So, the Tri-Glide can be hot, but

I'll go a step further and say "HELL yes". But it can be fixed by following the great advice found on this forum.

I did and it really makes a difference! pepperpepper
 
BUT, you can solve that heat problem by dropping a couple of grand buying products sold right here on this site. Yes, you too can order a complete array of products designed to lower your exhaust and oil temperature making your $33,000.00 tricycle ridable. Just take a look at any of the "My triglide is too hot to ride" threads, then the hundreds of testamonials to the success of the products sold here. Never mind the tens of thousands of Harleys sold annually that don't seem to have as many problems. I'll get censored or flamed for my posts, usually happens. Wife and I both have relatively stock Tri-Glides that run fine. I've got over 35,000 miles and she 15,000 miles with nary a burn, blister, or hot spot. Of course we can't do 'Wheelies' like some claim, or burn the rear tires, or out run the 2 wheelers in the twisties, but we are old and don't do that anymore.

Good Luck, and let the flaming, censoring, or banning begin.
 
Mr. Wizard,

Why is that? Just because of the bigger motor?
Woody

Woody...

It has to do with a multitude of different things but a TG is hotter than a two wheel bike.

The aerodynamics is one good reason. The wind flows around a trike differently. The weight is another factor. Motor size is the same 103 as in other touring bikes. Pulling more weight drives more engine heat. Smog EPA motors are another factor.

For the life if me I can't think of a single product sold on this site that reduces motor heat. How weird.
 
BUT, you can solve that heat problem by dropping a couple of grand buying products sold right here on this site. Yes, you too can order a complete array of products designed to lower your exhaust and oil temperature making your $33,000.00 tricycle ridable. Just take a look at any of the "My triglide is too hot to ride" threads, then the hundreds of testamonials to the success of the products sold here. Never mind the tens of thousands of Harleys sold annually that don't seem to have as many problems. I'll get censored or flamed for my posts, usually happens. Wife and I both have relatively stock Tri-Glides that run fine. I've got over 35,000 miles and she 15,000 miles with nary a burn, blister, or hot spot. Of course we can't do 'Wheelies' like some claim, or burn the rear tires, or out run the 2 wheelers in the twisties, but we are old and don't do that anymore.

Good Luck, and let the flaming, censoring, or banning begin.


Woody...

It has to do with a multitude of different things but a TG is hotter than a two wheel bike.

The aerodynamics is one good reason. The wind flows around a trike differently. The weight is another factor. Motor size is the same 103 as in other touring bikes. Pulling more weight drives more engine heat. Smog EPA motors are another factor.

For the life of me I can't think of a single product sold on this site that reduces motor heat. How weird.


Me either Dave? :Shrug: Who's selling their products right here on this site? They need to sign up as a sponsor if they're selling tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff right here on this site! I've seen several folks posting about various performance ad-ons they have bought from a number of different companies, none of whom advertise or sell here on this site. I have also seen strong evidence that some of these products greatly improve performance and lower engine temps, but I have seen no one twist anyone's arm to buy said products, nor have I seen anyone here profiting from the sale of them either.

I have seen Dave do a lot of tuning work for numerous TrikeTalk.com members for FREE over the last 5 years though! I say if you're happy with your stock trike GREAT! If you're not, hey its your trike and your money so do what you want with it.
 
Woody...

It has to do with a multitude of different things but a TG is hotter than a two wheel bike.

The aerodynamics is one good reason. The wind flows around a trike differently. The weight is another factor. Motor size is the same 103 as in other touring bikes. Pulling more weight drives more engine heat. Smog EPA motors are another factor.

For the life if me I can't think of a single product sold on this site that reduces motor heat. How weird.


:Agree: My 2006 Ultra Classic with the 120" engine is way cooler than my Triglide ever hoped to be, even with modifications. That Triglide was the 1st Harley I ever owned that cooked me like it did at 1st, it was much improved after the cams, head pipe and a good tune but still never as cool as a tuned 2wheel bagger.

I'm also with you Wiz, I can't figure out who is selling all these motor heat reducing products on this site. Last I knew we just had a bunch of gear heads who have a whole lot of experience building and tuning Harley's who are also willing to share their knowledge.
 
Well,... I could go on and on about buying stuff for Harleys, but I don't wanna "flame" anybody's post's.

Life is about choices and I choose to play with Harleys. The money I spent is mine and mine only and love it.

If I had to pay for the info I have gained from this site, well, I can't even imagine!


Oh yeah, I did pay $1000.00's for a lift kit from someone on this site to cut back on the heat.!!

Later, eighty80.
 
I had a 2011 Ultra with a 103", Stage1 Air Kit, V & H Power Dual Headers along with V & H Oval Slip-on mufflers. My TG has the Stage 1 Air Kit, stock headers but V & H Slip-on turndown mufflers. I can honestly say that I do not feel any significant difference in right side heat.
 
Air-cooled V-Twins of "ANY" Brand Motorcycle have always ran hotter than inline or opposed cylinder Motorcycle Engines, especially the rear cylinder, for very obvious reasons...the basic design does not let as much cooling air cross the cooling fins. Besides the rear cylinder's air being blocked by the front cylinder, it also recieves a nice dose of the front cylinder's radiated heat being sent to it.

More "obvious facts"....a Trike will naturally make an engine run hotter because as Wizard stated, They're very different in aerodynamics, more weight, and more parts to turn.

Since this is a "Harley Issue/Non-Issue Thread", I'll first use the disclaimer that I've owned a lot of Harleys, and still ride some of my various Friends Harleys and Harley Trikes on occasion, before I interject a Honda Gold Wing 2-Wheeler/Trike comparison in here.

Gold Wing 1800s run the normal water temp on about the half-way mark on the Temp Guage, whether They're in 2-Wheel Form or Trike Form..."but"...if You crank either and just ride off immediately, the Trike reaches this point on the Guage much sooner. The Trike, due to the stepped out body work to cover the rear tires traps much more of the warmer air that just passed over the engine compartment. The 2-Wheeler's engine compartment's "heated air" is free to exit the less cluttered rear area of the Motorcycle.

Having built and owned many configurations of Harleys in the past, "Choppers" ran the coolest..."why"...no hard cases in back to trap spent air, no large rear fender, no large "anythings", and generally lighter over-all weight. Even stretched, raised top tube frames help Them because the frontal cooling air can easily reach more points on the engine, such as cylinder heads, etc.

Does a Harley Trike run hotter than a 2-Wheeler version..."YES"...does that seem to be a variable that affects Your ownership of one..."Maybe/Maybe Not"...that is and will be a personal decision..."But"...They do run hotter (Buy a Temp Gun and "shoot" One), and there are some "seem to be testimonials" out there backing up some products that seem to be working for some Harley Trike Owners...I also have to go along with Bazooka's post...I haven't personally seen anything "pushed" nor sold at TRIKE TALK.com in this arena...."Anyway", carry on the conversation in a respectful, tolerant of other Member's opinions...THANKS, "seat-of-the-pants-engineer" skuuter.....ThumbUp ;)
 
I will keep my trike or any trike as long as I can ride..I love the way they feel and ride .
You get on hit the start button off you go, no worrying about dropping the bike ,putting your foot down in oil left from the last car etc. You steer the bike and drive..Lot less to think about than the two wheeled version..As for the heat ,yes you will feel some as an any bike.Maybe a bit more on the Harley trike. Since I want it cooler some added mods will achieve that ,as most owners of any vehicle do put some kind of knick nacks and do dads on there vehicle. Just part of being you..

Just my thoughts on the topic..I hope everyone respects the opinions of everyone here.

Have a great day!!!
 
Well,... I could go on and on about buying stuff for Harleys, but I don't wanna "flame" anybody's post's.

Life is about choices and I choose to play with Harleys. The money I spent is mine and mine only and love it.

If I had to pay for the info I have gained from this site, well, I can't even imagine!


Oh yeah, I did pay $1000.00's for a lift kit from someone on this site to cut back on the heat.!!

Later, eighty80.

You said they were worth $1000 but I never got the check!!!!ThumbUp
Life is about choices and I choose to play with Harleys. The money I spent is mine and mine only and love it. :10:


Dennis
 
My 2010 Limited and to a certain extent my 03 Ultra were hot, maybe not quite as much as the TG, but hot enough to make me want to get off for a minute or two.
I think the 2 cheapest things you can buy that will help with the heat is a crotch cooler and floor board extenders. You can spend more money if you want but for me that helped a lot. Eventually I wanted a little more help so I added SE A/C, Fatshotz slip ons and a SE race tuner. That's it. I don't need any more add ons or even any engine work.
I believe I have a higher tolerance to heat then many riders. I do not and will not delete the cat. ThumbUp
 
Maybe I should become a parts dealer and sell on this site.

Yeah... that's the ticket. I can compete with all the big part houses and sell TG parts here. All I need is a few grand in stock and enough time to push/sell my wares. I could hire employees and have them do everything for me. Pay them and their payroll taxes and Workers Comp. The Business License won't be much. Building an extension on my house would be real cheap so I can actually have room for everything. UPS can make pickups and continue to tear up my driveway too. For a measly 5 grand it will be repaved next month anyway. I got a bid to redo the parking pad... just 22 grand in concrete. Peanuts to what I could make huh? Business insurance? What's that??

What I'm getting to is... guys like Dennis (TGlideStuff.com) and other vendors here sell their hearts out and bring products that do help but the overhead and business worries are tremendous. I salute you guys and thank you for being here to help us all.


OK... so much for the hijacking of this thread.... Yes, the TG is hotter than a two wheel touring Harley.
 
No real heat problem with my 2013 T/G ThumbUp, maybe I just got lucky also.
If the heat on other T/G's is no more then on mine, I cant understand all the whining:gah:
Mine is all stock :).
 
Maybe I should become a parts dealer and sell on this site.

Yeah... that's the ticket. I can compete with all the big part houses and sell TG parts here. All I need is a few grand in stock and enough time to push/sell my wares. I could hire employees and have them do everything for me. Pay them and their payroll taxes and Workers Comp. The Business License won't be much. Building an extension on my house would be real cheap so I can actually have room for everything. UPS can make pickups and continue to tear up my driveway too. For a measly 5 grand it will be repaved next month anyway. I got a bid to redo the parking pad... just 22 grand in concrete. Peanuts to what I could make huh? Business insurance? What's that??

What I'm getting to is... guys like Dennis (TGlideStuff.com) and other vendors here sell their hearts out and bring products that do help but the overhead and business worries are tremendous. I salute you guys and thank you for being here to help us all.


OK... so much for the hijacking of this thread.... Yes, the TG is hotter than a two wheel touring Harley.

"BINGO".....pepper pepper pepper
 
Are they any hotter than other HD "full-dress" cruisers (two wheeled) like Ultra Classic?

I never thought my TG was too hot while all stock. Hot yes, too hot to ride, hell no. I did the stage 1 upgrade for performance reasons. Wanted more power. The abatement of heat was a by-product of the power upgrade.
Ride safe. pepper
 
I think it is proven the mods help the heat I know my heat is a lot less and my wife can tell a big difference. As far as buying I think it is great we have members making products to improve the trike and ones that offer their knowledge to help us dummies!!! I like to buy all we have is time and money!
 
To put it simply, stock in 20 minutes of traffic, my right leg was burning, damned uncomfortable...Put on the FuelMoto headpipe, Jackpot mufflers, Screaming Eagle air cleaner and the Power Vision Tuner with a tune from FM, this past weekend I sat in traffic for 4+ hours, and the heat didn't bother me once...Your mileage may vary...
 
To put it simply, stock in 20 minutes of traffic, my right leg was burning, damned uncomfortable...Put on the FuelMoto headpipe, Jackpot mufflers, Screaming Eagle air cleaner and the Power Vision Tuner with a tune from FM, this past weekend I sat in traffic for 4+ hours, and the heat didn't bother me once...Your mileage may vary...


When my 2010 Triglide was stock I got caught in some stop and go traffic and that turkey was hot, EITMS was kicking on at every traffic light. For kicks while my right calf felt like it was laying in the fire I took out my little IR temp gun and shot the surface of my pant leg, it was 140 degrees. Once I made the modifications I never had that feeling again, and I had a lot smoother running engine.
 
I think most of the differences in heat issues is the persons tolerance for heat. Some can't stand 90* while others can take 120* with no problems.
When the temps are around 85* at home my wife has to have the air conditioner on. I don't need it on until at least 95* or 100*.
 
I think most of the differences in heat issues is the persons tolerance for heat. Some can't stand 90* while others can take 120* with no problems.
When the temps are around 85* at home my wife has to have the air conditioner on. I don't need it on until at least 95* or 100*.


Very good point.

Does anyone remember early when the TG came out the ladies were buying up tall riding boots to keep from burning their legs?
 
My wife already had the tall boots, made her butt look good. Bought them when she got her Sportie... or was it the Nightrain or the Deluxe??? Can't remember, just loved the look. Now she wears tennies on her TG.
 
I think most of the differences in heat issues is the persons tolerance for heat. Some can't stand 90* while others can take 120* with no problems.
When the temps are around 85* at home my wife has to have the air conditioner on. I don't need it on until at least 95* or 100*.


I'm one of them who doesn't like hot, and the AC has been running at the house set at 72 degrees while its been 85 - 90 here. My ideal temp is right around 75 degrees.
 
My wife already had the tall boots, made her butt look good. Bought them when she got her Sportie... or was it the Nightrain or the Deluxe??? Can't remember, just loved the look. Now she wears tennies on her TG.
Yeah, but she is riding in the front w/ extended floor boards....... My wife needed some of those boots last summer. Maybe she wouldn't have a burned right leg.......!
:Trike1:
 
I have tall boots, even though I did a lot of mods to reduce heat. If I ride with ankle boots, it does get hot on my legs, however, I am one who can't deal well with any type of heat. My AC goes on in my house before outside temps reach high 70's or low 80's. Personally, I think shorter people have a harder time with the heat. My legs practically touch the engine. Just can't spread them very far.......OK, no taking that the wrong way...;)
 

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