Lower Fairing Experiment
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 237
Likes: 1
From: FL
Lower Fairing Experiment
Took the lowers of the UC, to see if any difference in airflow and ride. Lots of air on the legs, puffed up pant legs on pegs. Maybe its just me, but seemed like handling was not the same. Also the fricken heat coming up about fried me. Anyone ever try this?
Live & Learn
Live & Learn
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 128
Took the lowers of the UC, to see if any difference in airflow and ride. Lots of air on the legs, puffed up pant legs on pegs. Maybe its just me, but seemed like handling was not the same. Also the fricken heat coming up about fried me. Anyone ever try this?
Live & Learn
Live & Learn
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 9,254
Likes: 283
From: Lake City, Florida (Native)
I pull my lowers off every year about the first week of May. A couple of days ago I repeated the procedure. Without the lower fairings in place the amount of wind rushing up from my knees to my chest is very significant. That is exactly the reason that I remove the lowers when it starts to get hot. That extra breeze is very much appreciated when the ambient air temperature gets up between 85 and 95 degrees like it is now. Another mod I do is to remove the air dam located between the front forks in hot weather. Without the air dam in place the wind coming off the front fender cleans out the hotter stale air which congregates around the heads. It is not a lot, but it is noticeable.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I written on this before:
my testing in PHX shows reduced oil temps ( measured at the pan) with the Lowers on.
105ş day, 18 mile loop, lowers off, lower on.
25ş cooler oil with them on.
No oil cooler, this is attributable to more order air flow into and across the cooling fins
However the increased air flow ( which is removing more heat) may give more of a "blow dryer effect", this is not a problem for me.
Mike
my testing in PHX shows reduced oil temps ( measured at the pan) with the Lowers on.
105ş day, 18 mile loop, lowers off, lower on.
25ş cooler oil with them on.
No oil cooler, this is attributable to more order air flow into and across the cooling fins
However the increased air flow ( which is removing more heat) may give more of a "blow dryer effect", this is not a problem for me.
Mike
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Pasco, WA
Ya, the lowers tend to catch the bugs and rocks ! But they do complement the Ultra's look. As mkguitar said, and I agree totally, the lowers "funnel" the air thru. GOTA LOVE THESE HARLEYS
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,437
Likes: 15
I take mine off when it gets warm ~above 70* lol. I don't have an oil temp gauge but my CHT are lower with them off and I personally feel better having lower CHT vs oil temps I figure I use a good synthetic (mb1 vtwin) it can handle the oil temps. My body also feels much better without the added heat the lowers bring. (2011 RGU). 'sides the bike looks much better without them. I have yet to be hit witha bug or rock that left a mark in over 300,000 miles lol.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,234
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From: Arizona
Sounds like a Canadian summer - August 1st from 12:00pm - 2:30pm.