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I added the vented lowers to my Street Glide, and I love them. The only issue is it's a little tight adding some styles of highway pegs. My friend has an '05 EGC with non-vented lowers, and he has a lot more room for the highway pegs. I have Kuryakyn longhorn extensions with switchblade highway pegs.
I added the non-vented lower fairing on my '99 FLHT and the vented one on my '05. I left them on all the time. I have a 34" inseam and wind hits my knees. I also had the clear wind deflectors on the upper fairing. I noticed a decreased tendency for the wind to try to blow my feet off the floorboards at certain speeds. The vents on my '05 wouldn't stay in position. I just received new lowers for my incoming '09 FLHTC and the vents seem to stay in place better.
I put the vented ones on my 03 FLHTC. I like the fuller look. More storage (clear and sun glasses). They keep my shins/lower legs dry in rain. I installed them after being told by a friends father they keep him warm in the winter. I haven't felt any engine heat coming up keeping me warm. When it's in the 20s it's in the 20s. Maybe he meant when it's in the 40s or 50s. Regardless I've never felt warmer due to closing off the vents or cooler when opening them. The only thing I've noticed is that when riding in a light rain, my lower legs stay drive. My boots are no longer soaking wet. My lap, yes, my boots, no.
John
As someone else said you could just look at the chrome lowers. They cut a fair amount of wind from the legs and are only $66. I ride in the winter with temps down to the upper 30's. With chaps and these lowers I don't have a need for the lowers you're talking about. Probably depends on how much riding you're going to do in the colder weather. JMHO.
I have the vented ones and leave them all year. Nice in the cool or rainy weather closed, and when hot open the vents up. In Ohio, real hot, is only about 6-8 weeks out of the year, so the other 7 riding months of the year (3 winter months that the bike is put away) I wouldn't go without
I have an 89 Ultra with the old-style non-vented lowers. In the past I've taken them off during the summer, but left them on this year as late May and June mornings were still cold, and the weather was extremely rainy in general, and I just never got around to taking them off. I probably won't take them off again, now that I know I can ride all summer with them on with no problems.
07 EG Ultra w/ new style vented lowers......In Wisconsin, riding season is April-November. My Lowers are OFF June, July & August.........all other times they are ON . Install/ Removal in 10-15 minutes (without a HD kit).........bottomline is personal preference..........good luck.
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