Engine Heat: Nomad vs Harley [Archive]

lawdog

02-26-2011, 11:44 AM

It has been a while since I have made a post. I still have my 2003 nomad don't really care if I sell it or not. A few may remember I bought a 2009 Ultra Classic. I like the ultra except for the engine heat. I could ride the nomad no matter how hot the day was and not woory about the engine heat much. The ultra is another matter. As of now I have not ridden it on a day that the temt was above 70. When you get into traffic it will cook your right leg. I mean to the point of pain. The harley ridders say that is nomal for a Harley. I don"t know if I can live with it. I like to enjoy all of my ride not just when I am on the open road. At least on the Nad I could do that.
Thought I would share this for those of you that have thought of the ultra. A friend of mine has a 2010
nad and it does not come close to the heat of the ultra.

Dave

02-26-2011, 11:52 AM

I've never noticed the heat.

cactusjack

02-26-2011, 12:03 PM

Gosh, I hate to see a fellow member suffer. I'd be happy to take that leg-roasting Ultra away from you. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Last spring I rode an Electra Glide Classic at Cyclefest in Scottsdale. This was a test ride bike that had been ridden all day. It had just returned from about a 30 minute test ride and was well warmed up. I got on it and took it for another 30 minute spin. The heat didn't seem uncomfortable to me. Maybe an hour earlier I had ridden a Voyager (also known for heat) and neither bike seemed bad to me. Maybe I'd have had to stay on them longer for heat to become a factor? I dunno.

Cajunrider

02-26-2011, 12:08 PM

A friend/co-worker that I rode with down here just sold his '08 EG Classic. He didn't sell it because of heat but he has told me that in warmer weather stop and go traffic he has had to pull over for a cooldown.

lawdog

02-26-2011, 12:10 PM

Trust me on this I have had it at a local shop and they say nothing is wrong it just a harley. The heat is there and is bad rode the nad yesterday felt good not to have the heat. As far as someone taking it off my hands it may have to go this summer if I don't find a way to get it down or get used to it. If I don't like the heat the wife is realy going to hate it. They say the passenger gets more than the driver. She has not ridden it with me yet.

glwilson

02-26-2011, 12:24 PM

I don't think anyone would ever say an Ultra runs as cool as a Nomad; mine certainly didn't -- especially when new.

I changed out the breather and had the engine re-mapped to accommodate more air. Then used nothing but the best "syns". Combined, this reduced the heat tremendously.

Also, on your '09 you have the rear-cylinder shut-off feature. Be sure you have set this up so that in stop and go it kicks-in. It makes a huge difference. (Remember, you need to turn this feature on -- otherwise it won't work.)

For me, the Ultra still runs hotter than the Nomad; but is not unbearable as you say -- to which I would suggest something isn't right with your bike.

You should be able to ride the Ultra comfortably when the temps are 70 degrees. I'm not uncomfortable on the Ultra until we see 90 degree days -- and even then the Nomad could get uncomfortable also.

There are other mods others have done to cool their bikes down even further; but I didn't feel it was necessary to do any more than I mentioned here -- and that advice was given, in part, by members here on KawaNOW. It worked for me.

ringadingh

02-26-2011, 12:58 PM

glwilson

02-26-2011, 01:38 PM

Ive heard of some guys complaining about the heat, there is a sheild available to help with this, as well what Greg mentioned. Any Ultra I have been on was warmer than the Nomad but not unbearable for me. I don't know how hot it gets where you are but when its near the 100 degree mark even the Nomad is getting quite warm in city stop and go traffic.

Steve, the shield you are referring to is included on '09's and since. They also re-routed the exhaust under the bike rather than under the seat as it was before the '09's. He should have both of these changes on his '09.

Again, if his bike is getting that hot in 70 degree weather... something isn't right from my experience, and knowing others on HD's' -- unless he isn't using "syns"; a new breather and remapping.

BD and some others recommended this for me, and it worked just fine for my problem.

lawdog

02-26-2011, 01:58 PM

glwilson

02-26-2011, 02:05 PM

I have the SE exhuast already on the bike plan on putting the breather on and remap sometime this next month. If that does not bring it down I may have to sell it. Maybe I am just getting old and like being as comfortable as I can get.

If you aren't already... be sure to use synthetic fluids rather than dino-oils.... it does make a difference between the two.

Good luck. ;)

oldbikers

02-26-2011, 04:51 PM

I have 2 friends that have the 09 ultra and both of them have had their bikes back in the shop because of the heat and the dealer told them that was normal, one of the guys has the screamin eagle air system runs syn oil and has added an after market oil cooler and it still runs very hot.

vulcans2

02-26-2011, 07:00 PM

I think an air cooled engine is hotter than a liquid cooled one. However, from what I've learned at my local dealer, HD has re-routed the rear cylinder exhaust under the bike to move heat from the rider, as well as added some heat shields that help deflect some of the heat down. The rear cylinder cut out at a stop is also supposed to help.

Last Fall I test rode a Yamaha (Star) Roadliner. It is also air cooled. While it came across as comfortable and VERY powerful, it also threw off a ton of heat, and it wasn't a hot day out, either. The Nomad puts off some heat, but not like the Roadliner However, were it to have been cooler and have a larger gas tank, I might have been seriously tempted by it.

elvis

02-26-2011, 08:31 PM

I have test ridden several 96 ci HDs including the Road Glide Ultra, Road Glide Custom, Street Glide and other big twins. Needless to say they were all almost new and stock. These bikes were being test ridden all day long so I think I would have noticed the heat during my 30 mins or so tests.

I would take the Ultra to another shop and get a second opinion.

bullman

02-26-2011, 08:38 PM

I used to have a sportster and having the oil tank under the right leg always was a problem. If you weren't on the open road, it would roast the meat off the thigh http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif

AlabamaNomadRider

02-26-2011, 11:49 PM

Glad I have my Nomad. I never have a problem with getting too hot.

ndbigfish

02-27-2011, 12:24 AM

Gene,
Come to South Texas in August. Forget about your thighs; that sizzling sound is lung tissue becoming crispy. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

A bike that has problems in the heat is not for this part of the world. Love me some liquid cooling....

sharps45100

02-27-2011, 02:56 AM

When I was in the market for a bike, that was one thing that led me to the nomad that it was liquid cooled. Plus it was compy for the wife so that sealed the deal for me. I would get a second opinion on your heat problem. Almost sounds like an excuse to not work on bike cause its thier dime and not yours.

donoller

02-27-2011, 02:03 PM

i had a ultra 2007 model the heat was bad sold the thing 6th gear was almost worth nothing did not have enought power to pull it. i am sure some will not like that but i still like the nomad and my goldwing.

b1rider

02-27-2011, 06:12 PM

I had an 07 Ultra and that thing was hot hot hot!! I put seat heat shields on and that helped a little but I couldn't ride the thing in stop and go traffic in the summer. Even the Harley dealers will admitt the 07's were bad on heat. I test rode an 09 a couple of weeks ago when I thought I wanted one and the heat was there, I definitely noticed it. Harley's are hot bikes period and that is why my friends recommended aftermarket pipes, remapping, and air intakes. Seems wrong to spend that kind of money on a new bike and then have to spend another $2,500 to make it rideable. Just my 2 cents.

billmac

02-27-2011, 09:02 PM

Cool Thread. :)

Liquid cool Nomad was a selling point for me here in Texas. So was the larger gas tank than the Yamaha Stratoliner.

I have rented some harleys and did notice some heat but it wasn't a deal stopper. I love the Harley sound and the quality of the parts.

I have owned a harley and I like the bikes. I may own another. For Now, I own a Nomad cause it was about half the cost and seemed to be as good, maybe better. I like to shop for value.

cocheese72

02-28-2011, 01:29 PM

My Nomad runs great now. This is after: Pipes, Fuel processor, and Intake mods. Before that, it ran hot and pinged like a sob. Didn't take long sitting at a light in the summer for that fan to kick on and start blasting hot air all over me. I have ridden most Harleys and not found them to be any worse than mine was initially.

Kawhead

02-28-2011, 02:05 PM

Are y'all insinuating Harley's are for baddass tough guys with a lot of money ??? http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

donoller

02-28-2011, 02:17 PM

naw just for dumb ass's hahha

bobzinger

02-28-2011, 03:57 PM

I had a 99 Roadking and on those 95+ degree days it was miserable if you were below 25mph.

glwilson

02-28-2011, 06:40 PM

naw just for dumb ass's hahha

Should I take personally????

cactusjack

02-28-2011, 07:09 PM

naw just for dumb ass's hahha

Should I take personally????

Nah...I'd let that one go. ::)

Dave

02-28-2011, 07:38 PM

naw just for dumb ass's hahha

Should I take personally????

Amazing isn't it?

Loafer

02-28-2011, 08:30 PM

Should I take personally????

Amazing isn't it?

Well, at least I didn't say it. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

I think some people don't realize that HD owners live here, too. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

glwilson

02-28-2011, 09:36 PM

CJ... I'll let it go. You know the difference.

Dave... I am always surprised at the bias some Nomad owners have. It seems "they" are more aggressively-offensive than most HD owners I have ever met.

Loafer... I'll take it from you with a smile http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

elvis

02-28-2011, 10:10 PM

<<
Dave... I am always surprised at the bias some Nomad owners have. It seems "they" are more aggressively-offensive than most HD owners I have ever met.
>>

Quite accurate observation. People are people regardless of what they ride, I think.

cocheese72

02-28-2011, 10:19 PM

It seems "they" are more aggressively-offensive than most HD owners I have ever met.

Don't head to HDForums.com without either a Harley or thick skin.

ndbigfish

02-28-2011, 10:33 PM

Can't we all just get along? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif Lets not go Orange County here. ;)

cactusjack

02-28-2011, 10:43 PM

It seems "they" are more aggressively-offensive than most HD owners I have ever met.

Don't head to HDForums.com without either a Harley or thick skin.

I spend a lot of time on that forum. It's a great place to find out about fairings, sound systems, and touring in general. I've told them I ride a Nomad and nobody has ever made a negative comment about it. You're right though, some of those guys can nasty. The mantras they rattle off are hilarious...

"Harley - often imitated, never duplicated"
"Jap bikes have no soul"

For the most part, they are good guys, though.

Dave

02-28-2011, 11:03 PM

Can't we all just get along? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif Lets not go Orange County here. ;)

I heard TLC is finally dropping those clowns.

I will give them credit, they all made a lot of money off that show.

I alway thought if it won't for that show, Mikey would be living under an overpass. He's got to be the most worthless person in that family. What a parasite.

Loafer

03-01-2011, 11:31 AM

REPhiltoe

06-10-2012, 07:51 AM

I have a 2010 Voyager and I looking to do something about the heat rising up on the saddle. I was just looking at a friends Harley touring bike last night and was checking out his heat shields.
This morning I was reviewing the Harley heat shields available for their various bikes. I'm hoping I can retrofit one of the kits to my Voyager.
Has anyone done this in the past , or can someone suggest which kit might come close to fitting a Voyager?
Remember its all about keeping the dance floor cool!

Thanks
Ron

ray2

06-10-2012, 08:51 AM

The 2012 Voyager have a new heat shield.See if that one will work on your 2010 Voyager.

Monkeyman

06-10-2012, 09:20 AM

The EVOs (80 cu in and older) ran MUCH cooler than any of the Twin Cams (88, 96, 103 and 110 cu in). I think the EVOs were better motors all around but you don't get the latest technology with the older bikes.

Dave

06-10-2012, 10:14 AM

Heat, what heat? Just lose the right leg.

glwilson

06-11-2012, 10:10 AM

Heat, what heat? Just lose the right leg.

If only they knew...:D

cactusjack

06-11-2012, 10:42 AM

Having just completed the Kanab rally, and riding the final 100 miles home in extreme heat, I can say that my Harley isn't any hotter than my Nomad was while riding. The only time my Harley starts to cook my right leg is when stopped in traffic for extended periods. On the Nomad, the fan would kick on and blow all that hot air back at you, on the Harley, it just kind of radiates up around the tank. While moving, it's not an issue.

I was apprehensive about buying an air cooled bike considering the climate I live in. You'd think water cooled bikes would rule here, but I see probably 5 Harleys on the road for every 1 of another brand.