and Harley run fairly close in overall temperature. On a hot day in the south you'll think it's Christmas ... ChestNUTS roasting on an open flame ... so to speak.
To me the temperature thing is all about what you're willing to put up with. Hot is hot ... even on a water cooled bike. But I have to say that the heat off the Harley is very different than what I experienced on my VTX. But I've got the bike I want, so I'll put up with the heat even though other bikes might run cooler. That's a decision you'll need to make.
Now, with that said the reality is that the bike doesn't run much hotter than a Yamaha Roadliner or even the Honda Gold Wing. I've owned all three (VTX, Roadliner and Gold Wing) and the VTX is by far the coolest running. I'd say the Roadliner and Harley run fairly close in overall temperature. On a hot day in the south you'll think it's Christmas ... ChestNUTS roasting on an open flame ... so to speak.
To me the temperature thing is all about what you're willing to put up with. Hot is hot ... even on a water cooled bike. But I have to say that the heat off the Harley is very different than what I experienced on my VTX. But I've got the bike I want, so I'll put up with the heat even though other bikes might run cooler. That's a decision you'll need to make.