I came back from a ride with my granddaughter and noticed when I shut off the bike a strong oil/burnt smell. I took out my trusty pyrometer and lazered pointed the rear cylinder head which read 236 degrees F and front cylinder head was 195. The ambient temp is 75. I'm new to Harley this is my first summer. Is this bike running hot or is this normal. The ride was about 14 miles of hiway.

 

What year is it, do you have stock exhaust? If it's an 09-14..... It'll have a catalytic converter inline the exhaust just before the crossover pipe...... It can build up some considerable heat.

 

yup, hot.

it's an air/oil cooled motor so close to your thighs.

all the heat is right there, it is not carried off to a radiator like on a liguid cooled motor.

go shoot the temps on your car by the headers and...

make sure the kids are wearing long pants to protect them from the radiating heat

mike

 

I just obtained a 2010 FLHTCU (ultra classic) and I feel the heat especially on my right leg. It seems to be a lot hotter than my 77 super glide was so long ago. Could that be from the catalytic converter?

 

yes, you are on a motor which is 20% larger, making 75% more power.

thick jeans, chaps will help.
that's what i do and I'm riding in much higher ambient temps than you- often over 40º

mike

 

'09 49 state touring bikes do not have a cat. I almost removed the head pipe on a 2009 triglide to gut the cat before realizing it did not have one.

Bill

 

These things are tuned lean and run hot. Removing the catalytic converter and adding some kind of tuner will help with the heat.

Bill