[ManWithAVision]

A couple of weeks ago I was trying to navigate my way from east to west across downtownToronto. The Gardener Expressway will be a write off until November of 2011 due to a bridge reconstruction project, so I took the more scenic Lakeshore Blvd., as it was a very warm and muggy day and I really didn't want to get stuck in stop and go traffic. Unfortunately I needed a plan "C" that day. Just east of Bathurst St. the traffic stopped dead.
As we began to slowly creep forward the heat from the engine started to BBQ my right leg. I looked dowm at my oil temp. dipstick and it was up above 250 degrees. The air temp. on the dash cluster was showing 33 celcius (91.4 F.). Up ahead I could see all sorts of blue and red flashing lights so I figured there must have been a major accident. Unfortunately I was now trapped in three lanes of bumper to bumper with no where to bail out.
As I watched the light show ahead I suddenly realized that this was just some sort of dress rehearsal for the upcoming G20 Summit. I guess our finest, the RCMP, and CSIS decided to demostrate to the public that spending 1.1 billion for security on this two day event is really a bargain. A long line of black Suburbans, limos, and cops on motorcycles began to roar through the intersection up ahead.
By now I was having to keep my right leg as far away from the right side of my 2010 Vision as possible. Another glance at the dipstick revealed that the oil temp was now approaching 300 degrees. The motor was still idling normally and other than the opressive heat on the right side all seemed normal i.e. no idiot lights on the dash.
Finally the display of force was over and traffic started to move again.
So the questions of the dayare how hot is too hot when it comes to the oil temp. and what action should be taken when it reaches that point? Is it best to pull over and shut the motor down or is it better to find some open road in a hurry(even if it means turning around) and getting the air flowing over those cooling fins again?

 

[dirtbag_700]

I think I was caught in the same traffic nightmare that day,but i was on the gardiner expwy,I ran about 300* also and was asking myself the same question

 

[Clubford00]

We had a few days in the upper 90s with high humidity here also last week. Although i never saw above 225 degrees, i was mostly moving all the time.
How long did the temp stay north of 275?
I doubt you did any damage at all to the bike, but it didnt do the oil any good.
(and no thats not an opening for you guys to chime in about "Well if you were running the oil I use, Blah Blah Blah")
If your temp stayed that way for a while I would change the oil and filter. Even if its not time yet to do so. Excessive heat causes oil to break down faster than anything else.

 

[keilwerth]

The excessive heat on the right side is what is giving me pause about buying a Vision. I really like the bike, but my right leg got very hot when I took the demo out for the day, and it was only 80 F that day. Here in Alabama, I regularly in temperatures approaching 100 F. Can anyone here that rides in temps that high give me some encouragement?

 

[Clubford00]

Mark,? Thats your Que.

keilwerth, first thing you do is put on the lowers, it helps a ton.

 

[phoenix9]

The excessive heat on the right side is what is giving me pause about buying a Vision. I really like the bike, but my right leg got very hot when I took the demo out for the day, and it was only 80 F that day. Here in Alabama, I regularly in temperatures approaching 100 F. Can anyone here that rides in temps that high give me some encouragement?

Ahhh heat, it seems to be my specialty lately. I just got back form a 218 mile run where the lowest temp I saw was 94 (9 AM) and the highest was 107. Living in Phoenix, unless you are going to park your bike for 3 months you have to deal with the 105-115 degree temps and stop and go traffic. To deal with the extreme heats on a Vision you really do need to get Lower wind deflectors as they act as blowers to get the heat off your legs while riding, but do not kid yourself as they are not a fix-all. Stop and go traffic can be a real b##ch. You WILL get heat when you are sitting dead still and my recommendation to anyone who is concerned about the heat building is simply hit the kill switch. I do this all the time when I am sitting at the border waiting to cross back into the U. S. from Mexico. As soon as that bike gets some air flow over the fins it starts cooling down immediately and the heat goes away pretty fast.

I will say that no matter what, you are going to notice the heat build up to even a small degree on the right side if you lay your leg in a certain way while riding and if that is a major issue you may want to look at the XC.......but here is my opinion on the Vision: While it may give you the heat issue on those hottest of hot days, it also extends your riding season like no other bike on the other end of the spectrum. If you were putting your bike away when the temps got down to 45-55-60 degrees, well, the Vision with those same lowers will allow you to EASILY ride in that weather....and then some. So I guess the question is: Do you want to ride more and be slightly uncomfortable, or are those max 15 days a year (90+ in AZ) where the temps hit 95+ enough to make you go another direction.

PS: For me, I have found that I am "comfortable" riding on the bike until the temps hit 96-98 degrees then the hot ambient air just really starts to suck.

 

[ManWithAVision]

We had a few days in the upper 90s with high humidity here also last week. Although i never saw above 225 degrees, i was mostly moving all the time.
How long did the temp stay north of 275?
I doubt you did any damage at all to the bike, but it didnt do the oil any good.
(and no thats not an opening for you guys to chime in about "Well if you were running the oil I use, Blah Blah Blah")
If your temp stayed that way for a while I would change the oil and filter. Even if its not time yet to do so. Excessive heat causes oil to break down faster than anything else.

It was probably only fifteen minutes before I got moving again and the temp was down below 250 a short time later. I see that UltraCool at ultracoolhd.ca is marketing a bolt onfan assisted oil cooler for theHD's and customs withVTwin engines. I sent them an inquiry asking if they have given any thought to coming up with one for the Vics. Of course I guess we could always bolt one of those 12 volt RV cabin fans to the rear of the front fender and have it ocillate back and forth across the front of the engine and the oil cooler for a lot less money!

 

[phoenix9]

If I was sitting for 15 minutes (even 5 minutes) that bike would have been shut down. Takes less than 15 seconds to fire her back up. No sense building heat when you know you will be sitting for a while.

 

[rwilly]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but has anyone ever tried adding another oil cooler, or maybe a larger one? I am sure that would drop the temps down some.

 

[Gossamer]

i had a Vision 'demo' while my bike was in the shop. The one thing I dislike about the Vision is the heat you feel from the bike. Even when moving it's hard to get wind to your feet and legs. This bike obviously didn't have the lowers but still I found it to be quite unpleasant even in the upper 70's.

Now I've ridden my Cross Country in mid 90's and that's not the most pleasant either with the right leg being a little warmer than I'd like.

I doubt a second oil cooler would make any difference and once moving these bikes quickly cool back down to normal operating temps.

 

[tsdavis]

Anyone tried to rig a 12v PC fan to the oil cooker/cooler? Yes, I'm serious. You could switch it, or just have it run all the time.

 

[Trekwolf164]

I saw on one of the web sites a Leg protecftor made from oven mits.This might be of use to people in Vegas and Zona

 

[Salty]

I cant rave about my Cyle Ops lowers enough!
they work for cold or hot with just a little movement.
Hot yesterday and I turned em right in and felt a great breeze on my legs moving the air, even in town!

 

[Gossamer]

only problem with the cycle ops is that you have to spend the 350 to get the factory mounts than 'throw away' the factory plastic and spend another 200 on the cycle ops parts.

 

[Gossamer]

Anyone tried to rig a 12v PC fan to the oil cooker/cooler? Yes, I'm serious. You could switch it, or just have it run all the time.

probably not a bad idea but the only time you'll have the high temp issue is at idle. Without knowing the flow rate at the cooler I'm not sure how much difference a PC fan pushing 90CFM would do much good. Also they sure as heck wouldn't take the abuse of being exposed to the elements.

 

[tsdavis]

Found several 10" auto radiator fans on ebay.....but that's probably too big. Right?

 

[Clubford00]

only problem with the cycle ops is that you have to spend the 350 to get the factory mounts than 'throw away' the factory plastic and spend another 200 on the cycle ops parts.

I dont know where your shopping but the stock lowers are 225 $
Still too much but its the only game in town for now if you want the hinges.

 

[Clubford00]

Found several 10" auto radiator fans on ebay.....but that's probably too big. Right?

yep

 

[OneThumb]

I saw on one of the web sites a Leg protecftor made from oven mits.This might be of use to people in Vegas and Zona

I've seen them too, by Betty Crocker

 

[dsjr70]

So out of curiousity did anyone answer "how hot is two hot?"