Something my Harley buddy told me that made me laugh

[grampi]

Last Monday I went riding with my Harley buddy in MI and while we were stopped for a beer, he told me about this thing HDs have on them to keep the rear cylinder from self-destructing when they overheat. He says that when the rear cylinder reaches a certain temp, the ECU (or something else within the bike's electronics) senses the condition and shuts that cylinder down. He said all the 96, 103, and 110 CI engines have this feature. I think he got a little mad at me at this point because I started laughing and he was telling me this as though this was some ingenius feature by HD. I told him if Harley would come out of the WWII era of engine design technology and start building liquid cooled engines, they wouldn't have to worry about their rear cylinders overheating. This shut-down circuit is nothing more than placing a band-aid over a chainsaw wound. This only serves to further my long standing opinion of HD and cements my decision to never own one....

[tonymontanna1983]

That feature is to keep some of the engine heat off of your legs while stopped. It simply cuts fuel and spark to the rear cylinder. They should have gone to water cooling long ago but the "traditionalists" would pitch a fit. Seems they prefer oil leaks and charred limbs.

[grampi]

That feature is to keep some of the engine heat off of your legs while stopped. It simply cuts fuel and spark to the rear cylinder. They should have gone to water cooling long ago but the "traditionalists" would pitch a fit. Seems they prefer oil leaks and charred limbs.

That isn't how he explained it to me. He said that circuit will shut down the rear cylinder until the overheat condition clears...which makes sense, if you have a cylinder that's overheating and it keeps running, damage will occur. This circuit basically renders the bike as unridable until it cools down. It allows you to ride the bike far enough to get it off the road and shut it down...you obviously couldn't ride on one cylinder...what a joke!

[futurR]

That isn't how he explained it to me. He said that circuit will shut down the rear cylinder until the overheat condition clears...which makes sense, if you have a cylinder that's overheating and it keeps running, damage will occur. This circuit basically renders the bike as unridable until it cools down. It allows you to ride the bike far enough to get it off the road and shut it down...you obviously couldn't ride on one cylinder...what a joke!

Actually, that all is not the reasoning behind it. Yes, heat is the main reason, but it is a switch on the bike called "Parade" mode. It was an option when it first came out---go figure. That option is used on bikes like the police bikes, shriners, and so on. They may have seen an advatage to the general public and made it a base option. You just blip the throttle before taking off and that cylinder comes back into play. Now, I am not sure if it is temp related or sensed, but to my knowledge it had to be switched into that mode---not just an auto function. Also, you think Harleys shake now---take out one cylinder and try to hang on.

[Nemo]

Actually, that all is not the reasoning behind it. Yes, heat is the main reason, but it is a switch on the bike called "Parade" mode. It was an option when it first came out---go figure. That option is used on bikes like the police bikes, shriners, and so on. They may have seen an advatage to the general public and made it a base option. You just blip the throttle before taking off and that cylinder comes back into play. Now, I am not sure if it is temp related or sensed, but to my knowledge it had to be switched into that mode---not just an auto function. Also, you think Harleys shake now---take out one cylinder and try to hang on.

[grampi]

Actually, that all is not the reasoning behind it. Yes, heat is the main reason, but it is a switch on the bike called "Parade" mode. It was an option when it first came out---go figure. That option is used on bikes like the police bikes, shriners, and so on. They may have seen an advatage to the general public and made it a base option. You just blip the throttle before taking off and that cylinder comes back into play. Now, I am not sure if it is temp related or sensed, but to my knowledge it had to be switched into that mode---not just an auto function. Also, you think Harleys shake now---take out one cylinder and try to hang on.

When I was riding with him Monday and we'd pull up to a light, I couldn't believe how much his bike was shaking at stop lights. The windshield and the front wheel were shaking so badly I couldn't imagine that thing running on one cylinder....that must just about buck you off like a mad bull!

[kawzx7]

They could do one cylinder at cruise like the V6 and V8 car engines are doing now for better MPG!!! HAHAHHAHHAHHA!

[MyLE9]

When you pull up to a light both cylinders are firing. You have to roll the throttle forward to enter "parade mode". Trust me you CANNOT EVEN TELL that it is idling on one cylinder. Any blip of gas will reactivate the rear cylinder.

[Kevin Nyberg]

All I can say on that matter is, some guys like fat chicks and some guys don't !!!!! I prefer both cylinders firing all the time and not worrying about whether I have one or two cyclinders firing when I pull out into fast moving traffic.

[tonymontanna1983]

Those bikes have a "drive by wire" throttle. You crank the throttle the opposite way and hold to activate it. It works pretty well. If you don't manually activate it the ECU will do it for you when the rear head gets close to melting point

[lmbull]

Technology is a wonderful thing! :rolleyes:

[grampi]

Technology is a wonderful thing! :rolleyes:

It's amazing what lengths Harley will go to to avoid building newer technology into their bikes....

[ooinkk]

It's amazing what lengths Harley will go to to avoid building newer technology into their bikes....

Hilarious!

[Nemo]

at their shop today about this. According to them, it is for over heating of the rear jug. And he said the bigger they built the worse the problem gets. He thinks it is bullchit engineering. HOWEVER Rob, the mechanic would be without a job, if they got up to speed with the rest of the world LOL

[grampi]

at their shop today about this. According to them, it is for over heating of the rear jug. And he said the bigger they built the worse the problem gets. He thinks it is bullchit engineering. HOWEVER Rob, the mechanic would be without a job, if they got up to speed with the rest of the world LOL

Have you noticed how Harley keeps coming out with these bigger models all the time (103, 110, etc) to try to keep up with the metrics? More cubes = more heat, and yet Harley refuses to budge on their antiquated air cooled designs. What's next, will they install a cooling fan behind the rear jug that blows air forward? I wouldn't put it past them to do something stupid like this...

[GeorgiaRoller]

Harley...the single most polarizing word in all of motorcycling. Just the mention of this word is guaranteed to give you a multi-page thread!

That being said my last three bikes have all been FI, liquid cooled, shaft drive...yes I'm spoiled...and yes I very happy with that setup and no I have don't have any interested in a air cooled, carbureated bike.

[L.T.T.]

no I have don't have any interested in a air cooled, bike.

Why you picking on air cooled bikes....................

[GeorgiaRoller]

Why you picking on air cooled bikes....................

Oh you again!!! LMAO!

If you want that more ole skool feel then you got to have the air cooled style bike. If I ever had a bobber I'm sure it wouldn't be FI, Liquid Cooled & shaft drive. That is of course the broad appeal for those that like to ride Harleys.

Ride on Yamaha Brother!

[STL-TIGER]

One of the main reasons the HD guys have HDIP at the stoplight or idle!

(Harley Davidson Induced Parkinson's)

[rockey]

^{I don't think the Victorys have this problem and they're air cooled.}

[Dragonback]

This feature almost F#@4ked up my riding day..
went riding with a couple of buddies and one had tried this when we went to pick him up.. he was stranded on a road cause he tried this "trick" and his cable came of at the aftermarket grip which whoever installed didn't noticed it was a little longer...
he called me and I went with my hex key and we got cable back on grip.. But when we continue to ride it happened again on the highway when he released the accelerator.. again we had to open where cable landed to place it back in the groove... his wife wanted to just head back home cause she was scared that they would get stuck a 100+ miles from home...
we made a "makeshift spacer" to compensate for the gap due to longer grip.. then we had to last 10 minutes convincing her that we were fine...

[Wjduke]

My Harley riding buddy has a 2010 VRod. He called me last Friday saying he has an oil leak. It'll be in the shop until Wednesday the earliest. Water cooled Harley and still oil leaks. He's the one that pointed me to the 9 too. I know we have our problems, but I hardly ever hear of oil leaks besides the puking thing.

[grampi]

^{I don't think the Victorys have this problem and they're air cooled.}

They have an oil cooler which helps, and they also have a much superior design to HD which also helps...

[Wjduke]

He told me a plastic tube cracked and they're waiting for it to come in. Supposedly a common problem according to his forum.

[109rfan]

Have you noticed how Harley keeps coming out with these bigger models all the time (103, 110, etc) to try to keep up with the metrics? More cubes = more heat, and yet Harley refuses to budge on their antiquated air cooled designs. What's next, will they install a cooling fan behind the rear jug that blows air forward? I wouldn't put it past them to do something stupid like this...

Buell had a fan over the rear cylinder

[grampi]

Buell had a fan over the rear cylinder

Doesn't surprise me...

[zthang]

I test drove a 2012 Ultra Classic a couple weeks back and my wife and I couldn't get over the vibrating. My feet were tingling from the floorboards vibrating, I couldn't see out of the mirrors or the windshield because of the vibrating. There is no way I would pay 23k for a bike and not be able to see out of the winshield. Everyone said they would smooth out going down the road, but at 50mph the winshield was still quivering. The salesman that took me on test drive said you just need a shorter windshield. Yeah right, again, 23k and have to change windshield before it leaves dealer? lol

Not to mention it nor the Road King Classic wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a pig's butt. I was actually happy to ride debt free back home on my 109.

[grampi]

I test drove a 2012 Ultra Classic a couple weeks back and my wife and I couldn't get over the vibrating. My feet were tingling from the floorboards vibrating, I couldn't see out of the mirrors or the windshield because of the vibrating. There is no way I would pay 23k for a bike and not be able to see out of the winshield. Everyone said they would smooth out going down the road, but at 50mph the winshield was still quivering. The salesman that took me on test drive said you just need a shorter windshield. Yeah right, again, 23k and have to change windshield before it leaves dealer? lol

Not to mention it nor the Road King Classic wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a pig's butt. I was actually happy to ride debt free back home on my 109.

Sounds like you had a similar experience to the ones I've had riding Harleys...it just leaves me scratching my head wondering why ANYONE would want one....I don't get their appeal....

[MyLE9]

This feature almost F#@4ked up my riding day..
went riding with a couple of buddies and one had tried this when we went to pick him up.. he was stranded on a road cause he tried this "trick" and his cable came of at the aftermarket grip which whoever installed didn't noticed it was a little longer...
he called me and I went with my hex key and we got cable back on grip.. But when we continue to ride it happened again on the highway when he released the accelerator.. again we had to open where cable landed to place it back in the groove... his wife wanted to just head back home cause she was scared that they would get stuck a 100+ miles from home...
we made a "makeshift spacer" to compensate for the gap due to longer grip.. then we had to last 10 minutes convincing her that we were fine...

By "trick" do you mean try and enter into Parade Mode?

Harleys that have PARADE MODE operate off a TBW (Throttle By Wire) they don't have throttle cables. So.......don't really know what you or he were doing.