Need advice about riding slow in high heat

martin14

perhaps the only advantage to living in Europe..

lane splitting perfectly ok. Many cars will make room for you.
running up the shoulder in traffic jams ok.

never seen anyone pulled over for that.

You can get pulled over for everything else though

Bud White

Hobbit brought up a good point on the oil pressure .. at 10# or less the piston cooling jets turn off in the twin cams not enough pressure to make up work these spray oil directly on the under side of the pistons to help dispate the heat on/in them

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The Tank

As I started this revving comment, I thought I might further comment. I believe it is accurate to a certain point of diminishing return. Prolonged dead stops will end up in heat buildup that as glider said will be noted by pinging. Roll it to side of the road and kill the engine if you hear that and let her cool. Occasional revving can help prior to this point.

When we say that the V-Twin Engine (HD, S&S, Rev Tech and etc.) is an air cooled engine we don't quite say enough IMO. The oil plays a big part of the engine's cooling. More than active airflow plays. I would "possibly" argue that air flow plays the smallest part in the engines ability to cool. But it is certainly part of the combination of things that the engine depends on having at some point for long term operation. It is not air flow alone that does the work of cooling it is heat dissipation by way of the increased surface area of the cooling fins on the engine that probably does the most work for the engines ability to dissipate heat. The heat dissipation is still working at a dead stop. We feel that on our legs. The oil circulation plays the next biggest role IMO. Low oil pressure at idle and stopped air flow is a double whammy. You can’t control the traffic but you can occasionally push the RPMs up to help circulate the oil. Revving can move cooling oil around to every extreme that low oil pressure might not. At some point if we are in prolonged in a stop and go traffic situation we have that point that occasional revving is not going help.

Once again as said a good synthetic that survives higher operating temps is your best friend. Also it might be wise to change your oil more often if frequently riding in these extreme conditions.

Rev it my friends!

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ugocon

To avoid this overheating, I bought a liquid cooled scooter for moving in slow traffic in Summer (and not only...)
If you already know that your DAILY trip will be slow and "hot"... why don't you get a "cool" (talking of temperature...) vehicle??

Air cooled Harley CANNOT ride in hot temperature with little or no airflow: they're made for loooong American highways in the desert... like in the movies!!

Looks like a joke... but it's not, IMHO.

Occasionally, you can drive in jammed traffic, but, as it seem to be in your case, doing it EVERY working day.... looks risky for the engine's health to me!
... despite oil coolers etc...

My 2 cents

Ciao
Ugo

The Tank

Ugo,
That would be an option for some, but I would rather sweat on the side of the road waiting for my HD to cool down than ride a liquid cooled scooter.

They still sell HDs in Arizona dispite the heat.

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ugocon

Yes, but the idea the whole world has of Arizona is... loooooong straight roads in the middle of a rocky desert with no one around but an Harley riding!

...and, more important, with the engine being gently stroke by a warm, sometimes hot, flow of air, but always capable to take away the enormous heat generated by the Twin!

HD designers couldn't imagine that in the State of cowboys, redskins and rattlesnakes there could be a traffic jam!


Anyway, I understand and somehow agree with your point.

But.... trading your bike with a V-Rod???


Ciao
Ugo

NEWHD74FAN

Big Twin to V-Rod cause you live in hot area...wonder if my gal would buy that or my daughter's husband in Arizona...

Uh-oh I gave him an air & oil cooled Kat to "warm up to" , don't think she'll buy it now!

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smitty901

Please do not tell my either of my Harelys this they are unaware of this and there for do just fine.

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walleye

This is a absurd statement IMO. They have been riding in extreme heat in all circumstances longer than any other bike. I guess they just got lucky for last 100 yrs. For you to make a statement that they cannot do it after they have done it for longer than you have been alive is way off base. Obviously they can ride in hot temps because they do.

Stormrider51

I think Ugo was making a joke. I liked his remark about "cowboys, redskins, and rattlesnakes". I live in boots and jeans but Texas is getting to be less Texan every day, especially in the Austin area. Half the country seems to be moving to Texas. I knew we were in trouble when there started to be soccer and hockey teams here.

John

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