Hello All, Roadking Question????
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Stage III
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Hello All, Roadking Question????
Hello all, i am new to the forum from Alexandria,Va. I am in the market for a Roadking and have a question i hope you can answer for me. I have a liquid cooled crusier now and was wondering is there a big issue with the air cooled roadking? This is the only thing holding me back as i am in traffic alot here in the Md,DC,Va area. thanks for your help on this!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: boston ma.
You'll notice a difference but you should be fine unless your completely stopped for long periods of time in the heat of the summer.If ya can move a bit here and there at slow speeds you'll have no problem.
Not really. But there is a limit to them. When you say "in traffic a lot", how much stop and go is there. If it's more stop than go, there is always a possibility of the heat issue. As long as the bike is moving, even at a snail's pace, it will be ok because air is moving past the cooling fins. Additionally, depending on the year of the bike, some will have a feature that will shut down or retard one of the cylinders if the bike is in an overheating situation. But that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. I believe in the toughness of these engines and you should not have any issues.....other than the heat eminating from the bike, which can be a crotch/thigh burner. But there are things that can be done to reduce/limit that effect.
You can always try to rent one for a day and put it through its paces.
I say go for it. Good luck.
You can always try to rent one for a day and put it through its paces.
I say go for it. Good luck.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: MD
As Fuji Said there are many things that can be done to shield the heat if you are stopped for a long time, HD has some heat shields which are standard on some of the later models. (The 96 in puts out more heat than the 88's) RJ's originals makes a good heat shield. So far I have done the Fuelmoto Stage 1 and it seems to be running cooler, still need a really hot day to tell if I need to go with a set of heat shields also. (I try not to sit still for long) Being in the DC area also, I feel your pain of the traffic. Frederick HD rents so you can try one out, I rented one from the to try out the new 96 before I bought mine.
Just get it, you will love it.
Just get it, you will love it.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 283
Likes: 22
From: Grand Prairie, TX
I ride an '02 Road King Classic in Ft. Worth/Dallas stop and go traffic and I've not had any trouble even when the ambient temp was in the high nineties to 100. I run 100% synthetic and the hottest Ive seen the oil get is around 230 240. As was said above even some forward movement helps.
Go for it and get out and ride!
Go for it and get out and ride!
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: North of the Laurention Divide, MN
As that is all that is holding you back, buy a new Road King. The owners manual easily details how to engage the Engine Idle Temperature Management System.
See how easy that was?
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2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lewis
Road King
I ride with others that have and have ridden liquid cooled bikes the only difference they stated was the amount of heat coming from the bike when waiting in traffic. I know WA. state doesent get that warm but never expierenced problems in traffic. Get it youll never change again.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 7
From: Michigan
I've ridden my road king in the Memorial Day run for Rolling Thunder and not had any issues. As the others have said, as long as you are moving even slowly, you'll be fine. If you ever run into problems, you can always go with the add on fan, oil cooler, etc.