Blistered leg

[sarge7882]

My brother-in-law went on a trip on his TG (11) and ended up with a pretty good blister on the inside of his right leg. His trike is totally stock. I did a search, but it did not return any posts about this. Has anyone else had this happen?

He said he could feel the "nomal" heat while riding, but did not realize he was actually getting burned until he stopped after several hours of riding.

I thought I would share this to hopefully keep this from happening to someone else. I think I am going to start using a strip of an old pair of chaps to keep it from happening to me...even though I have had some work done on mine to get it running a bit cooler.

 

[Gorilla]

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/harley-trikes-6/harleys-hot-spend-money-tuner-not-8139/

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/harley-trikes-6/tg-modifications-abc-s-removing-rider-heat-b-c-4559/

here are just a couple of links on our forum under the Harley Trikes that talk about the issue.

 

[screwball]

I'll offer my thoughts. Wife and I have '09 and '11 Tri Glides. We ride them year round in Southern California on the high desert. 100+ days are the norm, not the exception. I wear shorts a lot in the summer. Both trikes have 'done a lap' of the Grand Canyon, most of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. We have to wear wet vests to keep our upper torso cool. You will hear a lot about removing the cat, adding tuners, changing head pipes. You name it. Here is my theory.

If your right leg is getting burned it is the probably the proximity to the rear head pipe. Exhaust gas is around 1400 degrees, cat or not. The cat is under your right foot, so burns on your right calf probably aren't done by the cat. Removing it will reduce some restriction, but exhaust gas is still 1400* How do you keep from burning your right calf?? MOVE YOUR LEG! moving your right foot an inch or two forward and out will make a world of difference. For less than 100 bucks you can get Harley Floorboard extensions. I've seen a lot of riders with a death grip on the gas tank with their knees, and their feet tucked into the engine.... lots more heat. I have also removed the lower fairings for more air flow. In this heat they are useless in the summer anyway. Put wife's back on in the winter, she likes the way they look.

Again, the heat that burns your calf is exhaust gas. Even if you dropped the temperature 200* (which you can't) you will still get burned. Proximity to the heat source is really the only fix.

OR

you can drop a couple of grand for new exhaust system, some kind of fuel management system to compensate for the new exhaust system, a new intake to compensate for the new exhaust and fuel management. You may realize a horse power or two (even up to 10%). I guess if you plan to race your trike that may make a difference, but at what price?? Someone once told me that for every horse power gain, there is a similar loss in reliability. Your decision.

 

[trikermary]

Suffered many blisters with my 09 tri-glide, did not have the money to remove cat and other solutions involving work/labor on the bike, but Sarge has the right idea about using part of an old chap, I simply covered that part of my knee with material to keep the heat off of the skin, no more burning, using a piece of an old chap may work, I used one of the leather bandanas with velcro........worked perfectly, I am sure other people have come up with similiar things that work for them..only use it when I will be in heavy stop and go traffic when the engine really gets hot, also got a pair of the highway pegs to get my leg away from the heat, but when you have short legs you can only move them so far, so the leather material blocking the skin, for me, works best....just remove it when you get to your destination.........

 

[10rhrk]

My brother-in-law went on a trip on his TG (11) and ended up with a pretty good blister on the inside of his right leg. His trike is totally stock. I did a search, but it did not return any posts about this. Has anyone else had this happen?

He said he could feel the "nomal" heat while riding, but did not realize he was actually getting burned until he stopped after several hours of riding.

I thought I would share this to hopefully keep this from happening to someone else. I think I am going to start using a strip of an old pair of chaps to keep it from happening to me...even though I have had some work done on mine to get it running a bit cooler.

If your Brother-n-law plans to leave his bike stock and likes the way it runs now except the heat. Two of the best things he can do is get one of Captain Itch's Crotch Cooler's and remove the lower's from the engine guards in the summer. He can help his engine by using a good synthetic oil. Moving his floorboards out an inch will help too. Most of the heat comes from combustion.

 

[bumlbe]

Several months ago I read where there was a class action law suit against Harley because of burns. The suit was started in California according to what I read. Has anyone else heard about this suit and what if anything has happened as a result of it?

 

[RSW]

Several months ago I read where there was a class action law suit against Harley because of burns. The suit was started in California according to what I read. Has anyone else heard about this suit and what if anything has happened as a result of it?

Things Getting Hot for Harley-Davidson's Air-Cooled Engines - HDForums.com Harley Davidson Forums

 

[Bagger]

Same on my 09 hot, I went from a 06 ultra to the tri glide noticed it right away, just gave to bear it

 

[Trent]

I have told you all my burnt leg story before...No burn issues now after dropping a few thou$ to help motor run cooler. Worth every dime to me though. And I know that Harleys are hot, but mine was unbearably miserable to the point where I actually didnt wanna ride it, and I really am not a wuss. Thankfully fixed now.

 

[Oldmsocko]

Suffered many blisters with my 09 tri-glide, did not have the money to remove cat and other solutions involving work/labor on the bike, but Sarge has the right idea about using part of an old chap, I simply covered that part of my knee with material to keep the heat off of the skin, no more burning, using a piece of an old chap may work, I used one of the leather bandanas with velcro........worked perfectly, I am sure other people have come up with similiar things that work for them..only use it when I will be in heavy stop and go traffic when the engine really gets hot, also got a pair of the highway pegs to get my leg away from the heat, but when you have short legs you can only move them so far, so the leather material blocking the skin, for me, works best....just remove it when you get to your destination.........

Just as a point of interest. The 09 TG did not come with cats unless it was a California bike. The first trike with cats in the head pipes was 2010.

 

[Minnesota Dick]

Well, I took my Lowers off yesterday and going to try it that way for awhile.

Phase 2 will be to put on floorboard extenders. Phase 3 will be a head pipe with out a cat. Phase 4 yet to be determinded. suggestions are welcomed.

 

[oldtimer]

I have told you all my burnt leg story before...No burn issues now after dropping a few thou$ to help motor run cooler. Worth every dime to me though. And I know that Harleys are hot, but mine was unbearably miserable to the point where I actually didnt wanna ride it, and I really am not a wuss. Thankfully fixed now.

Hey Trent, what all did you do to your motor?

 

[Trent]

Removed stock head pipes with cats in 'em, replaced with V&H Powerduals. Installed 255 cams and changed lifters in the motor. Arlen Ness Big Sucker with K&N open filter. Just ordered a new K&N stainless steel air filter..the paper one looks like crap now,, Screamin' Eagle electronic tuner dialed in by a very savvy tech. V&H Black Widow mufflers. And road pegs to move my leg further away from the motor. No 1st degree burns now. Have been running strictly Chevron gas, 91 octane with Techron, for about the last 2000 miles. Engine fer sure has started running quieter and smoother, no pinging or popping, idles way smoother too, exhuast even sounds deeper. My ridin' buds even noticed the difference and are experimenting with Chevron gas also. I do know that gas sure makes my car run better and I get about 2 more miles to the gallon according to the trip thingy that shows what my average is. Dunno if it affects the TG temps or not, no way to tell. I got my TG 1 year ago next weekend, and as of today, milage is 11,765. I will easily hit 12,000 by the weekend for 1,000 miles a month which includes riding all winter. Dunno how that stacks up with everyone else's average. It took me 7,000 miles to get it running the way it does now with less heat and way more power.

 

[DanDolfn]

I have a 2011 Road King converted to a trike. My right leg was getting quite hot, so my mechanic took off the header pipe, rodded out the cat, and sent it off somewhere to get ceramic coated.

He put everything back together and it runs MUCH cooler now. No idea what the temperature difference is, but I DO know that my leg doesn't feel that uncomfortable heat any more.

 

[GARYD]

Just rode in 90+ heat yesterday on Little Angels ride. First hot temps since I bought the TG. I was nervous that the heat would be unbearable. Over the winter I had the SE stage 1 A/C, H-D Fatshotz mufflers and SE Race Tuner installed - only because of the heat problem. I never had this type work done before. I am content with stock thank you very much.
I also put the floor board spacers on and had a local gal make me a set of custom thigh protectors. After all day riding I came to the conclusion that maybe I did all that work/money for nothing - or - all put together the mods worked. I felt very little heat on my thighs even when stopped for a short time. I did notice that when moving the thigh protectors acted like wings, but still stayed between my thighs and the exhaust pipe. So I'm thinking that instead of blocking the rear cylinder, they actually help funnel air onto the rear cyl.

One thing I would like to do is remove the lowers, but can't because I have woofers in them.

As of right now I see no need to remove the head pipe and cat.
As Screwball said - the cat is down by you foot so it shouldn't be the problem with heat on your thigh.

 

[screwball]

Wife and I just did a 125 mile poker run (see Guide Dog Run) Sunday. It was almost 100* out here on the desert. No one got singed, and I was wearing shorts. Oil Temps got up to 260* on a couple of up-hill legs, but came back to the 230* range when flat or downhill. Sure the engine area was hot, all Harleys are. I still believe that any blistering to the calf or thigh on the right side has to be the rear head pipe. If it was just engine heat, your left let would be burned also. Met a guy on the ride on a trike that made a 'leg protector' from a moving blanket. Looked like a giant pot holder with velcro straps. Said his wife was making him insulated 'pants legs' from the same material. Looked kinda silly, but if it helps him ride (he is a tad older than I) good for them!

 

[Trent]

It is true the cats are lower down in the pipes. That is why the hot constriction behind the cat is up by your calf. And I don't know about you guys, but I don't have any pipes on the left side of my motor, the reason for no heat problems on that side.

 

[Memnoch451]

At the risk of being yelled at... In the summer I ride my goldwing...cooler days I use my Ultra. While the heat has yet to burn my leg I feel the heat on my body and to be honest it wears me out a little if I ride all day. Dark colored bikes which most harleys seem to be don't help with the heat either. Just my .02 cents

 

[Trent]

I have spent so much $ on my TG that I can't afford to buy a Gold Wing for a second bike!!! Ha ha!!!!

 

[rhino 2]

I just had true duels an a stage 1, [11TG] installed heat is not a problem any more.ThumbUp
Just to add the stage 1 was done first, And the power increase was substantial brought the red line to 63 hundred rpms, But later when i added the duels they just got rid of the heat, No noticeable increase of power over the stage 1.:Shrug:

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

RJs Originals index.html No More Fried Thighs Heat deflectors will help with the deflection of the heat off of your inner thigh from your exhaust. I have a 117" engine in my trike which puts out some heat and I can tell you that RJs heat deflectors has made a big difference in how much heat Im not feeling