Engine Heat: Nomad vs Harley

[lawdog]

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]

I've never noticed the heat.

[cactusjack]

Gosh, I hate to see a fellow member suffer. I'd be happy to take that leg-roasting Ultra away from you.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

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]

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.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by lawdog

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[AlabamaNomadRider]

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