Not Nomad, but motorcycle related...

[nighthawk11]

I have a question about air cooled V-twins, specifically the Harley, Yama-Star, and Victory. Now, I know folks that ride all 3 brands and the only one I ever hear complain about the engine heat is the Harley rider. Do Yama-Star and Victory not have this issue? Are these "better" air cooled motors? I know that Harley now cuts off the ignition to the rear cyclinder at stops, but is that seriously a fix, or just a bandaid to a bigger issue?
The last air cooled engine I had was a 1982 Honda CBX. I never felt it ran hot, even in the South Carolina summer heat.
Thanks...

[VulcanE]

I can't answer your questions, but, according to a local Harley dealer, starting in 2012, the Harley's WILL be water cooled. Something to do with the heat issues of the bigger bore engines, and to meet the EPA standards.

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

I can't answer your questions, but, according to a local Harley dealer, starting in 2012, the Harley's WILL be water cooled. Something to do with the heat issues of the bigger bore engines, and to meet the EPA standards.

I heard the same from a friend of mine who rides an 08 Ultra Classic. He is disapointed that they waited so long to water cool the engines because heat is definitely an issue for him.

[Top Cat]

Excessive heat was never an issue with the air cooled 650 V-Star I had before buying the Nomad.

[glwilson]

Well... I'll step up to the plate since I ride an '09 HD Ultra-Classic.

Is the motor hot? Yes, straight off the show-room floor. The heat-problem became a real problem starting with the '07 models. The engines were leaned-out so much (to meet EPA standards) that the bike was just smoldering-hot.

To address this problem for the Ultra's in 2009; Harley did the following:

Re-routed the exhaust system to avoid going under the seat. It now crosses under the frame.

Added movable-vents to the lower-fairings to allow more air to cross the engine.

Added a special vent just under and ahead of the seat to help capture air around to the rear cylinder to cool it more -- and to help redirect any heat out-and-away from the rider.

Added side-vents to the upper fairing so the rider can direct more air down to the engine.

They added a rear-cylinder shut-off feature that can be used when the bike is sitting at idle for a period of time, as when you are at a long stop light. (It is easy to use, and is fast at cooling the engine. The Police bikes have had this feature for several years previous.)

Now... Overall the bike is hot when you first buy it. Once you get around 2-3,000 miles on it... it begins to run a little less hot. All the features mentioned above do work to help cool the bike. But, on a day with temps in the high 80's and up... the bike gets real hot when you are not moving along.

I had a hi-flow breather added to my bike at the 500 mile-mark, and had the engine re-mapped to en-richen the fuel mixture to compensate for the higher air-flow. This helped reduce the engine heat by about 5 degrees or more. (I think more.) If I would have changed the pipes out with the Stage 1, 2, or 3 pipes... this would have increased the air-flow even more... and would have allowed for the fuel-mix to be even more rich -- which would have cooled the engine even more. (I chose not to do that, and am quite happy with the results.)

Overall... the bike is not all that hot any more; but it IS still hotter than the Nomad.

Now... my neighbor rides a large air-cooled Yamaha. Her bike gets as hot as mine did before I made adjustments. Thus she is going to make some changes on her bike to help compensate for it.

I hope this helps you have a better understanding.

[nighthawk11]

Awesome insight, and I didn't know about the HD's going to liquid cooled.
Thanks...

[timebandit]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

I can't answer your questions, but, according to a local Harley dealer, starting in 2012, the Harley's WILL be water cooled. Something to do with the heat issues of the bigger bore engines, and to meet the EPA standards.

And I have some Harley buddies that say that we are trying to imitate them
Who's copying who now

[bobzinger]

I think The Yama and Victory have big ole oil coolers stock. My old Roadking was only felt hot when I was at a stop and it was over 95 degrees. I could say the same thing about the Nomad.

[glwilson]

The "water-cooling" of HD engines has been rumored for several years... but they haven't done this yet.

I have heard from fairly reliable resources that they are looking to go that direction sooner than later. Evidently the EPA standards are getting to a point that it will be difficult, if not impossible to meet them by using the current engine.

It has been figured that the engine they will convert to will be the V-Rod engine or a variation of it. (That engine was designed by Porsche for the V-Rod.)

[wompus]

Now I'll have to carry some "Nomad" stickers around with me to put on the "Nomad Wanna- bees" !! ::)

Does anyone realize how much fun I can have asking them.."Is that the new Kawasaki Nomad"?... It looks just like one! <GMAO>


.

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

Excessive heat was never an issue with the air cooled 650 V-Star I had before buying the Nomad.

Even they get hot in 90*+ and stuck in slow moving traffic. I've had to pull over in the shade a get off for a bit.

[nomad561]

my question is, if HDs run so hot,then why don't you see more of them riding in the winter months? (just poking fun)
I rode my Father's Ultra a few days ago and didn't really notice it running any warmer than my Nomad,but it is an 04.