Hot Enough?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 193
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Hot Enough?
Here in Michigan we're hitting record temperatures, over 95 yesterday with high humidity, supposed to reach 100 today. I took my bike out yesterday afternoon for a 30 mile run, took about 45 minutes. No freeway, but not too many lights or stops either. I started to get a little concerned at a light near the end of the run though, the engine seemed to be really warm.
How do you folks deal with riding in very warm temperatures? Without an oil temp gauge is there any way to tell if the bike is running too hot? I never had any strange sounds or degredation in performance, and I diddn't push the bike hard. I also kept the rpm's nice and low by staying in a higher gear.
Anyone got some advice for a n00b rider?
How do you folks deal with riding in very warm temperatures? Without an oil temp gauge is there any way to tell if the bike is running too hot? I never had any strange sounds or degredation in performance, and I diddn't push the bike hard. I also kept the rpm's nice and low by staying in a higher gear.
Anyone got some advice for a n00b rider?
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 104
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From:
RE: Hot Enough?
Yeah it is really hot in WI. The heat index at my house at one point was 122 degrees. I rode about 75miles home yesterday and when I started the biek it really did not like the humidity but, that all went away when it got warmed up. I have a oil temp gauge and it read normal temp. I also put a somewhat ambient temp gauge by the motor and that also seemed to be good!
The one thing I did notice was the shifting of the gears got a little rough when I was in town and had to keep shifting. I too was also concerned about sitting at stop lights for to long!
That does bring up a good point. How long is to long to let a bike sit and idle! Without a temp gauge there has to be some other way to tell!
The one thing I did notice was the shifting of the gears got a little rough when I was in town and had to keep shifting. I too was also concerned about sitting at stop lights for to long!
That does bring up a good point. How long is to long to let a bike sit and idle! Without a temp gauge there has to be some other way to tell!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,548
Likes: 4
From: Southern California
RE: Hot Enough?
No real help here just some sympathy for the heat wave you guys are experiencing. According to the news this A.M. , midwest and east are experiencing weather pattern that has moved east from the western states. It's official. We just completed the hottest July in recorded history in Southern California. Way too many days of 100+ heat. Now these low to mid-nineties feel pretty d@mn good.
Stay cool you guys. This too shall pass.
Primo
Stay cool you guys. This too shall pass.
Primo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,167
Likes: 7
From: FL & SoCal
RE: Hot Enough?
It's always hot here in Florida. Even though you can cook a steak on the engine, it seems to handle the heat well as long as your not iding for too long. Chances are, the bike will handle the heat better than you will....
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 233
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RE: Hot Enough?
I think warrior is right, the bike handles the heat better than the rider. I was giving my kids a ride around the block on sunday and the heat index was well over a 100, and with only one helmet and goggles for all 3 kids, I had to sit and idle waiting for each kid to switch the gear, man I was boiling.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
RE: Hot Enough?
ya in mo its hot as well. ridding home on the highway from work is even hot. but its still more fun than being in my truck.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 267
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RE: Hot Enough?
yea theres nothing that sux more when u are actually riding and can still feel the heat
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 132
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From:
RE: Hot Enough?
Oil helps cool the engine. Keep the revs over 1000 so it curculates enough.
I don't know if HD tests the Sportster the way they did the V-Rod but if so then they put it through the 'Parade-duty test'.
Thats where they bring a bike here to AZ after the so-called monsoon season, ride it for an hour on the test track, idle it for an hour in a closed tin stall and take it back out for a 1 hour ride and repeat.
This cycle goes on all day for 5 days, IIRC.
I have had to idle my Sporty for almost an hour in 95 degree temps due on two different occasions. One was due to an illegal alien causing a fatality and tying up traffic, the other was due to huge lines waiting for manditory saftey checks on a federal facility.
No problems in either case.
I don't know if HD tests the Sportster the way they did the V-Rod but if so then they put it through the 'Parade-duty test'.
Thats where they bring a bike here to AZ after the so-called monsoon season, ride it for an hour on the test track, idle it for an hour in a closed tin stall and take it back out for a 1 hour ride and repeat.
This cycle goes on all day for 5 days, IIRC.
I have had to idle my Sporty for almost an hour in 95 degree temps due on two different occasions. One was due to an illegal alien causing a fatality and tying up traffic, the other was due to huge lines waiting for manditory saftey checks on a federal facility.
No problems in either case.
