Do fairing lowers provide better weather protection than soft lowers?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 3
From: Chattanooga, TN
DDM502001 is right on. I leave mine on all year long, helps keep the hot engine air off you in the summer, smooths out the air flow over the bike, bike actually runs cooler in the summer with them on.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 33
From: So Cal The Golden State
I use the hard lowers on my Road King and Street Glide. Hot and Cold weather.
To me it is no so much the issue of warmth, (that is a side effect) but the difference of doing 300 vs 500 miles.
To me it is no so much the issue of warmth, (that is a side effect) but the difference of doing 300 vs 500 miles.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 980
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, Florida
My RGU came with them, and they were new to me. Need to rotate the slots open in the heat, close them up in the cold and wet. My previous ride, an RK, wasn't a lot of fun in the rain... my legs (and socks) would get soaked. I've been caught in the rain twice, so far, on the new ride (sudden showers pop up every afternoon in the summer). Closed up the vents and kept on going, and I was amazed to arrive home with dry pants (and socks) for a change. Yeah, they work!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 161
From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
Some of you are saying the motor runs cooler in hot weather with the hard lowers on ???
Haven't taken mine off my EGlide but if what you're saying's true it's a surprise to me...
Haven't taken mine off my EGlide but if what you're saying's true it's a surprise to me...
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 7
From: Rochester N.Y.
I had soft lowers on my 06 FLHT and they worked as advertised , but as mentioned , they were pretty bad aerodynamically at higher speeds.
I felt like I was pushing a fair sized wall of air when going into the wind.
I had a chance to get color matched lowers for the 06 , so I ran them for a while and sold my soft lowers to a HOG member.
The HOG member loved them and still does 2 years later.
I feel the hard lowers do the same job as the soft ones , but they look better , handle better , and as mentioned , don't make the engine run hotter in the summer.
I removed the vents for the summer and my legs were much cooler afterwards.
My 09 Ultra came with them so I knew what to expect , and I still like them alot.
On the 09 , I removed the vents , cut away the material from the engine side of the vent , from the support inward.
This allows about 2" more airflow than stock (when open) and protects just fine(when closed) when it's below 50 degrees.
About the only thing that gets wet are my knees in a driving rain with the hard lowers.
Mick
I felt like I was pushing a fair sized wall of air when going into the wind.
I had a chance to get color matched lowers for the 06 , so I ran them for a while and sold my soft lowers to a HOG member.
The HOG member loved them and still does 2 years later.
I feel the hard lowers do the same job as the soft ones , but they look better , handle better , and as mentioned , don't make the engine run hotter in the summer.
I removed the vents for the summer and my legs were much cooler afterwards.
My 09 Ultra came with them so I knew what to expect , and I still like them alot.
On the 09 , I removed the vents , cut away the material from the engine side of the vent , from the support inward.
This allows about 2" more airflow than stock (when open) and protects just fine(when closed) when it's below 50 degrees.
About the only thing that gets wet are my knees in a driving rain with the hard lowers.
Mick
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
Thanks for all the helpful comments. I decided to get the hard lowers and the detachable kit. I'll probably have the hard lowers on from October through April, and keep the soft lowers I have in the side bag for sudden rain storms in summer.
Anyone have an opinion on the locking doors? $175 seems like a lot for a couple piece of plastic and two barrel locks
Anyone have an opinion on the locking doors? $175 seems like a lot for a couple piece of plastic and two barrel locks
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
