M8 Engine Temps
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
A lot of times I wont get above 40 for more than a few seconds on straight sections.
I love riding super twisty roads as fast as I can. Which is why I've worn out the shoulders of my tires quicker than the center tread.
I have thousands of straightline miles on my front tire left, but I was almost at the wear bars on the edges at 6500miles.
And when I get new tires, I'm going with a 260 on the rear so I can get even more aggressive handling.(260 on a 240 Rim becomes an aggressively profiled 245 and raises the ride height even more.)
The only high speed twisty road here is 150miles out.
I'm sure adding a fan assist isn't gonna be any detriment for my bike.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,925
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Quite a few turns on the road I frequent drops down to 25~30mph. Even with me doing my GP Leaning over the Tank body position.
A lot of times I wont get above 40 for more than a few seconds on straight sections.
I love riding super twisty roads as fast as I can. Which is why I've worn out the shoulders of my tires quicker than the center tread.
I have thousands of straightline miles on my front tire left, but I was almost at the wear bars on the edges at 6500miles.
And when I get new tires, I'm going with a 260 on the rear so I can get even more aggressive handling.(260 on a 240 Rim becomes an aggressively profiled 245 and raises the ride height even more.)
The only high speed twisty road here is 150miles out.
I'm sure adding a fan assist isn't gonna be any detriment for my bike.
A lot of times I wont get above 40 for more than a few seconds on straight sections.
I love riding super twisty roads as fast as I can. Which is why I've worn out the shoulders of my tires quicker than the center tread.
I have thousands of straightline miles on my front tire left, but I was almost at the wear bars on the edges at 6500miles.
And when I get new tires, I'm going with a 260 on the rear so I can get even more aggressive handling.(260 on a 240 Rim becomes an aggressively profiled 245 and raises the ride height even more.)
The only high speed twisty road here is 150miles out.
I'm sure adding a fan assist isn't gonna be any detriment for my bike.
While I don't run over to the edges, the sides in the front wear out but the rear goes bald evenly as I run higher pressure. In that case bump up the tire pressure in the front. See what it does to handling.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
You live up north. It don't get as hot as down here.. If you ride a good pace you shouldn't have an issue. Are you monitoring motor or oil Temps? If running a PV ignore head temps but look at engine temps. I find the worst ones are uphill / following / slow. Altitude can have an effect once above 6000 feet.
While I don't run over to the edges, the sides in the front wear out but the rear goes bald evenly as I run higher pressure. In that case bump up the tire pressure in the front. See what it does to handling.
While I don't run over to the edges, the sides in the front wear out but the rear goes bald evenly as I run higher pressure. In that case bump up the tire pressure in the front. See what it does to handling.
M8 Fat Boy owners here have figured out that 40PSI front 42PSI rear handles better.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,925
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Have they tried any higher?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
Accidentally.
I'm not sure what this has to do with engine temps though.
I'm not worried about tire wear, Im wearing out the sides because I ride twisty roads all the time.
Im pretty sure I created a higher than normal heat situation for my bike because of the radiator guard grill.
I wanted it to be gold, the mesh is very thick. I'm sure the DK Customs fan system for the radiator will help things out.
I'm not sure what this has to do with engine temps though.
I'm not worried about tire wear, Im wearing out the sides because I ride twisty roads all the time.
Im pretty sure I created a higher than normal heat situation for my bike because of the radiator guard grill.
I wanted it to be gold, the mesh is very thick. I'm sure the DK Customs fan system for the radiator will help things out.
Last edited by FranBunnyFFXII; Aug 1, 2023 at 10:31 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,925
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Accidentally.
I'm not sure what this has to do with engine temps though.
I'm not worried about tire wear, Im wearing out the sides because I ride twisty roads all the time.
Im pretty sure I created a higher than normal heat situation for my bike because of the radiator guard grill.
I wanted it to be gold, the mesh is very thick. I'm sure the DK Customs fan system for the radiator will help things out.
I'm not sure what this has to do with engine temps though.
I'm not worried about tire wear, Im wearing out the sides because I ride twisty roads all the time.
Im pretty sure I created a higher than normal heat situation for my bike because of the radiator guard grill.
I wanted it to be gold, the mesh is very thick. I'm sure the DK Customs fan system for the radiator will help things out.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
OFC I know the temps, according to the PV. Like I said riding twisty roads really hard heats the engine up quite a lot.
Running temps on the bike via the PV, and I check the oil temp occasionally via my Temp dipstick.
The only option I have on my powervision is "ET" engine temp. I'm not sure if the M8 Softail engine has different temp sensor options for the PV than the M8 touring.
But the ET can reach up to 305~315F in twisty roads if I ride the same circuit repeatedly. Like I said many turns on my favorite road drop down to 25~30mph, and there's very few long straight sections, that would cool things down. But I've never seen the temp rise to 325.
I've never seen my dipstick exceed 250F either.
The fan system should help with keeping temps down while riding twisty roads.
I keep building my bike in that direction of riding faster and faster in the corners.
Running temps on the bike via the PV, and I check the oil temp occasionally via my Temp dipstick.
The only option I have on my powervision is "ET" engine temp. I'm not sure if the M8 Softail engine has different temp sensor options for the PV than the M8 touring.
But the ET can reach up to 305~315F in twisty roads if I ride the same circuit repeatedly. Like I said many turns on my favorite road drop down to 25~30mph, and there's very few long straight sections, that would cool things down. But I've never seen the temp rise to 325.
I've never seen my dipstick exceed 250F either.
The fan system should help with keeping temps down while riding twisty roads.
I keep building my bike in that direction of riding faster and faster in the corners.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,925
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
OFC I know the temps, according to the PV. Like I said riding twisty roads really hard heats the engine up quite a lot.
Running temps on the bike via the PV, and I check the oil temp occasionally via my Temp dipstick.
The only option I have on my powervision is "ET" engine temp. I'm not sure if the M8 Softail engine has different temp sensor options for the PV than the M8 touring.
But the ET can reach up to 305~315F in twisty roads if I ride the same circuit repeatedly. Like I said many turns on my favorite road drop down to 25~30mph, and there's very few long straight sections, that would cool things down. But I've never seen the temp rise to 325.
I've never seen my dipstick exceed 250F either.
The fan system should help with keeping temps down while riding twisty roads.
I keep building my bike in that direction of riding faster and faster in the corners.
Running temps on the bike via the PV, and I check the oil temp occasionally via my Temp dipstick.
The only option I have on my powervision is "ET" engine temp. I'm not sure if the M8 Softail engine has different temp sensor options for the PV than the M8 touring.
But the ET can reach up to 305~315F in twisty roads if I ride the same circuit repeatedly. Like I said many turns on my favorite road drop down to 25~30mph, and there's very few long straight sections, that would cool things down. But I've never seen the temp rise to 325.
I've never seen my dipstick exceed 250F either.
The fan system should help with keeping temps down while riding twisty roads.
I keep building my bike in that direction of riding faster and faster in the corners.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 296
From: Casa Grande Az
Accurate observation for ALL of his content.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
@FranBunnyFFXII - what oil temp dipstick gauge you got? Can't find one for M8 Heritage Models. Thought these were all the same engines / blocks?