Why Wont Harleys Idle?

[dale55]

Anybody know y harleys wont idle. Everybody i ride with rides harleys and everytime we come to a stop they have to goose the throttle. Will harleys not idle? Is it a air cooled thing or what?

[Jared]

From my observation, some HD owners like to turn their idle too low to emphasize the uneven firing intervals.

[JDerek]

It's a carry over from when they ran carbs. The carbs would load up at a stop so they goosed 'em to clear 'em out. Fuel Injection eliminated the need but most riders still do it. I even do it sometimes myself and all I've ever had is my '07 Vulcan.

[elmerfudd51]

air whistling in one ear and out the other with nothing in between to slow it down. :lol: air cooled biker, not the bike

[cactusjack]

Mine idles just fine. I do it when it's hot out because I "wake up" the rear cylinder if it's in EITMS mode. I have started out from a stop with EITMS on and stalled it. If I pop the throttle at the light changes green, it comes out of EITMS and all is good.

[jandreu]

They just like the sound of the pipes. All of what everyone's else said. A low idle makes them sound like they have a high lift cam.

[ringadingh]

All my pals with HD's have no problems with the bikes idle. The one fella with the carbed bike does have the best sound though.

[glwilson]

Mine idles just fine. I do it when it's hot out because I "wake up" the rear cylinder if it's in EITMS mode. I have started out from a stop with EITMS on and stalled it. If I pop the throttle at the light changes green, it comes out of EITMS and all is good.

Same here...:cheers:

[Top Cat]

Mine idles just fine. I do it when it's hot out because I "wake up" the rear cylinder if it's in EITMS mode. I have started out from a stop with EITMS on and stalled it. If I pop the throttle at the light changes green, it comes out of EITMS and all is good.

I could google it but don't want to. What is EITMS http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/icons/icon55.gif

Ilied, I googled it.
Came up with this discussion on a Harley Forum.

http://www.harley-davidsonforums.com/forums/touring-general-discussions/14278-eitms-engine-idle-temperature-management-system.html

[cactusjack]

I could google it but don't want to. What is EITMS http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/icons/icon55.gif

Engine Idle Temperature Management Strategy

If it is enabled, when you are idling and the engine temperature is above a certain threshold, it cuts fuel and spark to the rear cylinder and it acts as a large air pump to cool the engine. As soon as the throttle is twisted, the rear cylinder comes back online. It can be enabled or disabled by rolling the throttle forward and holding it until a light flashes green (enabled) or red (disabled) on the tachometer face.

[Cajunrider]

Mine idles fine also. Actually quite smooth. Riders of all brands with loud pipes rev the throttle at lights. I know a couple of Vulcan riders who love to make a lot of noise at traffic lights. :yep:

[elvis]

My Electra idles fine as well. When the EITMS kicks in, it's kind of strange though.

[Monkeyman]

Mine idles just fine. I do it when it's hot out because I "wake up" the rear cylinder if it's in EITMS mode. I have started out from a stop with EITMS on and stalled it. If I pop the throttle at the light changes green, it comes out of EITMS and all is good.

That's why Harley riders who aren't posers do it. The rest do it because it's "cool". :hmm:

[cactusjack]

When I had my Nomad, I used to ride with a big group I found on Meetup.com. Naturally, most of the bikes were Harleys. If we were stopped at a light and a metric bike went by, the Harley guys would rev their engines. It was freaking embarrassing.

[dshelly]

When Harley puts a V-rod motor in a touring bike, I'll consider maybe looking at one. I like the Harley look just not the old air cooled technology.

[c_law23]

I believe it is because of this. Harleys are like a 21 year old coed. She's amazing to look at but can be hot or cold. Metrics are like a 40 year old cougar. She still looks amazing, more plastic than the 21yo but always ready to go.

Ok, maybe not but it was in my head and had to come out :D

[Monkeyman]

When Harley puts a V-rod motor in a touring bike, I'll consider maybe looking at one. I like the Harley look just not the old air cooled technology.

Absolutely nothing wrong with an air cooled big V Twin. I've ridden through numerous PGR missions (sometimes miles upon miles in 90*+ temps, in the sun at walking speeds) and my bike has NEVER over heated. Water cooling has it's advantages and disadvantages.

[schoeney]

When I had my Nomad, I used to ride with a big group I found on Meetup.com. Naturally, most of the bikes were Harleys. If we were stopped at a light and a metric bike went by, the Harley guys would rev their engines. It was freaking embarrassing.


Is this a "ritual" for other of Harley owners outside of that specific website? What is its purpose?

This exactly the type of thing that earns the Harley stereotype. Whether it is many or just a few. It takes just a small % of idiots that give the rest a bad rap.

Kind of like the small % of biker/motorcyclists that do stupid stuff that make us all look bad.

[cactusjack]

Is this a "ritual" for other of Harley owners outside of that specific website? What is its purpose?

This exactly the type of thing that earns the Harley stereotype. Whether it is many or just a few. It takes just a small % of idiots that give the rest a bad rap.

Kind of like the small % of biker/motorcyclists that do stupid stuff that make us all look bad.

No, it was just a bunch of guys in this group. I've ridden with other groups and have not seen the same behavior.

[Top Cat]

Seriously guys?
Come on, I have seen, or should I say heard , crotch rocket guys, cruiser guys and other motorcycle guys do the same thing.
It is not just the Harley guys.
I hate loud pipes but the whiny noise the crotch rocket guys make while blipping the throttle and then taking off like their ass is on fire is annoying also.

[wnt2ryd]

The worst (for me) are the crotch rocket fools that think bouncing off the rev limiter is cool....

[Dave]

I used to blimp the throttle on my Goldwing but nobody heard it.

[Loafer]

Have you ever hit the rev limiter on your Nomad? Sounds like it is going to explode.

[Monkeyman]

I hit the rev limiter on my Nomad and you're right. My Victory just roars at the rev limit. I don't know what the difference is. Sort of odd as they're both big V Twins.

[Top Cat]

I used to blimp the throttle on my Goldwing but nobody heard it.

:lmao: Good one Dave.
I was at a bike night and a Goldwing with a guy sitting on it was parked in front of where I was standing. It took off and surprised the hell out of me, i didn't even know it was running :ohno:

[cactusjack]

I used to blimp the throttle on my Goldwing but nobody heard it.

They heard it Dave, it's just nobody cared. :D

On my way to Estes Park, I was riding through Monument Valley, it was posted 65 but I was doing around 70. Out of nowhere, this BMW went past me like I was standing still. He must have been doing a buck. Barely heard anything.

[Old Bear]

"If a Gold Wing starts up in a forest ..."

Hey, I get royalties on the commercial!

[whozyer]

Was leaving a flat track race one night bikes were 4 and 5 abreast just crawling out the gate of course all the loud harleys were just doing there thing and all the sudden this boss hoss in the middle of the pack just absolutely let out a monstrous roar and all eyes went his way..,I will never forget it.

[mikexup]

Absolutely nothing wrong with an air cooled big V Twin. I've ridden through numerous PGR missions (sometimes miles upon miles in 90*+ temps, in the sun at walking speeds) and my bike has NEVER over heated. Water cooling has it's advantages and disadvantages.

My 2000 Victory was oil cooled, did they change things?

[Monkeyman]

Oil/air cooled. I guess I should have been more specific just like the Vulcans are air cooled with water cooled heads. Both are basically air cooled.

[RACNRAY]

ALL 4 cycle engines are oil cooled. ALL 4 cycle engines are air cooled. Some engines add passageways that carry coolant thus are termed liquid cooled.

SIMPLE,EH?

RACNRAY

[Tony Smith]

Anybody know y harleys wont idle. Everybody i ride with rides harleys and everytime we come to a stop they have to goose the throttle. Will harleys not idle? Is it a air cooled thing or what?


I thought it was a nervous twitch from having to constantly reach for your wallet.