Trike heat

[donjack]

I own a HD Ultra Trike, 2011, and have not noticed any extreme heat coming off my bike, neither has my #2 passenger. Am I just more heat tolerent are just heat resistant. We have a little over 2000 miles on our machine, with lots of bolt on stuff, but no engine work or changes, other than the lift kits from Dennis, which are really a great product.

 

[rhino 2]

The heat is a problem for some/most, Tolerated it to some extent, Them one afternoon coming though North Eastern PA. i got stuck behind a Penndot line painter at 10 mph for 12 miles in 90% temps, Right after that a stage 1 went on and the Cat went out, Now no more heat,
Just as a side note, One morning the temps went down to 38% Kind of missed the heat then..:Shrug:

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Don.. do you have an 11 conversion or a TG?

 

[donjack]

A factory Tri Glide. Wondering if I'am missing something here .

 

[2fromTX]

I would say your just more tolerant than most.........We own a '08 Ultra conversion,and have taken several measures to abate the heat successfully.

BUT,we rented a '12 tri-glide on a recent trip to SoCal and dang near roasted ourselves(not very hot out that weekend either) The heat issue has been the primary reason we have stayed away from the TG.

 

[onahog]

Road my 09 TriG 2day for 200 miles...+28 celcius...Rather hard side wind tho...No heat issues...35.6 mpg @ 65-70mph....Overall very good ride and pleased with the unit...
Once again, the clutch wiz was a bonus as well !!

 

[trikermutha]

Road my 09 TriG 2day for 200 miles...+28 celcius...Rather hard side wind tho...No heat issues...35.6 mpg @ 65-70mph....Overall very good ride and pleased with the unit...
Once again, the clutch wiz was a bonus as well !!

does your gas have ethanol up in your area??

 

[onahog]

No, it doesnt have ethanol...
I just run regular, oct is 87-88....CDN gallon is a bit bigger then the USA gallon tho... cost is $5.78 gallon right now for regular...$6.37 for premium ,oct 91
On a calm day if I ride it 60 mph or less & I have gotten 41 mpg cdn

 

[rhino 2]

Canadian Gal = 1.20 US Gal.

 

[trikermutha]

Ok thats it we are all switching over to Canadian gallon...LOL

I do believe that the ethanol reduces gas milage..

Man your mileage is fantastic...!!

I am getting around 34 mpg riding 2 up..

 

[Oldmsocko]

While out West this past summer I was able to buy gas twice without ethanol in it. My mpg went up by 4 mpg. Ethanol certainly hurts your mpg. When we were drag racing my son switched over from gas to alcohol. He had to enlarge his gas/alcohlol tank because he would burn more alcohol in a 1/4 mile than gas.

 

[trikermutha]

i just found a place while driving around that was advertising ethonal free premium up in wisconsin..To bad I just filled up a few miles before I seen the sign..Would have loved to have tried some out..

 

[screwball]

Funny you would mention heat problem, I just posted this on the 'other ' board...

Trying to get caught up on my reading, and I noticed a couple of ride reports where they didn't have any heating problems. Thursday wife and I rode from our Bullhead City, Az. home to Las Vegas, Nv. to attend BikeFest. The attached picture was taken at the crest of a 3 mile long 6% incline. It is hard to see the radio screen, but it is 12:59 in the afternoon. I'm in 5th gear, with all the luggage and my 256# I would be lugging in 6th gear on that hill. Outside temperature was 103* This is a California Edition 2009 Tri-Glide. Cat is still in place, only modifications are stage 1 with a remap. Wife said her 2011 had the same oil temp. Only difference is she was in 6th gear, she is a lot lighter than I and has the upgraded final drive gear.

Pictures and video of the ride next week when we get home to California.

I would have probably been wearing shorts, but there aren't any 'back roads' between Bullhead City and Las Vegas, mostly 4 lane slab with lots of cars and trucks. Oil temp did go up to 260* in traffic in Las Vegas, but came back down when we got out of traffic. Been like that for the 50 years I've been on motorcycles. I do have floor board extensions, and highway pegs. This helps by moving my legs farther away from the engine barrels and exhaust pipes.

 

[msocko3]

I would have probably been wearing shorts, but there aren't any 'back roads' between Bullhead City and Las Vegas, mostly 4 lane slab with lots of cars and trucks. Oil temp did go up to 260* in traffic in Las Vegas, but came back down when we got out of traffic. Been like that for the 50 years I've been on motorcycles. I do have floor board extensions, and highway pegs. This helps by moving my legs farther away from the engine barrels and exhaust pipes.

I wore a pare of shorts one time on a bike while at a hotel, just a little putt across the road to get some pop. I learned how hot the pipes can get in that time when I got off on the high side and put my right ankle against the hot pipe.

I caught a thread on another forum I frequent where the guy was looking for help with his 2012 Ultra LTD. His wife got a blistered right foot from the heat coming off the cat, she was wearing boots and vowed not to get on the bike again until it was fixed.

 

[OlBandit]

Hi everyone,

Yes, I too was experiencing the heat issue when we rode down to Maggie Valley this year. I have a 2011 Triglide that would really heat up. At that point I had only changed the mufflers to V&H Deluxe Slippons without baffles and an Aren Ness A/C. Since returning home from Maggie Valley I put a Sportpipe on it, it is catless, purchased TTS and started some Vtunes.

This has really decreased the heat, and improved the MPG. I have been testing the trike with different brands and octanes of gas. I find through many, many miles that my bike loves Shell gas and really, really hates Sunoco gas. I was getting getting 33 MPG, now with the trailer only getting 28 MPG. Our gas in this area has ethanol, cant find regular gas, so again I decide it is time to experiment some more. I go out and purchase a product called StarTron, a fuel treatment, and run the bike, yikes 42 MPG!! If I dont use StarTron I'm only getting 35 MPG. It does not matter if the trailer is on the back or not I'm still getting 42 MPG, with StarTron!!!! The Wiz thinks I maybe running lean, but because of the fuel treatment I dont think so. Now that the weather has changed here I'm thinking I can get this thing up to 45 MPG and still have no heat. I'm constantly tweaking the settings, kind of like an addiction, on the trike to see what it can really do.

Ride Safe and Enjoy!

 

[Mr.Wizard]

@ 40+ MPG I think you are running lean. Didn't know you were running a fuel additive Bill.

Haven't tried StarTron personally.

 

[OlBandit]

Wiz,

Yes StarTron in theory removes the ethanol and I believe it works very well. Now just so you know, I put it in every other tank of gas, however when I plan on doing Vtunes I run 2 or 3 tanks without StarTron, that way I can tune with the ethanol gas, then after the vtunes are done I use the Startron and it works the cats_ss 40+ MPG, I think it's all good

Ride Safe and Enjoy!!

 

[iaff84]

I guess "heat" is a relative thing to each of us. I can only monitor the front head temperature of my bike as I have no oil temp gauge. Does anyone have both? I have heard that head temps run about 30 degrees hotter than oil temps on these motors.(?)
What I have found as far as temperatures on mine. I start feeling heat on my right inseam at 250 head temp (220 oil temp??) Going down interstate mine will level out and run head temps of 270 on a very hot day. (240 oil temp??) I do not find this uncomfortable to ride nor feel it is too hot for scooter. If I get caught in traffic and stop and go through towns (yet to figure out how to avoid this), head temps would rise to unbearable 290 / 310. Interstate temps are getting better as I work with tune.
(2011 TG) I have a stock head pipe / de-catted and wrapped. Replaced A/C and run stock mufflers. Installed a power vision tuner (where I have the front head temp gauge). At this time I am still doing logging runs to get my VEs set. No changes to fuel or timing tables from stock Harley tune.
I will be happy when tune is done and my HTs on interstate are in 260 range (oil 230 range??) Gets better all the time. I went with a tuner as I seem to change mufflers and such allot. Keeps from having to have a dealer do different downloads.
For the stop and go riding, I went with the small Ward fans. With them on, I pull off interstate to side roads or in stop and go traffic, temperatures actually drop. Head temps of 240 / 250 on hot days. Just a flip of a switch, life is all good.
I have had allot of false starts with working with a tuner. I am a slow learner and I also do not spend countless hours on it. I will get there, just at allot slower pace than others, my pace.
As a side note, I have only owned two dressers, an 05 Ultra and this 11 TG. Never thought any of my old pans or TC soft tails were hot. I know both of the dressers were warmer, even hot for me to ride, so I do not feel this is only a TG thing.
We all solve our heat issues in different ways. Stock (no change to anything, down loads, nothing), these touring bikes will feel warm for most. My story and I am sticking too it.
Ride in shorts, not in this life.
Dennis

 

[msocko3]

Hi everyone,

Yes, I too was experiencing the heat issue when we rode down to Maggie Valley this year. I have a 2011 Triglide that would really heat up. At that point I had only changed the mufflers to V&H Deluxe Slippons without baffles and an Aren Ness A/C. Since returning home from Maggie Valley I put a Sportpipe on it, it is catless, purchased TTS and started some Vtunes.

This has really decreased the heat, and improved the MPG. I have been testing the trike with different brands and octanes of gas. I find through many, many miles that my bike loves Shell gas and really, really hates Sunoco gas. I was getting getting 33 MPG, now with the trailer only getting 28 MPG. Our gas in this area has ethanol, cant find regular gas, so again I decide it is time to experiment some more. I go out and purchase a product called StarTron, a fuel treatment, and run the bike, yikes 42 MPG!! If I dont use StarTron I'm only getting 35 MPG. It does not matter if the trailer is on the back or not I'm still getting 42 MPG, with StarTron!!!! The Wiz thinks I maybe running lean, but because of the fuel treatment I dont think so. Now that the weather has changed here I'm thinking I can get this thing up to 45 MPG and still have no heat. I'm constantly tweaking the settings, kind of like an addiction, on the trike to see what it can really do.

Ride Safe and Enjoy!

Wow 42 mpg, I have to side with Wiz. I've run Startron off and on for quite awhile, I haven't seen any MPG differences in either my 06 Ultra (gets 41mpg) my former 2010 Triglide which gave me the best of 38 mpg and my 2012 GL1800 which to date has only given me a best of 38 mpg. The 38 mpg tank in my Triglide was before I started using Startron, the 06 Ultra will get 41 mpg with or without Startron. The Wing I don't know if it would be worse without Startron or not because I've used it since day 1.

 

[msocko3]

I have had allot of false starts with working with a tuner. I am a slow learner and I also do not spend countless hours on it. I will get there, just at allot slower pace than others, my pace.
As a side note, I have only owned two dressers, an 05 Ultra and this 11 TG. Never thought any of my old pans or TC soft tails were hot. I know both of the dressers were warmer, even hot for me to ride, so I do not feel this is only a TG thing.
We all solve our heat issues in different ways. Stock (no change to anything, down loads, nothing), these touring bikes will feel warm for most. My story and I am sticking too it.
Ride in shorts, not in this life.
Dennis

My present and previous HD Baggers never cooked my lunch like the Triglide did when I 1st got it. I can remember one July the wife and I road RT6 to Wellsboro PA on a 95 degree day and was caught in plenty of construction which stopped us dead and left us sitting several times. The 05 wasn't bone stock, it was a typical Stage 2 (95" 203 cams) with SE air filter and SE mufflers, the mufflers where the old loud ones they used to sell. The bike never cooked me, not one single time even with the canned Stage 2 map.

My 06 Ultra has never cooked me in any of its previous or present builds, the 120" HQ build I have now is pretty easy going even in stop and go traffic. I'm running a 10 row vertical Jagg cooler and my oil temp hasn't gone past 230 degrees, even while sitting and idling through a construction zone. The 120 is tuned right and runs in closed loop, I took advantage of being able to have functioning O2 sensors on an 06.

 

[iaff84]

My present and previous HD Baggers never cooked my lunch like the Triglide did when I 1st got it. I can remember one July the wife and I road RT6 to Wellsboro PA on a 95 degree day and was caught in plenty of construction which stopped us dead and left us sitting several times. The 05 wasn't bone stock, it was a typical Stage 2 (95" 203 cams) with SE air filter and SE mufflers, the mufflers where the old loud ones they used to sell. The bike never cooked me, not one single time even with the canned Stage 2 map.

My 06 Ultra has never cooked me in any of its previous or present builds, the 120" HQ build I have now is pretty easy going even in stop and go traffic. I'm running a 10 row vertical Jagg cooler and my oil temp hasn't gone past 230 degrees, even while sitting and idling through a construction zone. The 120 is tuned right and runs in closed loop, I took advantage of being able to have functioning O2 sensors on an 06.

Were they warm bone stock from factory? Mine were. I road the 05 Ultra bone stock for almost 65K. I mean like it came from factory, no AC, no slipons, no map changes, that is what I mean by my statements of stock, I guess it would be called stage 0.
This is not the way in my book to ride them but it can be done. From some other post, a person must be able to get good re-maps from some dealers, I never tried that route. Just figured I would try a tuner I could mess with this time around. It will get there.
Dennis

 

[TheBobs]

My present and previous HD Baggers never cooked my lunch like the Triglide did when I 1st got it. I can remember one July the wife and I road RT6 to Wellsboro PA on a 95 degree day and was caught in plenty of construction which stopped us dead and left us sitting several times. The 05 wasn't bone stock, it was a typical Stage 2 (95" 203 cams) with SE air filter and SE mufflers, the mufflers where the old loud ones they used to sell. The bike never cooked me, not one single time even with the canned Stage 2 map.

My 06 Ultra has never cooked me in any of its previous or present builds, the 120" HQ build I have now is pretty easy going even in stop and go traffic. I'm running a 10 row vertical Jagg cooler and my oil temp hasn't gone past 230 degrees, even while sitting and idling through a construction zone. The 120 is tuned right and runs in closed loop, I took advantage of being able to have functioning O2 sensors on an 06.

The best thing I've done is the Jagg fan assist and Wards FCS. Both together have totally changed how my motor acts. My '12 TG runs great in closed-loop now without any timing removed. Life is good!

 

[donjack]

I guess "heat" is a relative thing to each of us. I can only monitor the front head temperature of my bike as I have no oil temp gauge. Does anyone have both? I have heard that head temps run about 30 degrees hotter than oil temps on these motors.(?)
What I have found as far as temperatures on mine. I start feeling heat on my right inseam at 250 head temp (220 oil temp??) Going down interstate mine will level out and run head temps of 270 on a very hot day. (240 oil temp??) I do not find this uncomfortable to ride nor feel it is too hot for scooter. If I get caught in traffic and stop and go through towns (yet to figure out how to avoid this), head temps would rise to unbearable 290 / 310. Interstate temps are getting better as I work with tune.
(2011 TG) I have a stock head pipe / de-catted and wrapped. Replaced A/C and run stock mufflers. Installed a power vision tuner (where I have the front head temp gauge). At this time I am still doing logging runs to get my VEs set. No changes to fuel or timing tables from stock Harley tune.
I will be happy when tune is done and my HTs on interstate are in 260 range (oil 230 range??) Gets better all the time. I went with a tuner as I seem to change mufflers and such allot. Keeps from having to have a dealer do different downloads.
For the stop and go riding, I went with the small Ward fans. With them on, I pull off interstate to side roads or in stop and go traffic, temperatures actually drop. Head temps of 240 / 250 on hot days. Just a flip of a switch, life is all good.
I have had allot of false starts with working with a tuner. I am a slow learner and I also do not spend countless hours on it. I will get there, just at allot slower pace than others, my pace.
As a side note, I have only owned two dressers, an 05 Ultra and this 11 TG. Never thought any of my old pans or TC soft tails were hot. I know both of the dressers were warmer, even hot for me to ride, so I do not feel this is only a TG thing.
We all solve our heat issues in different ways. Stock (no change to anything, down loads, nothing), these touring bikes will feel warm for most. My story and I am sticking too it.
Ride in shorts, not in this life.
Dennis

This is about the same for my way of riding, thanks for the input on this subject. Will the dealer pull the cat for me, or will I have toget it done elsewhere ? Best thing I've done so far was put the tri Glide Stuff, lifts on. Tour Box Levels going on next. Thanks again Dennis

 

[msocko3]

From some other post, a person must be able to get good re-maps from some dealers, I never tried that route. Just figured I would try a tuner I could mess with this time around. It will get there.
Dennis

I tried the Stage 1 download when I 1st took delivery of my 2010, that was when I saw 140 degree temps on my right pant leg when I checked it with my IR temp gun. I was seeing easy 350 degree head temps, way to hot no matter what some people say. When some of the head porters I've talked to are having to beat exhaust valves out of the guides there is something wrong.

Once you get your tune dialed in your going to be in heaven.

 

[iaff84]

Once you get your tune dialed in your going to be in heaven.

Time will tell. I have the time and tune is coming around for me.
I probably will stop doing log runs to early compared to others but I do not want to become addicted to it. With all the stuff you can check with these tuners I can see where one could spend a little too much of their life on it.
Dennis

 

[msocko3]

Time will tell. I have the time and tune is coming around for me.
I probably will stop doing log runs to early compared to others but I do not want to become addicted to it. With all the stuff you can check with these tuners I can see where one could spend a little too much of their life on it.
Dennis

Wiz calls it a video game, I tend to agree. I told my dad I would be hooking up the laptop and my 7" remote monitor to his next spring and massaging the tune some. When it was on the dyno we never messed with the EGR tables so I want to work them and get the VE tables smoothed out.