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you shouldn't have to pay over $20,000 for a bike ,and have two choices either ride when it is cool enough not to catch your pants on fire and receive 2nd degree burns up your legs, or spend over $700.00 for after market exhaust. there is a flaw in this design and Harley is playing with fire(no pun intended) they need to fix this before there is more injuries,

The dealer has tried to do everything in their power to help but, it is corporate who is saying that it is epa standards, and they are in compliance.

Has anyine else experienced this problem?

Location: Chicago, Illinois

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Guest

Everyone replaces their exhaust on a HARLEY, everyone knows their air cooled and those shitbirds in DC keep fuwith regs for air quality. You bought a HARLEY you knew what you were buying into so stop whining cupcake.

Guest

Yes, My 2008 Ultra Classic Limited so hot I traded in for a pick up truck. Now my 2012 UCL not as hot but pretty bad. Harley doesn't care.

Robert N.

Guest

I am having the same issue with my 2011 Ultra Classic Limited. The heat that comes off this thing is ridiculous.

I wish I hadn't brought this bike but now I am one payment away from paying it off. I just don't want to buy a new one now just for that. I dont know what to do.

I put Reinhart tips but now I need to change the system and remove that converter which I hear will cost me about 1K. This is crazy after spending 22k for the bike in 2011.

Guest

I have felt the heat from that thing on the upper part of my leg ....if you walk by just after it is parked u can feel the heat! I just bought a used head pipe on crsigs list it came with all sheilds and mufflers for including shipping 125.00 ...it is off a 2011 street glide...I have a 2012 road king same exhaust...I will cut out the catalitic converter and open the baffles in the mufflers...I'm going to put in a cobra fuel prosesser .the one that tunes it self .

and a k&n filter and back plate.....it will be good then! I can't wait to try it!

Guest

Overheating is a well known issue since Twin Cam engine came. It is a daily concern, every ride, sometime you are thinking on this situation instead of being happy and enjoying. Not a good thing.

Why you have to pay $$$ and time to mitigate this condition that should be addressed by HARLEY?.

What is very disappointing on this topic is it is favorite Harley "knowing what to ignore" from riders requests or claims.

Guest

Absolutely I've been a loyal harley rider for 25+ years and it seems like as the world and technology progresses Harley-Davidson regresses. Im one burnt leg away from switching teams.

Harley needs to man up and recall

Guest

I have sveral Harleys. All but my 2011 Limited have aftermarket exhausts.

None have heat issues but the Limited. I've got to be honest, I love the bike but its miserable to drive in traffic or on warm days. I'm breaking down and trying Rinehardt true duals in hopes that by eliminating the Cat, it'll eliminate the heat. $2,000+ for something that I can't be guaranteed will solve the problem seems rediculous.

Why is it that we never hear of Goldwing owners or Victory owners complaining of the same issues? If this many people complain, it must be a problem!

Guest

Harley *** are opposed to the 1 thing that would cure the heat problem completely, water cooling, which would also eliminate that *** "parade mode" where the rear cylinder shuts down when hot.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-756189

And by water cooling I don't mean the half *** version they put on the new Ultra Limited that still shuts down the rear cylinder and still generates heat. Really, what's the point.

Guest

Yah..I have a 2011 Ultra Classic that I am just annoyed with because of the heat off the right side from the converter. It is aweful in the summer.

THere should be a world class action suit against Harley for this. I went to the harley dealer and its going to cost me about $2500 to get rid of this problem by removing the converter and pipes and go with a Reinhart compete exhaust. Very poor design and If I had known it I would have brought a Victory or something else.

Harley does not deserve the loyalty of its customers at this point for such a poor design on a MC that IS NOT cheap at all.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-687900

completely agree.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-687900

I have to agree on the heat issue when youโ€™re in stop and go driving on a day above 85 Degreesโ€™ I will not ride on those hot days. I also had the straight output pipe that feeds the right muffler snap at the output of the Cat.

I am sure this is heat related. This 11 Electro glide only has 12,000 miles on it. To replace that header assembly stock, Cat/header assembly is $850.00 not installed. If you change it to a non-cat, now youโ€™re talking another large charge to tune the CPU to the new system.

This is my 1st Harley. For over 40 years drove Hondaโ€™s.

As much as I like how the hogs drives and looks, I hope I will not regret buying a Harley. I wanted this to be my last bike.

Guest

I HEARD THEY WERE GOING TO PUT THE V ROD MOTOR ON THE ROAD GLIDES IN 2009 , BUT THE DIDNT DUE TO COMPLAINTS FROM H.O.G. GROUPS THAT THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE V TWIN AIR COOLED TRADITION OF UNBEARABLE HEAT AND VIBRATION.

I WONDER IF THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW HOT THEY RUN NOW. HARLEY ANSWER TO THE HEAT WAS TO PUT AN UNDER SEAT HEAT DEFLECTOR AND TO HAVE A CYLINDER SHUT DOWN ,TALK ABOUT STATE OF THE ART 1980s TECHNOLOGY !!!MY 2001 FAT BOY WITH 88CU INS HAS MORE POWER THAN MY 2012 FLTRU 103 AND IT DOES NOT OVERHEAT . I ALSO READ IN A MAGAZINE THAT THIS AIR COOLED DINOSAUR DOES NOT HVE LONG TO LIVE DUE TO MORE EPA RESTRICTIONS AND THAT A WATER COOLED V TWIN WILL BE INTRODUCED SOON.THE V ROD MOTOR I BELIVE HAS 120 HP AND THE AIR COOLED 103 HAS I THINK 75. MY FRIEND OWNED 5 NEW HDs AND COULDNT TAKE ALL THE HEAT AND VIBRATION ANY MORE (POOR FOOL DONT KNOW WHAT HE IS MISSING) AND GOT A GOLD WING AND AINT GOING BACK.

I BELIVE CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME AND WANT TO BUY AMERICAN . IN A FINAL THOUGHT A HD OWNER MUST COMPARE THEMSELVES TO A BATTERED SPOUSE , WE KEEP ON GOING BACK TO THEM BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM AND THE ABUSER WILL NOT CHANGE BECAUSE HE KNOWS WILL GET AWAY WITH IT

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-561295

Wild Pigs out of Florida. They take your head pipes, cut the converter out and weld it back together.

$100 core charge is $50. I found a dealer in Stanley NC that sells the head pipe for $100, plus $15 shipping, just bring your old head pipe as core

Aalia Fsn
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-625757

Could you please tell me the name of the place in Stanley County that you used?

Guest

these air cooled motors have seen their limits,

Guest

Same problem with my 2011 Eltra Glide Ultra Classic. Hard to ride in warm weather, might as well stick to riding a snow machine, way to go Harley.

Guest

Written by " Paulie " on May 15, 2012 From Williamsport, Pa, US

I traded my 2005 Road King Touring On A 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Limited. I put an average of 10,0000 to 12,0000 miles a year.

I love traveling across this beautiful country of ours on my bike. That is until I spent $30,000 on my dream bike that turned out to be a nightmare to ride unless the temp. is under 70 degrees. I've got 1,000 miles on it so far and honestly can't imagine being stuck in Sturgis traffic in the middle of summer.

Something has to be done with the heat issue on this bike!

Dealerships hands are tied so it falls back on the manufacturer. It would be a shame for a lifetime Harley owner to consider buying a HONDA don't you think?

Guest

Last Saturday I was at a light and smelled domething burning. It was the bottom of my right pant leg.

It was smoking and a small fire created *** I was lucky to smell it before I got burned.

Harley won't hear me out because apparently it is not their fault. 2010 Heritage

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-470664

HAHAH. You are funny buddy.

A small fire!? HAHAH.

Come on.

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