Heat Deflection

[RonHolly]

So I've been riding the Valk for about a week now and have discovered that the engine heat on my upper body is not very pleasant.  How have others dealt with this or is there anything to be done about it?  In central Florida, where I live, it stays pretty warm year round and all the engine heat is a bit of a nusance!  Here's a pic of my deflectors.  Are they for bugs or are they for heat?

[Fla. Jim]

Those are designed to remove air from your body. I prefer Baker Air-Wings, ( http://bakerbuilt.com/bbairwings/h15awupa.html ) they let you be cooler in summer and warmer in winter depending on how you hand adjust them. Also in clear as shown on my bike they pretty much dissapear.

[Gondul]

When the bike *was* running, all I have is fly screen...

[RonHolly]

Those air wings seem like they would do a good job "BUTT" $240 for such a simplistic apparatus seems a little crazy!  Think I'll look around a bit before I jump on those. 

Is most of the heat coming off the radiator when in motion?

[98pacecar]

Plan on buyin some airwings come late spring. 

 For now,,, moving my legs from the pegs, to forward boards, either warms, err cools em,,, as required..   

[98pacecar]

Is most of the heat coming off the radiator when in motion?

I gotta believe so...  

I have the 2 up tall windshield mounted n' the only heat I really feel, is on my legs...

The xzost, n' most of da motor,,,, is pretty low..  

[texaninsouthfl]

I'll resort to my usual suggestion for most things ... ride faster. 

[Gondul]

Aside from a couple of times in stop and go traffic, I never found the heat it to be that heinous to require a $250 piece of plastic.

[.]

Those deflectors are to help keep wind off of you. You might try removing them and take a ride to see what the effect is. It may help. If whatever effect you get is not what you want you can just put them back on again but it may give you a bit cooling wind. My Valk doesn't have them and it doesn't seem to get too terribly hot on me from the engine heat.

[James III]

Here's my two cents. It's Friday night!
Ron, your showing a set of "lowers", and Fla. Jims are uppers. I have a set of uppers like Fla Jim's and used them only for a short time but, will reinstall them at the end of the month, (if I don't put my pods on) and it gets a little cooler. I have found that during the summer, in the correct position, their just too hot for me. While they redirect the air, I get helmet buffeting no matter how I position them, open, closed, in, out... In the cooler weather I enjoy the added warmth but hate the helmet buffeting. The lowers according to several threads on the subject will eliminate the helmet buffeting. Billyboy and I talked quite a bit about them, before I ordered mine. He uses and adjusts his as needed all year and also has a tourer clearview windshield. My Memphis windshield may have a different flow with them than the OEM tourer windscreen, I have no experience there. Unlike a Goldwing or many other touring bikes, the valk engine not being tupperware enclosed, is a big engine and you feel the heat when stopped at a light, the fan comes on, it's 93 degrees, the road heat is on full blast, etc.. I might add a set of lowers along with my uppers and see how that works out. If nothing else, they do look good!

James

[RonHolly]

The heat "seems" to come thru the radiator and up in front of the fuel tank and into my upper body and face. 

[BF]

The heat "seems" to come thru the radiator and up in front of the fuel tank and into my upper body and face.  

You have a set of fork mounted deflectors.  They are there to block the wind.

Take them off and then go for a ride.  

However, a set of Bakers is the first thing I added to my bike.  

I'm in Northwest Florida and not only does it get Africa hot here, it also gets down right chilly.  When it's hot, the Bakers can be turned out to scoop the wind to get that hot air blowing past you instead of coming up on you.  During the chilly weather, you can turn them out to block the air and keep some of that engine heat on your legs.  

Plus, they work great when riding in wet/foggy weather.....keeps the dew off of ya.  Keeps the love bugs off of ya too.  

Bakers arn't cheap, but they are very well worth every penny IMHO.  

Another thing you can do is to put a fairing on your bike.  Fairing windshields are cheap and you can put a shorty shield on it when the weather is cookin'.  Put a taller shield on it when the weather calls for one.  

I've got several shields that I use on my Woody's fairing depending the time of year and the weather.  Only takes a minute or two to change them out.  

[RonHolly]

Thanks BF.  Could you take a couple close-ups of those Bakers so I can see how they look and work?  Thanks, Ron

Never mind BF.  I just found plenty of pics on line.  Seems like good product, just expensive!

[RonHolly]

Ok!  So I took advice and bought the Baker Air Wings.  I found a used set on eBad for $189 shipped and it looked pretty good from the pics.  Gonna get it in a few days.  I kept on making offers of $139 to $175 and was turned down so I just bought it for the "Buy It Now" price.  Gotta have it though.

[RonHolly]

With all the pics I've been looking at, I don't see where the Air Wings are mounted at.  Seems like just one point on the lower end of the vertical support bracket.  What bolt does it attach to?  Thanks

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

They mount to the Bolt that also holds the Top of the Engine Guard to the Frame.

I had made a Few offers on those Baker Air Wings also and the Seller just wouldn't Budge on his Price, even though he had a (Make Me an Offer), on them.
Good Score if they are not Chipped or Cracked and they are the (next Best Thing Since Sliced Bread),in my Opinion.

[Fla. Jim]

I think you will find it some of the best use of $ you will spend on the beast. Those and a Kickshifter are my best functional purchases in the last 15 years for my current and past Valk. Now When you get around to searching e-bay for one of those, hold on to your cheeks as the manufacture is out of business and they are almost the weight price of gold. Well not realy but they are close to three times what the last official price was.

[FloridaValkRyder]

I really need to get a kickshifter on the I/S. My big flipper feet just cant fit under the current shifter with the Cobra boards installed. I actually run with the board on the right and the stock peg on the left. I tried all the tricks to make it easier to shift it but to no avail. I wish somebody would begin re-manufacturing them and sell them for a fair price. Wasn't someone just talking about that recently, Jeff K maybe? They had some made and they worked fine?

[98pacecar]

I really need to get a kickshifter on the I/S. My big flipper feet just cant fit under the current shifter with the Cobra boards installed. I actually run with the board on the right and the stock peg on the left. I tried all the tricks to make it easier to shift it but to no avail. I wish somebody would begin re-manufacturing them and sell them for a fair price. Wasn't someone just talking about that recently, Jeff K maybe? They had some made and they worked fine?

These are on ebay for less money,,, than just, a rattlebars kickshifter...  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MC-Enterprises-Floorboards-with-Heel-Toe-Shifter-Honda-GL1500C-CD-Valkyrie-97-03-/190997564071?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c78578aa7&vxp=mtr

Not,,,,,,,,,, my auction...

[HayHauler]

I really need to get a kickshifter on the I/S. My big flipper feet just cant fit under the current shifter with the Cobra boards installed. I actually run with the board on the right and the stock peg on the left. I tried all the tricks to make it easier to shift it but to no avail. I wish somebody would begin re-manufacturing them and sell them for a fair price. Wasn't someone just talking about that recently, Jeff K maybe? They had some made and they worked fine?

These are on ebay for less money,,, than just, a rattlebars kickshifter...  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MC-Enterprises-Floorboards-with-Heel-Toe-Shifter-Honda-GL1500C-CD-Valkyrie-97-03-/190997564071?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c78578aa7&vxp=mtr

Not,,,,,,,,,, my auction...

I know it says 1500 in the description, but that is an 1800 Wing in the picture.  I hope he just has the wrong picture up on the auction.  The one pictured would not work on the Valk without some "mojifications".

Hay 
Jimmyt

[98pacecar]

here,,, is another one,,, fer da valk..   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MC-Enterprises-Floorboards-W-Heel-Toe-Shifter-Chrome-Honda-GL1500-Valkyrie-Tour-/231110088952?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35cf3c18f8&vxp=mtr

Posted dat first one,,, as, it was cheaper...     

[James III]

Ron, wish I'd have realized you were in the market for a used set of bakers...anyhow, they mount at the crash bar on both sides, the new ones supply new/harder bolts.....make sure to use some anti-seaze on the bolts, it will make it much easier to install or remove as needed and save the threads that are in the frame. As far as heal toe shifter, yes, you either like them or you don't, I have to have it as it was stock on my Aero's and have just gotten used to them. My riding boots are a tight fit under the stock shifter.

[Skinhead]

You guys in Fla crack me up. [whineybitchfont]"Oh..., It's too hot!, I'm uncomfortable!  My Hersey bars will melt!"['whineybitchfont]

(Just Pulling your chain)

But I was wondering, if you are getting that much hot air, you might check and make sure the previous owner didn't remove the black plastic deflector behind the fan.  I hear if they are removed, they are a royal PIA to reinstall.  Just check and make sure it's there.  BTW, you won't regret buying the Bakers.

[RonHolly]

You guys in Fla crack me up. [whineybitchfont]"Oh..., It's too hot!, I'm uncomfortable!  My Hersey bars will melt!"['whineybitchfont]

Just wait and see how you feel riding around "naked" at midnight.  It get's hot on "all" your body parts!  Just sayin!   

[Skinhead]

You guys in Fla crack me up. [whineybitchfont]"Oh..., It's too hot!, I'm uncomfortable!  My Hersey bars will melt!"['whineybitchfont]

Just wait and see how you feel riding around "naked" at midnight.  It get's hot on "all" your body parts!  Just sayin!   

Oh, you didn't mention nudity, now I understand.

[FloridaValkRyder]

You guys in Fla crack me up. [whineybitchfont]"Oh..., It's too hot!, I'm uncomfortable!  My Hersey bars will melt!"['whineybitchfont]

    ..we do bitch about the heat..a lot!! 

[Valkahuna]

You guys in Fla crack me up. [whineybitchfont]"Oh..., It's too hot!, I'm uncomfortable!  My Hersey bars will melt!"['whineybitchfont]

   ..we do bitch about the heat..a lot!!  

Well Jeff, you are right about that! I am currently up in New ENgland on business for another week. Temps in the teens and 20s,   freezing rain today,   snow tomorrow and next  . I'm ready to go south just to have the chance to bitch about the heat again!!!!  

[Tundra]

 We got back from riding Saturday and I had to remove and dry my helmet liner, soaking wet. I took my mesh jacket off at the first stop, jeez this is mid December and it felt like July

[Jeff K]

I really need to get a kickshifter on the I/S. My big flipper feet just cant fit under the current shifter with the Cobra boards installed. I actually run with the board on the right and the stock peg on the left. I tried all the tricks to make it easier to shift it but to no avail. I wish somebody would begin re-manufacturing them and sell them for a fair price. Wasn't someone just talking about that recently, Jeff K maybe? They had some made and they worked fine?

Define "fair price"   

[FloridaValkRyder]

I really need to get a kickshifter on the I/S. My big flipper feet just cant fit under the current shifter with the Cobra boards installed. I actually run with the board on the right and the stock peg on the left. I tried all the tricks to make it easier to shift it but to no avail. I wish somebody would begin re-manufacturing them and sell them for a fair price. Wasn't someone just talking about that recently, Jeff K maybe? They had some made and they worked fine?

Define "fair price"   

Fair question Jeff and I'm not sure I have the answer. I see what the whole set up goes for on eBay and it is not cheap. I already have a set of Cobra floorboards so really just need the actual heel/toe shifter linkage. I went back and found the pictures you posted of the black one on your bike. It looks like that might work on my I/S and I could put my left side floorboard back on.. . If your interested in selling one of them, I would definitely be interested. I am sure you spent some pretty good money having them cut and bent. I'm feel what ever price you want for it would be fair by me. You can PM or Email me. Email is in my profile.

[RonHolly]

My Baker Air Wings came in the mail today and I installed them.  Problem is I now have to find a place to mount the air horn.   May have to go with a conventional diaphram horn if I can't figure out where to mount it.

The jury is still out on how effective it's going to be.  I only took a short ride and guess I'll have to fiddle with adjusting to figure out what's best air flow.

[Thunderbolt]

My air horns are the cheapo plastic ones.  I mounted them underneath to one of the bolts that secures the sidestand.  The compressor is under the seat in front of the battery. 

[BF]

My Baker Air Wings came in the mail today and I installed them.  Problem is I now have to find a place to mount the air horn.   May have to go with a conventional diaphram horn if I can't figure out where to mount it.

The jury is still out on how effective it's going to be.  I only took a short ride and guess I'll have to fiddle with adjusting to figure out what's best air flow.

Just don't fiddle with them when riding.  Might not turn out well. 

And for your horn.....get a Stebel.   

I mounted mine here (IMHO, there's no better or easier place to put it)......



Very easy place to mount it.  Used a piece of alum. flat bar from Lowes (or maybe Home Depot....I forget  ).  Easy to bend, easy to drill.  I put a slight z-bend in it to off set the horn back up under the tank a little more. 

[Fla. Jim]

My Baker Air Wings came in the mail today and I installed them.  Problem is I now have to find a place to mount the air horn.   May have to go with a conventional diaphram horn if I can't figure out where to mount it.

The jury is still out on how effective it's going to be.  I only took a short ride and guess I'll have to fiddle with adjusting to figure out what's best air flow.

For cooling a lot I turn both  parralel with the bike. To cool and stop head buffeting I turn the tops closed and leave the bottoms open. For those rare cool days I just close both. 90 percent of the time I ride with the tops closed and the bottoms open. You might also try them after removing your fork mounted deflectors for max cooling.

[Tropic traveler]

I don't understand this "heat" thing.  
One of the nicest riding experiences that I've had is when I made my coast to coast {Gulf to Atlantic} ride in late June with temps right at 100 with high humidity. Perrrrfect riding weather!
Only thing better was when I got caught up in traffic at a red light on the nice warm blacktop. And best of all...... the radiator fan came on to give me a nice warm breeze!  

Got plenty of time to be cold.... when I'm dead!  

BTW, 70 degrees at 60 mph is COLD!!!!  

Yankeetown at 11:00 am or so.


Ormond Beach at 2:30 or so.


Everyone in Florida should do this ride. If you can't stand the "heat", do it in February. 

[RonHolly]

 Could not find a good place for my Wolo air horn so I bought a standard horn from AutoZone.

[BF]

If that's a meep meep horn, you've wasted your money. 

See my post above.  Get a Stebel.   

[RonHolly]

If that's a meep meep horn, you've wasted your money.  

See my post above.  Get a Stebel.  

I have one of those and had to take it off in order to mount the Baker Air Wings!  There is no where to re-mount it, that I can find, so I had to do something in order to have a "warning" device!!!  I have a chrome panel where the fuel cut-off valve is located.   I give it another look to see if I can work it into that area though.  For now I have a "horn!"  I'll give some thought to fabricating a mounting bracket which will enable to keep the chrome panel.

[IamGCW]

Use the exhaust mounts under the bike just in from of the rear tire.  I have my air horns there and have had no issues with the location. 

Gil

[RonHolly]

Use the exhaust mounts under the bike just in from of the rear tire.  I have my air horns there and have had no issues with the location. 
Gil

Do you have a pic of yours and how they're mounted?