Lower Fairings

[iaff84]

On the subject of riders felt heat and lowers on the TG Ultras. As far as running the lowers year round, I do because I want the protection they provide in less than perfect weather.
On my 05 two wheeled Ultra I found the vents in lowers as a plus. When we went to the Tri Glide they became another animal. I can only attribute this to the large area of rear fenders and tires. All of a sudden more heat from engine area seemed to stay around the rider. Also found I felt less protected from air flow and in rain. Took me a while to realize but running with lower vents open on this model seems to retain more of the felt heat around rider.
Around town I will flip the clam shell fairing vents open but on the road I find running with all closed lessens the felt heat from engine and totally removing them did more harm than good.
As we all run allot of different type windshields, results may differ. I run the tallest and widest Clark shield. So next time out, try the ride with all vents closed on the highway, would like to know your findings and the windshield setup you use.
Dennis

 

[trikermutha]

I now use a tall 15 inch curve windshield with the middle tree air deflector and I am happy with that setup in all weather..I use the lowers open and closed depends on the weather..

 

[msocko3]

On the subject of riders felt heat and lowers on the TG Ultras. As far as running the lowers year round, I do because I want the protection they provide in less than perfect weather.

On my 05 two wheeled Ultra I found the vents in lowers as a plus. When we went to the Tri Glide they became another animal. I can only attribute this to the large area of rear fenders and tires. All of a sudden more heat from engine area seemed to stay around the rider. Also found I felt less protected from air flow and in rain. Took me a while to realize but running with lower vents open on this model seems to retain more of the felt heat around rider.

Around town I will flip the clam shell fairing vents open but on the road I find running with all closed lessens the felt heat from engine and totally removing them did more harm than good.

As we all run allot of different type windshields, results may differ. I run the tallest and widest Clark shield. So next time out, try the ride with all vents closed on the highway, would like to know your findings and the windshield setup you use.

Dennis

I've been running with the vents removed from the lowers, seems to work decent for me.

BTW I got a fair amount of riding in today with the Trike and your baffle installed, it does seem to lessen the amount of air coming over the tank without adding to engine heat.

I actually was fiddling around doing V-Tunes with the TTS and laptop, never saw anything above 260 degrees on the front head temp and 190 on the oil, this was with an 84 degree ambient temp.

 

[Keystone]

I remove the vents as soon as it starts getting hot outside. Most years that is mid June. This year it was two weeks ago. I can take them off and put them on without taking the lowers off, and quickly as well (2-3 minutes?).

 

[rap47]

I always leave lowers on and the vent doors closed. Clark's 12'' half-moon/wide windshied.

 

[Skeet7373]

Dennis, would you post a pic of your fairing with the clark shield from the front?

 

[iaff84]

Dennis, would you post a pic of your fairing with the clark shield from the front?

As you can see, very large. Not for everyone as most like to look over shield.
Dennis

 

[tryker55]

This year I removed the clam shell doors from my lowers.It has helped in keeping everything cooler engine,oil and passengers no problem here. I do have a fork baffel that helps tank air flow.As I live in the Buffalo N.Y. area riding sometimes is a combination of city and rural traveling.I had a HD parade fan installed and connected directly to my accessory switch for on -off function works great in traffic areas to help cool engine and oil heat,along with dragon wing side vents.

 

[Redrider]

I remove the vents as soon as it starts getting hot outside. Most years that is mid June. This year it was two weeks ago. I can take them off and put them on without taking the lowers off, and quickly as well (2-3 minutes?).

You take the vents off in (2-3) minutes, how do you do it?
I"ve tried and I just lose my temper.

 

[pigbike]

I was going to take mine off too, but ended up just zip tieing them open

 

[JohnC]

One of the first things I did when I got my TG was remove the doors from the lower fairings and they stay off year-round. I find the lower fairings still provide plenty of proctection from the elements while still allowing maximum cooling air to get to the fins of the motor.

 

[Oldmsocko]

I put on another 190 miles today with the baffels installed. It was a mixture of 2 lane and freeway riding. The baffles do exactly what I hoped they would do. They block some of the wind that comes up past the front of the gas tank and would hit me in the face just below my glasses. I was able to ride without my eyes watering.

 

[tryker55]

I agree with you Redrider it took me awhile to get the door uot of the faring housing and the track it rides on.I also measured the distance from the end of the open wide position to the main body opening of the fairing. It was 5 inches that was blocking air flow to pass by the engine on each side,thats alot of cooling air not getting to the engine or passengers.Even the edge of the door design curved back towards the front of the trike terrible design,what was someone thinking for a hot running air cooled engine.I rode today approx 100 miles outdoor temp 88 deg.temp of oil ran 235 deg. Taking the doors out has really helped also using the parade fan in stopped and slow traffic areas seams to be working for me.

 

[Oldmsocko]

It was 91 degrees here today and my oil temp never got over 230 degrees. When I first got this TG the oil temps were regularly 300+.

 

[BinIdaho]

You take the vents off in (2-3) minutes, how do you do it?
I"ve tried and I just lose my temper.

I also want to know how to take off vents in 2-3 minutes?

 

[BinIdaho]

I put on another 190 miles today with the baffels installed. It was a mixture of 2 lane and freeway riding. The baffles do exactly what I hoped they would do. They block some of the wind that comes up past the front of the gas tank and would hit me in the face just below my glasses. I was able to ride without my eyes watering.

...Mike, you didn't have issues w/TG not wanting to "track" a straight line? Dennis sending me a shorter version of middle baffle.

Sorry to hi-jack thread.

 

[msocko3]

...Mike, you didn't have issues w/TG not wanting to "track" a straight line? Dennis sending me a shorter version of middle baffle.

Sorry to hi-jack thread.

He's running the 2" version.

 

[adaptolife]

I don't have any heat issues with my setup, but the lower fairing is great for blocking some rain water and wind. I seldom use the storage compartments. I also installed the pressure bottle of the Ghost Wheels in the left footwell.

 

[screwball]

I take the lowers off both bikes for the summer. I bought a set of Linby bars and replace the whole setup. 3 bolts, two torx, 1 Allan. Remove the lowers AND the crash bar, replace them with the new ones. The Linby bars act as highway pegs. You do have to jack the front end a bit to get the old lowers out. Takes about 10 minutes a bike. In my sig picture, hers are in, mine are out.

 

[Oldmsocko]

...Mike, you didn't have issues w/TG not wanting to "track" a straight line? Dennis sending me a shorter version of middle baffle.

Sorry to hi-jack thread.

Barbara: I don't have any issue with the TG not wanting to track in a straight line. I am very happy with the wind it stops from hitting me in the face. Once again a great product and money well spent.

 

[Skeet7373]

As you can see, very large. Not for everyone as most like to look over shield.
Dennis

Thanks Dennis, that gives me a good idea if I want it or not.

 

[Boom]

From the "for-what-its-worth" department.................

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/downloads/Service/isheets/-J03964.pdf

I think that's a hundred dollar kit (not discounted)!