Heat deflection on a Standard

[Chiefy]

Summer is almost here in Florida, and every degree counts, especially at 100% humidity    Has anyone ever come up with some kind of home brew deflector that will channel some of the heat off to the sides?  Love the Fat Lady, but she's some hot mama, and not in a good way..........

[Jess from VA]

I never had them, but many say the Baker's Airwings are best, and infinitely adjustable to blow heat away and cool air on you.

[98valk]

baker airwings can be adjusted so air blows unto u, or a memphis shades hellcat windshield. adjusted correctly above the headlight will deflect the brunt of the windblast but let enough airflow to cool u.

[Chiefy]

I didn't think the Bakers helped much in such a hot environment (?)  From the pictures I've seen, all the way open is pretty much the same as not having them (again ??)  Am wondering if there is a way to keep the engine heat at bay.

[Jess from VA]

IMHO, nothing helps at 10MPH to stopped.  (Icing your pants is not practical   LOL)

At lower speeds, I discovered pure mesh was much worse than loose jeans.

[Chiefy]

Ricoman was going to fabricate a deflector and use my bike as a Guinea Pig    Gotta think that one over    He's liable to talk me into doing something crazy to the bike......

[98valk]

I didn't think the Bakers helped much in such a hot environment (?)  From the pictures I've seen, all the way open is pretty much the same as not having them (again ??)  Am wondering if there is a way to keep the engine heat at bay.

http://www.bakerbuilt.com/bbairwings/index.htm#AirWingsVideo

[gordonv]

I thought people had said in the past that the IS pods did that. Blocks off the heat from the engine, from going to the rider.

[Steve K (IA)]

I thought people had said in the past that the IS pods did that. Blocks off the heat from the engine, from going to the rider.

Like this, but it is a pricey way of keeping the heat off.  These are functional.  I replaced the air guide behind the radiator for an I/S one.

[Full_Throttle]

I haven't done it yet, but after I installed the air wings, I noticed that all it would take is a small piece of plexiglass on either side to bridge the gap from the end of the radiator backing to the air wing and then the radiator heat would have to travel all the way to the outside of the air wings in a similar fashion to the interstate pods.  This is one of my summer projects.

[Hoser]

I don't know how, but the bakers work, warmer in winter (closed) cooler in summer (open).  Nothing helps at city speeds.  Hoser

[R J]

I have had Baker Air Wings on about 7 or 8 bikes.   IMHO, these wings need to be either wide open, or closed, depending on your need.   There is 4 deflectors on them, 2 each side.   

In the cold, I run all 4 closed, deflects air around you and the engine heat helps keep the extreme cold off of you.

In the spring, I run the tops open, and the bottoms as needed.   Cold, they are closed, hot, they are open.

In the summer, all 4 are open.

In the fall, same as spring.

Work great for me, or otherwise I wouldn't give him the $$$$ for their purchase.

However, my opinion is just like everyone else, we all have a belly button.

[rodeo1]

hey chiefy

have you tried turning on the air conditioning ??

oh, wait ! its a valk, not a gold wing - i get confused sometimes. landed on my head too many times.

rodeo

[John U.]

I didn't think the Bakers helped much in such a hot environment (?)  From the pictures I've seen, all the way open is pretty much the same as not having them (again ??)  Am wondering if there is a way to keep the engine heat at bay.

The Bakers do help a lot in the summer. You spread them out so they act like airscoops which will blast the hot air away. Only while you're moving of course. At a long light all you can do is daydream about Dante's Inferno. 

[Jess from VA]

At long lights (often with long lines of cars), I kill my engine until it is my turn to move (and the rad fan never comes on).  I could not be certain of a hot restart with some of the bikes I've had, but I can with the Valks.  There are a half dozen big intersection lights in my hood that are so long, I can switch off, kickstand down, get off, open the bag for a cool drink, look around, get back on, and still wait another minute for the light to change.  Course the engine still puts off heat. 

[FPG52]

Hi guys interesting comments...I was about to post a question about air flow for the opposite reason. I live in Upstate NY (typical spring or fall day riding 35-40 degrees). My old GL1500 just about blocked everything but catching alot of wind with the Valk.  I was ready to purchase a set of Baker's heard from several they are not well engineered for the Valkyrie??  That is can interfere on turns and when open vibrate at highway speeds... Again this is what I heard...any further comments or suggestions about them or any others would be appreciate.  Oh, I am riding a '97 tourer so no fairing...

Thanks guys
FG

[Chiefy]

I didn't think the Bakers helped much in such a hot environment (?)  From the pictures I've seen, all the way open is pretty much the same as not having them (again ??)  Am wondering if there is a way to keep the engine heat at bay.

The Bakers do help a lot in the summer. You spread them out so they act like airscoops which will blast the hot air away. Only while you're moving of course. At a long light all you can do is daydream about Dante's Inferno. 

Thanks  didn't realize they scooped air in.  Thought they were either closed or passive when opened.  But engine heat isn't a problem over 30mph, and Bakers co$t a lot 

[BF]

Chiefy.......

The Bakers are one, if not the best thing I've bought for my Valk.  I live in Florida too and the bike gets parked alot during the summer....just too darn hot to ride alot of the time for me.  But when I do ride in the heat, the Bakers are turned out to scoop the air and the windshield comes off.  Nothing helps at traffic lights and slow speed....but the Bakers are well worth the money. 

[Chiefy]

Chiefy.......

The Bakers are one, if not the best thing I've bought for my Valk.  I live in Florida too and the bike gets parked alot during the summer....just too darn hot to ride alot of the time for me.  But when I do ride in the heat, the Bakers are turned out to scoop the air and the windshield comes off.  Nothing helps at traffic lights and slow speed....but the Bakers are well worth the money. 

Thanks.  I had the WS off for a little while about a month ago.  I liked riding that way.  But I'm going to hold off taking it back off.  The Love bugs  will be out soon.

[Westsider]

baker wings..expensive but are great...

[John Schmidt]

Hi guys interesting comments...I was about to post a question about air flow for the opposite reason. I live in Upstate NY (typical spring or fall day riding 35-40 degrees). My old GL1500 just about blocked everything but catching alot of wind with the Valk.  I was ready to purchase a set of Baker's heard from several they are not well engineered for the Valkyrie??  That is can interfere on turns and when open vibrate at highway speeds... Again this is what I heard...any further comments or suggestions about them or any others would be appreciate.  Oh, I am riding a '97 tourer so no fairing...

Thanks guys
FG

I had them on my Tourer as well, no vibration. They bolt directly to the frame and the metal they're made with is quite thick.

[lucky_1_chris]

Hi guys interesting comments...I was about to post a question about air flow for the opposite reason. I live in Upstate NY (typical spring or fall day riding 35-40 degrees). My old GL1500 just about blocked everything but catching alot of wind with the Valk.  I was ready to purchase a set of Baker's heard from several they are not well engineered for the Valkyrie??  That is can interfere on turns and when open vibrate at highway speeds... Again this is what I heard...any further comments or suggestions about them or any others would be appreciate.  Oh, I am riding a '97 tourer so no fairing...

Thanks guys
FG

I had them on my Tourer as well, no vibration. They bolt directly to the frame and the metal they're made with is quite thick.

Hmm. They were on my interstate when I bought it. The assemblies are bolted to the radiator pods with 2 bolts each, and the shake and vibrate a LOT when spread out. The top pieces on my radiator pods have small cracks where the air wings are mounted from all the vibration, and one of the chrome ball/nuts vibrated off the bottom and hit my buddy's windshield at around 60... I had to remove the wing from that side, and I didn't notice a whole lot of difference without it.

Maybe they're not mounted correctly, dunno. Does anyone have a pic of them mounted on an interstate?

[JC]

+1 for the Bakers 

I find that they work well except while sitting at traffic lights as eluded to elsewhere. They really do pull in enough air to make the ride tolerable in the 90's, and I've never had any vibration or clearance problems. I like that I can open just the lowers and get no buffeting behind the tourer's windshield and still remain cool. They really do help to keep the legs warm on those chilly mornings too. I'd buy mine again.

[Full_Throttle]

I believe they are different between standard/tourer and interstate.
The interstate version "I think" have had some issues.....
The standard versions are rock-solid.

[lucky_1_chris]

I believe they are different between standard/tourer and interstate.
The interstate version "I think" have had some issues.....
The standard versions are rock-solid.

If mine are mounted properly, and I'll bet they are, then I think you're right. Looks like I'll be removing them. I'm a little scared to see how bad the top of the pods look with them off... Prolly be cheaper to repair than to replace.

[paps350]

Have a set on my standard and I like them not only for temperature control but I like them as they stop the wind from coming up under my windshield and bouncing my glasses all over my face. Also no binding problems and they do not vibrate. As others stated I do keep an eye on all the bolts and nuts as they will loosen.

[Hook#3287]

I put my first set on my 99CT in Oct 2000.  I thought I would put them on and then take them off in May.  Still on.  Althought I've had them off to clean em, they've been right there doing their thing.  I like the way they stop the head buffiting (sp) and the help ALOT when it's hot by pulling air in.