Heat issues softail

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 17, 2013 | 07:02 PM

Flip50

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 103

Likes: 0

From: Houston

Heat issues softail

I got caught today waiting on a train to go by. I knew bike would be getting hot sitting so I shut my engine down until cars started moving again.i know air has to flow across fins to cool but was wondering if any others shut it down too keep from getting too hot. Just think it might be better to shut it down than idling going nowhere . Any thoughts?

May 17, 2013 | 07:06 PM

ChickinOnaChain

Big Kahuna HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 322,622

Likes: 3,077

From: .....

After a certain amount of time, I'll shut my bike off...unless it's winter.

May 17, 2013 | 07:54 PM

streeteagle

Club Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 2,404

Likes: 12

From: Haymarket, VA

If the temps are in the 80's to 90's I'll shut mine down if the wait will be more than 5 minutes or so. If it's stop & go, not much you can do without pulling off the road to let it cool down.

May 17, 2013 | 07:57 PM

Bone Doc

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 13,098

Likes: 13,031

From: Texas, USA

If I am sitting in traffic for any reason (train, road work) with no indication that traffic will be moving, I shut the bike down. That is ONLY IF one or more vehicles are behind me. If no one is behind me I keep it running in case I need to make an evasive maneuver when someone does approach from behind. I also don't stop on the tail of the vehicle in front of me for the same reason. I leave at least ten feet between me and the vehicle ahead of me.

May 17, 2013 | 07:59 PM

rooti

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 5,477

Likes: 5

From: New Braunfels, Texas

my dealership advised me to turn off if not moving more then a few minutes in the Texas heat

May 17, 2013 | 11:41 PM

lh4x4

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 13,402

Likes: 941

From: Illinois

I left my 10 Ultra running for an hour in 100 degree heat in Atlanta due to a traffic accident on the Interstate until we got moving again. Didn't bother the motor or me. We would move one car length stop then repeat.

They just are not as fragile as some seem to think.

May 18, 2013 | 12:14 AM

willbilson

Advanced

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 99

Likes: 0

From: Glendora, CA

I regularly shut down at red lights - I am going between the San Gabriel and Antelope valleys in SoCal, and temps are high. The bike gets pretty hot, I feel it and don't like it. Just seems like a good idea to shut it down. Maybe it isn't so fragile, but I don't want to sit there just generating heat. It starts right up, so no issue. Plus I can leave it in gear with clutch out and don't have to stay on the brake to keep it in place.

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Verdad Gallardo

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Verdad Gallardo

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Pouria Savadkouei

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Pouria Savadkouei

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Verdad Gallardo

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Verdad Gallardo

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Verdad Gallardo

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Verdad Gallardo

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Joe Kucinski

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Verdad Gallardo

May 18, 2013 | 08:21 AM

magna

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 3,453

Likes: 249

Remembering how long your trains are when I was last in America I'd not only turn the engine I'd also park it up and go for a cup of coffee while I was waiting, unbelievable the length of those things.