I went from a 09 V Rod to my 11 Street Glide, so that possibly could factor in my thinking. Although my new bike with a cat never felt as hot as the VRSC did at a stop light when the fans kicked on. Also my buddy that traded a 06 Street Glide for a 10 Road King did so a few months before I traded. He has had multiple Harleys over the past 30 years and the first thing I was told about the FLHR was how hot his right leg was. The bike only made the 50 mile ride home before he changed the pipes. Like most things though, heat is as subjective as taste in sound and looks.

 

My stock 103" ran over 260 most of the time and saw 300 more than once. by end of july I had the SE AC, SE 255 cams, SE racetuner, V&H Power Duals with HO mufflers and tuned and it runs in the 230-240 since and highest I could find was 267 and that, is, as the weather got much hotter and it didn't matter!!!

As was stated for cooling+ yes
" " " " sound + yes
" " " " power + yes, but......When my bike got to that 270+ it was running crappy and with the oil that hot it would never really cool down unless I shut it off for the night....

I am happy that I spent the money, it was hard earned and tough choices were made elsewhere to make them possible. But the end results speak for themselves. My bike runs faster, cooler, healthier, and will live longer thanks to the changes....