overheating
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte Area
RE: overheating
With the knock the motor co took during the AMF days, they have worked on reliability issues. Take the twin cams, they found a problem and fixed it. No company today can continue toput out a crappy product, still make money and survive (see Yugo). Much has to do with maintenance or lack there of. Like most any well designed vehicle, if you change the fluids regularly, don't abuse it, one will run forever. My riding buddy's RK has 155k on the speedo. No smoke, no oil usage. He changes at 2.5k religously. I bought my Ultra from him. At 112k, he was going to have some head work done, the shop forgot to properly mount the wrist pin, result it ate a cylinder. Solution, new crate motor. I plan to get another 112k from it.
Would a rice burner last as long? Probably with like maintenance. Would you enjoy riding one as much as a Harley, maybe. Would people look at it like a Harley as you go by, not usually. Would you always still want a Harley.....oh Yeah!
Good luck with your decision.
Ride safe
Bubba
Would a rice burner last as long? Probably with like maintenance. Would you enjoy riding one as much as a Harley, maybe. Would people look at it like a Harley as you go by, not usually. Would you always still want a Harley.....oh Yeah!
Good luck with your decision.
Ride safe
Bubba
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 21,949
Likes: 6
From: My house
RE: overheating
Like said before they can get hot when in stop and go traffic in high air temps. HD's now have a system built in the ECM that will go into what's called a cool down mode that prevents any engine damage due to overheating conditions. I think TC has something on this in the DIY section. Also after break-in you can go to true sythetic oil such as Amsoil 20/50 or Mobil 1 and have a cooler running motor, some as much as 10 to 20 degrees.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From:
RE: overheating
I have a 05 Electra Glide Classic. I live in So. Ca. Since I got my bike in May, temps have been mostly in the 80's and 90's somrtimes pushing 100. I went with synthetic oil at 1000 miles the temp has usually been around 210 even with a passenger. Right now I'm over 4000 miles and I have had no problems.
Another angle here, in 1989 I bought an 85 Tour Glide for $7,000. I put 45,000 miles on it and sold it in 1994 for $7,000. When have you heard of that happening with any Jap bike?
Another angle here, in 1989 I bought an 85 Tour Glide for $7,000. I put 45,000 miles on it and sold it in 1994 for $7,000. When have you heard of that happening with any Jap bike?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
RE: overheating
dont have it handy, but if you look at the owners manual the engine is designed to slow the rpm at certain temps and will control itself. ive rode 14 straight hours and not had a problem in the middle of desert heat. the only time i saw this take effect was riding through the LV strip in the middle of summer and the bike took care of itself (idle slowed down and came riight back as i rushed onto the feeway to get some air flow). also know if your really worried about it you can install a oil cooler but thats not cheap and have never needed it in any condition
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 498
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
RE: overheating
Hey,
I'm still loving my first Harley '05' Electra Glide and have not had any problems at all with her over-heating. I've only had it for 3 months and I've put 6,000 miles on it. 1000 or so (14 hour ride) from NC to MA virtually non-stop except for fuel for the bike and me. Now, on the other hand, I have 26 years on metric bikes, from crotch rockets to cruisers and I have to tell you, the Harley (although not overheating) gets freaking HOT!!!!! I was very, VERY surprised at how much heat comes off the bike so much so that I took it to the dealer thinking there was a problem! Much, MUCH more than my last air cooled bike (Yamaha Silverado). I can't imagin riding her in the summer with shorts on (I always were long pants when I ride anyway). I'm going to put an oil-cooler on it this winter so that my girl will get on the back of it again. I did a run this summer to raise cash for a local cause and it was 95+ degrees, a lot of stop and go traffic. I would have bet some money that my thighs had 1st degree burns on them, my girl said never again!!!! Now, my bike does run hotter than most even though all is running just fine. So even with all of this being said, it's a GREAT RIDE, I may overheat in hot weather with stop and go traffic, but the bike doesn't.
Joe
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