Harley engineers???????????
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 3
From: Southeastern Michigan
Liquid cooling is not the magic bullet most think it is. First off, the reason for liquid cooling is more for consistent cylinder/head temperatures then anything. It still get's hot - just as hot as air cooled engines, it's just that the heat is transferred to the radiator. That heat still needs to get released, and where are they gonna put it? Out in front where it's the most effective. Now you have hot air blowing on you like a heater rather the radiating up.
Also, If Harleys track record has any merit, the first generation of water cooled engines will be a nightmare of engineering blunders. It'll be at least 3 years before they get it dialed in!
I HOPE Harley will keep a Harley what it's roots are. Air cooled!
If you want liquid cooling - Honda makes a damn nice tourer!
Also, If Harleys track record has any merit, the first generation of water cooled engines will be a nightmare of engineering blunders. It'll be at least 3 years before they get it dialed in!
I HOPE Harley will keep a Harley what it's roots are. Air cooled!
If you want liquid cooling - Honda makes a damn nice tourer!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Beary
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: Central Texas
Well lets get this straight this aint my first rodeo! If you think that the 07 96's should run that hot then you evidently have never ridden an older Harley. My old 88B did not come close to being that hot. And that test was not just for the VRod, supposedly Harley is suppose to do that to all their bikes. At one time Harley claimed all their bike were suppose to be able to sit and idle with no ill effects. I just see no way this bike could sit in the traffic and heat my old 2000 FLHT did . If you lived around Austin Tx and had an 07 that should worry you. With the XIED's and synthec oil mine is cooled down to a resonable level till I get a tuner, oil cooler and downloads down. I'm sorry I just can not believe any mechcanical engineer would sign off on that motor and put it out for sale. If you think that motor is fine getting that hot then you know nothing about motors and oil, or you have been brain washed by the MoCo. Step on up and get your Kool Aide.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
I will have to say my 10 EGC gets hotter than hell. The only thing I have done so far to the bike is put some Jackpot mufflers on and changed to synthetic. My wife notices the heat more so than I. If she has her feet on the floorboards on a hot day her feet cook. I put the Kuryakyn adjustable pegs on so she has more choices where to put her feet. I rode a Honda VTX for 5 years and the liquid cooling was nice. However, when the radiator fan kicked on it was like a blast furnace. I think Harley could do better, especially when you are spending $20k to $25k for a bike. A touring bike should be comfortable in all weather conditions. Unfortunately these things are pretty unbearable on a 90+ degree day.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 1
From: USA
I too am going to hold onto my 08' till H-D gets thier water cooled bikes dialed in, although I wished I would have held out for the 09's. I love my RG,but as stated before,the EPA will eventually impose so many restrictions on the MOTOCO till they have no choice but to go to liquid cooled. I traded my VTX for my 08' and there is no way my stock VTX was as hot as my RG. I road the VTX for 2yrs,including going to the ROT,if your bike is going to get hot,it will do it there during the rides around the campground,I would not attempt to ride my RG around the campground a few times in that heavy traffic,if youv'e been you know what I mean. This is all just my 2 cesnts on the topic.H-D WILL go to the full liuqid cooled bike,there is no way around it,they are just holding out as long as possible because they are worried about loosing thier hardcore air cooled base customer.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: Birch Bay, WA
Harleys run hot? Who Knew?
I love my 88 more every day. This weekend I will put on the PCIII from Fuel Moto and see if it runs even better. My VTX was never a heat problem either but I traded for this one for all the right reasons.
spiz
I love my 88 more every day. This weekend I will put on the PCIII from Fuel Moto and see if it runs even better. My VTX was never a heat problem either but I traded for this one for all the right reasons.
spiz
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 3
From: Southeastern Michigan
Well lets get this straight this aint my first rodeo! If you think that the 07 96's should run that hot then you evidently have never ridden an older Harley. My old 88B did not come close to being that hot. And that test was not just for the VRod, supposedly Harley is suppose to do that to all their bikes. At one time Harley claimed all their bike were suppose to be able to sit and idle with no ill effects. I just see no way this bike could sit in the traffic and heat my old 2000 FLHT did . If you lived around Austin Tx and had an 07 that should worry you. With the XIED's and synthec oil mine is cooled down to a resonable level till I get a tuner, oil cooler and downloads down. I'm sorry I just can not believe any mechcanical engineer would sign off on that motor and put it out for sale. If you think that motor is fine getting that hot then you know nothing about motors and oil, or you have been brain washed by the MoCo. Step on up and get your Kool Aide.
I'm sure the 45 ci motors are cooler then your 88b too.
I'm not arguing that they're not hot. I am pointing out that the liquid cooling pundits will be the same group complaining about the radiator heat!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
There will be a lot of disappointed Harley owners when Harley's become liquid cooled but if the recent poll is representative of the Harley buying public, almost 80% are looking forward to a liquid cooled scoot.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 4
From: Here
Well lets get this straight this aint my first rodeo! If you think that the 07 96's should run that hot then you evidently have never ridden an older Harley. My old 88B did not come close to being that hot. And that test was not just for the VRod, supposedly Harley is suppose to do that to all their bikes. At one time Harley claimed all their bike were suppose to be able to sit and idle with no ill effects. I just see no way this bike could sit in the traffic and heat my old 2000 FLHT did . If you lived around Austin Tx and had an 07 that should worry you. With the XIED's and synthec oil mine is cooled down to a resonable level till I get a tuner, oil cooler and downloads down. I'm sorry I just can not believe any mechcanical engineer would sign off on that motor and put it out for sale. If you think that motor is fine getting that hot then you know nothing about motors and oil, or you have been brain washed by the MoCo. Step on up and get your Kool Aide.
Crickets....
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, CA
The good news for all those who are shocked by the heat of an air-cooled engine is that Harley has just announced they are going to revise their own legend, tradition and history and reissue each of their air-cooled models over the past 100 years with liquid-cooled engines to make you happy!
Cool! (Pun intended.)
In other words, what the hell were thinking when you bought a Harley???!!!
Finally, just to give you a heads-up ...
Don't be shocked when you find out for the first time that Harleys are known to spend a fair amount of time in the shop too.