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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I think I've mentioned this a few times within other posts, but to me this is significant enough to bring it to its own thread. I know about and have experienced the engine heat that many whine and cry about. I've also rode a bike with lowers on it and know that they do the job very well. I wrestle over the need to get them, but I have been able to tolerate any of the hot without any injury. I personally do not like the lowers, and I'm cheap. If I "WAS" to get any, I would go with the CO aftermarket ones but they would have to be bolt on because the glue on is so tacky for a premium machine (no pun intended) and will eventually fall off if you ride enough and is exposed to the elements like mine is.
There does seem to be certain speeds where the heat is more intense but I have discovered if the uppers are slightly turned out that it will create a turbulence to move the air on by. I came across this before I left for my trip and while in Kansas that way of doing business proved itself very well. I'm not saying the heat is gone, it is just not concentrated like it is with them all the way in. When pointed all the way in, the air goes around, push them slightly out and it grabs air and brings it around from the top, but also moves the air down low where the problem is. I would go hundreds of miles and not even think about any heat because it was never intense, even with a continual wind out of the south.
I know this will not be suitable for most of you, but some will find it a good solution. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Lennox, SD | Varyder,
I agree with you, I rode through Utah at 101? for 7 hours and while the engine heat was bad I found if I turned my upper wings just a little outward it seemed to help. I will probably buy the lowers from Cycle Ops but at this point I am not willing to buy the Victory lowers for $230 only to use the mounting brackets and toss the plastic lowers away. I may end up with the Baker Wings even though they are ugly.
I hope someone comes up with a mounting solution for the Cycle Ops lowers. I also think they should be bolt on rather than glued on.
Just my 2 cents. |
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Tourer
Posts: 366
Albuquerque, NM | The only problem with the engine heat I've noticed is my right calf gets very toasty from either the engine or the exhaust pipes. I've got a friend that rides with leather gaiters from knee to ankle. This maybe a simple solution. (Easily removable) I haven't seen any like his for sale anywhere. I bought the lowers and when adjusted properly, solved my problem to an extent. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | nailer, you are the first to say "to an extent" does that mean you still feel heat with the lowers? |
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Tourer
Posts: 466
Grand Cane, LA | Hey nailer try looking up Half Chaps. That's what I found them listed under on the net a few years ago. They are kind of pricey but they do work. I used mine a lot on the other bike I used to have to keep from putting lowers on it. Haven't had the need to use them on the Vision. I did buy some of the Baker Air Wings and tried them but it's like everyone says they are kind of ugly. However they work really well because they are multi-adjustable. |
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Tourer
Posts: 366
Albuquerque, NM | varyder,
Certain extent meant I don't feel the heat while moving...stopped in traffic without airflow brings the heat.
atvtinker,
thanks for the half chaps info...I'll look into them! |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | I used to have a problem on my 07 Ultra, bought a pair of Leather Legs and it fixed the problem, also was better in the winter. Now I ride with the uppers fully open all year, it diverts air down, and keeps the beard outta my face.
mike |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| My thoughts on sticky verses bolt on is will the bolt on vibrate and enlarge the holes? Some of you may remember the metal fender tips on the '99s. The fronts were known for breaking and making the bolt holes big. Vic came out with plastic sticky ones and I never saw anyone have any problem with those.
Replacing those side panels because of enlarged holes would be a bitch.  |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | use both. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | The adhesive installation is only as good as the installer makes it. If done properly they are not coming off, cut a corner or two and they aren't staying on. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 13
Shreveport, LA | I have had my lowers on for over a year now and was riding in the high teens this past winter. Haven't had a bit of problems with them wanting to come off. The plastic is beginning to etch and look bad so CycleOps here I come. Riding without them makes no sense at all to me. They keep the heat off the legs too well not to use them. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 172
Prescott, Az | Out here we call the uppers and lowers our air conditioning. Although I live in a higher climate it's quite easy to ride through 100+ temps. The uppers and the lowers are one of the mods I would call mandatory. I feel no engine heat with the lowers turned all the way inward. I wrecked my plastic lowers by using my boots to adjust them. It turned out to be a good thing because I was able to get Cycleops painted tins and I love them. |
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Tourer
Posts: 323
N. Miami, Florida | Kioti - 2010-07-07 9:14 AM Varyder, I agree with you, I rode through Utah at 101? for 7 hours and while the engine heat was bad I found if I turned my upper wings just a little outward it seemed to help. I will probably buy the lowers from Cycle Ops but at this point I am not willing to buy the Victory lowers for $230 only to use the mounting brackets and toss the plastic lowers away. I may end up with the Baker Wings even though they are ugly. I hope someone comes up with a mounting solution for the Cycle Ops lowers. I also think they should be bolt on rather than glued on. Just my 2 cents. Mike, don't sell yourself out on the cheap and cut off your nose to spite your face while doing so. I've got you covered... Go to http://www.surdykemotorsports.com/ and submit your e-mail address. From then on you will get 20% off on all Vic OEM parts, and 70% of the time they're also running a free shipping promo. This gets you the hinges ready to install, the template for mounting them, and a brand new set of plexi lowers to sell individually in here to someone who broke one or the other. Sell 'em for say $50 each. This means the hinges only cost you a net of $100, which is a good deal considering I've checked into making similar ones and due to the intricasies; ie the mold manufacturing, welding, and finishing would sell for close to $200 anyway. Some dealers will also buy them back from a kit as hinges don't go bad but lots of lowers do. Remember, the hinges are why the kit seems expensive, not the plexi panels. Many customers have taken my advice on procuring the hinges and now they're out there happy, cool, and with some more coin left in their pocket than they'd first thought could be. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 157
| Necktie - 2010-07-08 8:05 PM
Out here we call the uppers and lowers our air conditioning. Although I live in a higher climate it's quite easy to ride through 100+ temps. The uppers and the lowers are one of the mods I would call mandatory. I feel no engine heat with the lowers turned all the way inward. I wrecked my plastic lowers by using my boots to adjust them. It turned out to be a good thing because I was able to get Cycleops painted tins and I love them.
I agree since my lowers have been on it has been at least 100 and if moving it's like having AC. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Good to hear about the lowers cause just the upper deflectors no matter how positioned don't do much for heat........ |
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Tourer
Posts: 323
N. Miami, Florida | texasgrumpy - 2010-07-15 12:34 AM Necktie - 2010-07-08 8:05 PM Out here we call the uppers and lowers our air conditioning. Although I live in a higher climate it's quite easy to ride through 100+ temps. The uppers and the lowers are one of the mods I would call mandatory. I feel no engine heat with the lowers turned all the way inward. I wrecked my plastic lowers by using my boots to adjust them. It turned out to be a good thing because I was able to get Cycleops painted tins and I love them. I agree since my lowers have been on it has been at least 100 and if moving it's like having AC. Chip, I don't believe you. Those deflectors of yours are just too damn pretty to be functional too!  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 157
| CycleOps USA - 2010-07-15 3:57 PM
texasgrumpy - 2010-07-15 12:34 AM Necktie - 2010-07-08 8:05 PM Out here we call the uppers and lowers our air conditioning. Although I live in a higher climate it's quite easy to ride through 100+ temps. The uppers and the lowers are one of the mods I would call mandatory. I feel no engine heat with the lowers turned all the way inward. I wrecked my plastic lowers by using my boots to adjust them. It turned out to be a good thing because I was able to get Cycleops painted tins and I love them. I agree since my lowers have been on it has been at least 100 and if moving it's like having AC. Chip, I don't believe you. Those deflectors of yours are just too damn pretty to be functional too! ?
Yes Will, You did a great job on these and the chrome ain't bad either top notch
Edited by texasgrumpy 2010-07-15 8:45 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 619
Southeast Iowa | I have stayed away from the Lowers for 2 years because I thought they looked fugly. Well I finally broke down this year and said I've had enough heat so I bought a pair. After ridding with them for 5 minutes I wondered why I didn't buy them a long time ago. After enjoying a comfortable ride I've even come to the conclusion that they don't look bad either. I'm ordering a set of painted ones now because the plastic ones are destined to break. Once I get some flames stripped on they will match the rest of the bike. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | You guys are killing. Feels like AC - yea right!
Ok - my wife has been complaining about the heat off the engine on her Vision (she came off a Vegas). Well after three months and her almost having heat stroke on a ride... I broke down and bought her a set of lowers - as fugly as they are.
She has not been on the bike since I put them on a week and a half ago... Niether have I - until yesterday afternoon... It was 94 out and decided to try them out...
OK - it does feel like AC. Still do not like the looks of them but man do they function...
CRAP - now I want a set on mine. But they are still ugly!
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Cruiser
Posts: 204
West Knoxville TN | I bought a pair of ventilated pants and couldnt believe the amount of heat the engine puts off. Before in jeans I barely noticed it. I normally ride with the lowers turned all the way in. I had to adjust them to that the air blows directly on my legs to keep from cooking my legs. But they do work great.
Edited by Candyman 2010-07-16 11:37 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | I have yet to ride an air cooled V-twin that is not hot. It's the nature of the beast. And except for the oil cooler heat coming off the left side of the bike the heat is not an issue for me. What shocks me is that Vic did not design something into this bike for lower leg airflow. Harley's Lower leg fairing has that air flow built in I think. Anyhow, something that does not disturb the existing styling. Something not fugly like the lowers. Perhaps a vent in the existing lower fairing that directs air thru a tube from the front to your legs, with something like an auto AC outlet so you can direct, open, close the air flow. Seems it would be an easy thing to integrate into the build of the bike. We all love the styling and better engineering of the Vision. But in some ways they stopped way short and seemingly missed the boat. Like LED lighting! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | My wife bought be a set of those 1/2 chaps at a rally last year and I wear them almost daily for protection from rocks, bugs, and the engine heat. Just got home last week from a 10 state, 2800 mile run from Texas to the Tail of the Dragon and never had the discomfort that I did 2 years back riding to Sturgis.
http://roadskins.com/id1.html |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I have no heat and it feels great. Coast was two hours of my time.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | John, what exactly did you do? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 161
Oregon. | Yea, What did you do?
Edited by Brian G 2011-06-03 9:13 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Can you ride comfortably in shorts now ?? It looks like your mod allows cool air that passes through the oval opening at the front of the bodywork to be directed so that not all goes to the front cylinder and some is bypassed out towards your legs..........Hmmm Interesting............. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Guys I pulled the aluminum panel and with a fine tooth blade in my jig saw I cut it and then finished it off with a belt sander. You can get at the 4 10mm easy after you un do the top half. You need a ratcheting box end for the bottom bolt. All in all it was a two an a half hour job on a 90 degree day with high humility.
Very comfortable on the leg.
Edited by john frey 2011-06-04 4:58 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Aluminum panel? What's that? I think all the panels on my 2011 Vision are plastic!! Did Victory get cheap or greedy? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | since I put the tassles on the bike runs cool as a cucumber.... |
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Tourer
Posts: 554
2 mi from Jim Beam n KY | <p>Looks good John!!</p><p> </p>
Edited by DannyB 2011-06-04 8:36 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Cap'n.....beggin yer pardon sir. "After I put the tassels on, the bike runs as cool as a cucumber"??
So yer wearing tassles now is it? ARGH! Shiver me timbers. And are ye topless when ye wears these here tassels? ARGH. I'm feelin' a visit to Davey Jones Locker is in order for sombody!
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Someone made COOLING VENTS for the Vision!! Not sure I like the design, but someone did it!!
http://www.napalmmotorsports.com/custompage.asp?pg=custom |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Hmmm ??? |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I looker up car vents like on your dash on ebay. It just didn't think I wanted to cut holes and not screw up. The vents would be nice |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Did you cut both sides ?? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Also, when you made the cuts, did you have to touch up or re-paint?? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | MaddMAx2u - 2011-06-05 1:54 PM
Someone made COOLING VENTS for the Vision!! Not sure I like the design, but someone did it!!
http://www.napalmmotorsports.com/custompage.asp?pg=custom
I think I like the looks of the stick on lowers better.
I have often considered cutting out the inner fairing. I am not worried about taking air flow away from the engine, considering how many Freedom engines are running on bikes without any fairings to channel the flow, I can't see that being an issue.
I would like to know how much cold air it lets in during winter riding?
I guess I haven't done it yet, because the heat hasn't been overbearing. After changing hwy pegs, I no longer find the need for the leather heat shields I made for my thighs either.
I have a feeling these thoughts will change when it hits 110F here in a week or so. I've got a set of lowers sitting in the garage, just waiting in their box, but I still like the cutout idea and keep going back and forth. IF HMD WOULD STOP TEASING US, I would have done something by now!
The beadrider seat, I will keep no matter.
Edited by Nozzledog 2011-06-05 11:16 PM
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