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Touring models and traffic
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 93
Likes: 11
From: South Carolina
Touring models and traffic
So I've really been contemplating using the bike to commute back and forth to the office, however having an air cooled engine sitting in grid lock traffic does have me concerned.
So I figured I'd ask the masses here... am I overthinking, and the bike would be perfectly fine sitting in gridlock, or should I look for a cooled commuter as a secondary option?
01 Road King, mostly stock as far as engine is concerned.
Sure the new models are oil cooled, however I'm not really interested in getting rid of this one just yet to get a newer model.
So I figured I'd ask the masses here... am I overthinking, and the bike would be perfectly fine sitting in gridlock, or should I look for a cooled commuter as a secondary option?
01 Road King, mostly stock as far as engine is concerned.
Sure the new models are oil cooled, however I'm not really interested in getting rid of this one just yet to get a newer model.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 851
From: Puyallup, wa
I have a 2012 ultra and I had issues with it getting very hot. I installed Mighty Mites cooling fans and never looked back. I back can sit in gridlock and the bike never gets hot enough to go into ETIMS. Prior to the fan install I was in ETIMS in 5-7 mins.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 600
From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
I live in California and don't sit in traffic. I can (safely) take advantage of the Lane Splitting rule allowed here. And I do, safely. If however I had to sit in some of the traffic we have here in Southern California, in the heat of summer (or the heat of fall as we have here currently), I would not do it. These air cooled engines do not do well in stop and go, or mostly stopped traffic. IMHO.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 35
From: Southern Maryland
springers, i didn't get a lot of relief with my wards fans. just blew hot air on to my leg. i had a stage one, changing out the header pipes and it still got hot but not enough to go into the ETIMS mode. although if i was sitting in the dc beltway traffic too long i would roll the throttle forward and start it myself or i would just turn it off, depending on the source of the traffic slow down. they just didn't seem to help much.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
Are you worried about the bike or yourself?
If you're worried about the bike install a good aftermarket oil cooler and some cylinder head fans.
If you're worried about yourself, it's still a big air cooled heat factory between your knees. It will always have a certain uncomfortability factor in summer gridlock traffic.
I live in a suburb and work in downtown Atlanta and it's actually that gridlock traffic that keeps me from commuting on mine. It's bad enough being in a pick up truck but the thought of being on a bike with all those road raging A holes, well I find it kind of frightening.
If you're worried about the bike install a good aftermarket oil cooler and some cylinder head fans.
If you're worried about yourself, it's still a big air cooled heat factory between your knees. It will always have a certain uncomfortability factor in summer gridlock traffic.
I live in a suburb and work in downtown Atlanta and it's actually that gridlock traffic that keeps me from commuting on mine. It's bad enough being in a pick up truck but the thought of being on a bike with all those road raging A holes, well I find it kind of frightening.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 93
Likes: 11
From: South Carolina
Are you worried about the bike or yourself?
If you're worried about the bike install a good aftermarket oil cooler and some cylinder head fans.
If you're worried about yourself, it's still a big air cooled heat factory between your knees. It will always have a certain uncomfortability factor in summer gridlock traffic.
I live in a suburb and work in downtown Atlanta and it's actually that gridlock traffic that keeps me from commuting on mine. It's bad enough being in a pick up truck but the thought of being on a bike with all those road raging A holes, well I find it kind of frightening.
If you're worried about the bike install a good aftermarket oil cooler and some cylinder head fans.
If you're worried about yourself, it's still a big air cooled heat factory between your knees. It will always have a certain uncomfortability factor in summer gridlock traffic.
I live in a suburb and work in downtown Atlanta and it's actually that gridlock traffic that keeps me from commuting on mine. It's bad enough being in a pick up truck but the thought of being on a bike with all those road raging A holes, well I find it kind of frightening.
Everyone, I really appreciate the replies and suggestions for the "Mighty Might" I've seen them and have looked into some reviews and such, but still... The thought of sitting in the southern/humid/summer days on an air cooled engine is quite worrisome.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 208
Likes: 52
From: SOCAL
The ONLY thing I'll ever miss about leaving California, is lane splitting. The M8 is hot, and I think it feels hotter than my dyna was.
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 17,008
Likes: 14,675
From: in a cave at the foothills
OMG, I don't get it. I have never done anything to help cool a Harley. Can't say how many times I have sat perfectly still for extended periods of time in blistering heat. It is then I shut the bike (s) down, not for their sake but mine. Sure the engine throws up a lot of heat but so would any combustion motor. Folks or companies come up with gadgets and people buy them. Not saying anything bad about the products, companies or people that buy the stuff but HD has not to the best of my knowledge ever suffered a mechanical failure from just heat alone. But there I go thinking I know something. My wife will soon set me straight...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,591
Likes: 1,151
From: Brandon,Fl
I am here in central Florida and have Wards fans on mine. They are the ****!!! We all know they aren't available anymore but you can get the Love Jugs version they stole from him. The fans work in stopped/ stalled traffic, end of story!!