ultra in Az. 110 degrees
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 255
Likes: 24
One word...YES! I had a Limited for a few years and it was brutal in the summer heat. Had no cat either in the headers. Summer riding in AZ means either real early in the morning or night rides. Personally I like the night rides cause there is a lot less traffic and the night sky can't be beat out here in AZ.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
It will definitely heat up if you are in slow moving traffic with little air flow.
I have found my Limited gets me out of the direct air flow and actually feels cooler than my Wide Glide on hot summer days, same reason I am warmer on it in cold weather. When it feels like your fingernails are burning you know it's 110+.
The real question is will the heat damage the bike. My WG had 120K on her before a new top end and was ridden nearly every day for four years, including riding to work in the summer at 2:00 in the afternoon. The heat doesn't seem to have affected it much.
I have found my Limited gets me out of the direct air flow and actually feels cooler than my Wide Glide on hot summer days, same reason I am warmer on it in cold weather. When it feels like your fingernails are burning you know it's 110+.
The real question is will the heat damage the bike. My WG had 120K on her before a new top end and was ridden nearly every day for four years, including riding to work in the summer at 2:00 in the afternoon. The heat doesn't seem to have affected it much.
Last edited by joe.1955; Apr 8, 2014 at 05:40 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,721
Likes: 372
From: Tonopah Az
It might be dry but at 115 it'll still french fry your ***.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Harley tests these bikes in AZ in the summer. They sit them out in the direct sun on hot asphalt and idle them all day long, tank after tank, day after day.
Your bike will be fine.
Your bike will be fine.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 469
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
Last year was my first summer riding the Ultra, I commute on it year round. I felt 105° was the upper limit, I felt like a baked potato at that temp, especially right side with stock headers. Now I've installed true duals and a tuner. I will be trying to tune it to run a bit cooler. Morning isn't bad of course, but the ride home at 5 is tough, surface streets I seem to hit every red light, and freeways being a parking lot aren't much better. I don't want to put fans on it but maybe just for the summer. On the 115° days I took the truck.