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Tadgh · 09-01-2006, 05:13 AM

ride faster?

...

Fenton · 09-01-2006, 05:14 AM

Take it to another shop. Is everything stock on the bikes exhaust system? How's the temp gauge look when you notice the heat?

I ride my friends '04 and haven't noticed any heat issues.

Buzglyd · 09-01-2006, 05:27 AM

Harley doesn't say it's normal. Your crappy dealer says it's normal.

Take it to another dealer and see what they can find. Document everything every step of the way. If you still don't get any results, go on H-D's website and get the number for customer service in Milwaukee and call and explain the problem.

I own an '03 Glide and do not have any kind of overheating problem.

bigdx · 09-01-2006, 05:31 AM

I would say that is normal. Both my Dyna and Streetrod put out a lot of heat which becomes a bother when riding in traffic or waiting at the light. Doesn't bother me much as I never ride in traffic or around town.

If you do ride in shorts I would recommend you put on jeans - it will help with the heat and better than bare legs if you take a tumble.

longride · 09-01-2006, 06:04 AM

That heat may not be coming from the pipe. The heads give off lots of heat when sitting in traffic on a hot day, as I found out in Las Vegas last year. For the crossover to get hot enough to roast your thighs in the position that it's in, it would have to be glowing red. If your plugs look normal, then I bet it's the heat from the cylinder heads you are feeling.

fugusaurus · 09-01-2006, 06:26 AM

get a new girlfriend.

harley girls are supposed to be tough. what is she, a dentist or something?

Buzglyd · 09-01-2006, 06:27 AM

I was thinking he could be running really lean and that could really generate some heat.

The EFI bikes have a safety mechanism and will shut down if they get too hot.

So riding in Las Vegas in the summer is hot, eh?

bmayes · 09-01-2006, 06:59 AM

You did not state where you ride but I live on the Texas gulf coast and during the summer I am baked! My 06 Road Glide generates more heat to the rider than any motorcycle I have ever owned. I am riding in 90 degree + weather, and in full sun most of the time but I have also been riding in Texas for over 30 years and have never experienced a heat issue of this magnitude. Unfortunately it was in early spring when I rented the bike for a weekend "road test" and the issue was not apparent in cooler weather.

All I can say is dress properly. I used to wear mess pants because they were cooler and still provided me with some protection. Now I wear jeans and I also have switched to full height boots to better protect my legs.

All of you folks who live in cooler environments my not experience the issue but here in Texas it is starting to be talked about.

mikenomad · 09-01-2006, 07:15 AM

Unlike the heat on a liquid-cooled engine, which is routed to a radiator away from the rider, all of the heat from an air-cooled motor radiates directly from the engine toward whatever parts of the rider are nearby. This can become quite uncomfortable and even hazardous when the bike is stopped or run in low-speed traffic for extended periods of time. It's just the nature of the beast.

Tigercub · 09-01-2006, 07:18 AM

I'm going to guess that it is normal. But, I'll take it back if;

1) The sparkplugs are white - they may be very light in color which would be normal because these bikes are leaned out to within an inch of their life.

2) The engine knocks or pings - fuel injected Harleys should never knock - right?

3) The engine backfires.

If the bike pulls good off idle and runs strong at freeway speeds it's probably running OK.

As far as heat goes - I've noticed excessive engine heat on hot days when the wind blows through the motor and right on my thigh, which is exactly where I notice the heat the most.

One more check of a hot running engine. immediately after a ride touch the rocker box cover - that's the top most part of the engine. It shouldn't burn your finger. It will be hot, but not so hot that you get burned right away. I've found that Harleys actually run pretty cool.

The most frustrating thing is taking a bike to a dealer for a problem that doesn't actually exist. So hopefully, there is something wrong. That didn't quite come out right, but you know what I mean.

09-01-2006, 05:13 AM	#1
Tadgh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 155	Re: Overheating Electraglide ride faster? ...

09-01-2006, 05:14 AM	#2
Fenton Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 1,898	Re: Overheating Electraglide Take it to another shop. Is everything stock on the bikes exhaust system? How's the temp gauge look when you notice the heat? I ride my friends '04 and haven't noticed any heat issues.

09-01-2006, 05:27 AM	#3
Buzglyd Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 10,137	Re: Overheating Electraglide Harley doesn't say it's normal. Your crappy dealer says it's normal. Take it to another dealer and see what they can find. Document everything every step of the way. If you still don't get any results, go on H-D's website and get the number for customer service in Milwaukee and call and explain the problem. I own an '03 Glide and do not have any kind of overheating problem. __________________ Jay Leno: "President Obama released his tax returns. It turns out he made $900,000 less in 2011 than he did in 2010. You know what that means? Even Obama is doing worse under President Obama."

09-01-2006, 05:31 AM	#4
bigdx Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 780	Re: Overheating Electraglide I would say that is normal. Both my Dyna and Streetrod put out a lot of heat which becomes a bother when riding in traffic or waiting at the light. Doesn't bother me much as I never ride in traffic or around town. If you do ride in shorts I would recommend you put on jeans - it will help with the heat and better than bare legs if you take a tumble.

09-01-2006, 06:04 AM	#5
longride Super Duper Mod Man Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere they let me Posts: 10,484	Re: Overheating Electraglide That heat may not be coming from the pipe. The heads give off lots of heat when sitting in traffic on a hot day, as I found out in Las Vegas last year. For the crossover to get hot enough to roast your thighs in the position that it's in, it would have to be glowing red. If your plugs look normal, then I bet it's the heat from the cylinder heads you are feeling. __________________ I'm a knucklehead

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09-01-2006, 06:26 AM	#6
fugusaurus Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 15	Re: Overheating Girlfriend get a new girlfriend. harley girls are supposed to be tough. what is she, a dentist or something?

09-01-2006, 06:27 AM	#7
Buzglyd Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 10,137	Re: Overheating Electraglide I was thinking he could be running really lean and that could really generate some heat. The EFI bikes have a safety mechanism and will shut down if they get too hot. So riding in Las Vegas in the summer is hot, eh? __________________ Jay Leno: "President Obama released his tax returns. It turns out he made $900,000 less in 2011 than he did in 2010. You know what that means? Even Obama is doing worse under President Obama."

09-01-2006, 06:59 AM	#8
bmayes Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 7	Re: Overheating Electraglide You did not state where you ride but I live on the Texas gulf coast and during the summer I am baked! My 06 Road Glide generates more heat to the rider than any motorcycle I have ever owned. I am riding in 90 degree + weather, and in full sun most of the time but I have also been riding in Texas for over 30 years and have never experienced a heat issue of this magnitude. Unfortunately it was in early spring when I rented the bike for a weekend "road test" and the issue was not apparent in cooler weather. All I can say is dress properly. I used to wear mess pants because they were cooler and still provided me with some protection. Now I wear jeans and I also have switched to full height boots to better protect my legs. All of you folks who live in cooler environments my not experience the issue but here in Texas it is starting to be talked about.

09-01-2006, 07:15 AM	#9
mikenomad Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 361	Re: TWO WORDS: AIR COOLED Unlike the heat on a liquid-cooled engine, which is routed to a radiator away from the rider, all of the heat from an air-cooled motor radiates directly from the engine toward whatever parts of the rider are nearby. This can become quite uncomfortable and even hazardous when the bike is stopped or run in low-speed traffic for extended periods of time. It's just the nature of the beast.

09-01-2006, 07:18 AM	#10
Tigercub Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,125	Re: Overheating Electraglide I'm going to guess that it is normal. But, I'll take it back if; 1) The sparkplugs are white - they may be very light in color which would be normal because these bikes are leaned out to within an inch of their life. 2) The engine knocks or pings - fuel injected Harleys should never knock - right? 3) The engine backfires. If the bike pulls good off idle and runs strong at freeway speeds it's probably running OK. As far as heat goes - I've noticed excessive engine heat on hot days when the wind blows through the motor and right on my thigh, which is exactly where I notice the heat the most. One more check of a hot running engine. immediately after a ride touch the rocker box cover - that's the top most part of the engine. It shouldn't burn your finger. It will be hot, but not so hot that you get burned right away. I've found that Harleys actually run pretty cool. The most frustrating thing is taking a bike to a dealer for a problem that doesn't actually exist. So hopefully, there is something wrong. That didn't quite come out right, but you know what I mean.