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heat and buffeting

21K views 165 replies 39 participants last post by  BBob 
#1 ·
This is going to be kind of a rant. The weather has been crap here and I'm getting crabby without my rides, I want to let it out.
Over the years I've owned this XC heat and buffeting have been major issues and hampered my enjoyment of the bike. I believe they are also the majority of problems most owners have to deal with. I've pissed away lots of money and time trying to work around these. I don't need to tell you all how great the XC is in power, handling, reliability, ergonomics and looks which is why I've worked to fix the heat & buffeting. At this point my patience has run out and I've done all I can and care to do to remedy the issues. Since, pulling the cats, buying a heat shield(again), adding another type of fork lowers and trimming the fairing deflectors the highest the temps have been up here was brief afternoons in the mid 70s and I didn't like what I felt. There was already heat pooling around my thighs, when I opened the air flow up to cool down, the flow was all crazy, like buffeting but on my legs. wth?

So here's where I'm at. I made a few small adjustments. Next week I have a 5 day, 2k mile trip planned with all kinds of riding in the mix, its the XC's last chance. If I have to deal with heat and buffeting that interfere with my riding enjoyment on this trip, that will be that, and this bike will be getting the X.
 
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#4 ·
I know how good the XC is...I just needed a bitch session tonight.
I hope by the end of next week's ride I've gotten re-attached to my bike and I don't have to give it the X ;)

I have the same bike...same year...same color...I don't have the issue you complain about. ...
No you don't and do you have cats or lowers, your bike is also in a completely different attitude with the raised front end and lowered back.
I think only a few people have experienced the type of overheating I did last year, it was unbelievable(LILMAGS got a taste of it for about 15 minutes...) So I might be over reacting to any I feel now...but I can't help it. Hopefully it will all work itself out on the trip.
 
#5 · (Edited)
What do you plan on doing to work it out over a 2000 mile trip? If it's bad around town, how do expect it to improve on a trip?

If it comes to the X, have you ever considered the Moto Guzzi California 1400? They have a very unique style to the various California models and they can be a very solid motorcycle. I rode Moto Guzzi for over 30 years and enjoyed most of them. In all those years, engine heat was never an issue. Unfortunately, their dealer network can make Victory look nearly perfect. Ural likely has a better dealer network than Moto Guzzi does at this point. But if you have a good dealer to properly set the bike up, great. If not, do NOT expect it to come out of the crate running right or properly adjusted.
 
#7 ·
I love the Guzzi's but I have other rides on my mind before I go to one.
I don't expect anything to "work out" on this trip, except finding out whether with the changes I made, I have a tolerable balance between heat and buffeting or not.

No cats....no fork lowers....

The lowers made the bike run to hot, and I don't care for the appearance

Went with a 2 into 1 so the cats went by by...

Pain...I'm flattered that you followed what I did to my bike...
You have on of my favorite builds ;)
and see you did experience some of what I was talking about with your lowers on, imagine that x10 with the over heating cats....
 
#8 ·
From the looks of things, it may not get over 65 degrees all summer. Sorry, had to get that out. The last 2 weeks have been horrendous around here. I thought about putting the cover back on her and checking back in July.

Pain, enjoy the trip man. If it gets warm, don't worry about until you get back. How many times do you get to do this?

BTW, you know I'm always ready to talk about heat issues!!! hehe
 
#12 ·
Okay....I admit this time I was being a little bitch about the heat. Its probably nothing, just me being too touchy about the subject.
Like I said, I'll know after this upcoming tour if I'm keeping the bike.

All I can say is of all the bikes I've ever ridden, I've never experienced such obnoxious buffeting or heat like I did last summer on this XC....It was craziness. I'm not dealing with those issues again season, even if that means I get another bike.
 
#13 ·
I adjust my Baker air wings with my feet. I ride all year long.
That may not help you with the XC. Just saying.
I rode both my Vision and a CCT but preferred the Vision. They also make them for the CR and CCT.
Victory Vision
 
#16 ·
Bummer

Pain: I rode to Colorado in 105+ heat on my 13 Vision and the only heat I had trouble with was , well, the heat in the air. I didn't notice heat form the engine but then maybe my skin has become a bit thick. I've heard guys with "lowers" on a Vision to cool off or heat up (depending on the season) but as I say - haven't noticed it one way or the other. Brother, I figure you just need to get out and ride let some of that shinola roll off. Do the ride, enjoy and let us know how you feel when you get back. You know, a bad day riding.......
 
#17 ·
Well, ride what you like. No sense in having to be uncomfortable if you don't have to. Buffeting is zero fun, no argument there.
 
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#18 ·
The problem last year was with my bike....not with my toleration level of hot weather.
Do I like hot, humid weather? not particularly. Has it ever stopped me from riding? never. Until this XC
My cats were overheating and radiating ridiculous heat which made, riding in higher temps miserable to intolerable. I almost vomited once after a 45min ride when it was 95(with the hard lowers on) and got 1st degree burns on my calves another time running with a fork mounted lowers. Once I took the the lower wind controls off, I didn't feel the heat but got blasted with buffeting. It was a rough and expensive summer trying to find solutions...Luckily, I found a make shift solution and fall came because I was a hair away from unloading the XC then.
 
#20 ·
There are some folks who just can't tolerate higher temps. PaiN is possibly one of them .. nothin wrong with that, it's just the way it is.

Similar to RoteBaron, when I was down in Calif in 110..115 degree heat, I couldn't tell the difference between the heat of the air and the heat coming off the bike ... it was just HOT.

Me .. I like warm, dry weather and can handle higher temps. Where I live, it's cool and wet most of the time Oct thru March and it gets into my bones and I feel cold most of the time. We get maybe 1-2 months of weather that I really like. If I had my "druthers", I'd not be living here but I don't wear the pants in this family LOL
 
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#21 ·
My cross country with cats is as comfortable at it can be at 110+ even in stop and go. Maybe it's time for you to let it go as it seems you have had nothing but disappointment with your bike. Motorcycle is one of my greatest joys and if it caused agitation and aggravation and heat/wind induced discomfort it would have been gone a long time ago.

My 2009 Ultra Classic ran hot but not unbearable and it had a BIG ZERO for buffeting.
 
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#23 ·
Maybe it's time for you to let it go as it seems you have had nothing but disappointment with your bike. Motorcycle is one of my greatest joys and if it caused agitation and aggravation and heat/wind induced discomfort it would have been gone a long time ago.

My 2009 Ultra Classic ran hot but not unbearable and it had a BIG ZERO for buffeting.
Can't get rid of me that easily...... :wink
 
#24 ·
See I figure (as my old Army buddies used to say) Fella got him "Case of the A$$ and just needs to get it out. Ya can't fix fit, ya can't make it better, ya just gotta deal with it the best way you can. Kick a can, fight some fool that's gonna kick you butt etc. Guy's brothers just gotta help him through it. Generally by getting him drunker that an nine eyed 'cooter, getting a hangover to recover from, then going for a long ride. All of us have been there and them that say they ain't are just lying' to themselves and them that don't get it need not ask. Ride on bro. Bike don't get it, get another one. Like all good things in life (women an d bikes), its all about the ride anyhow.
 
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#26 ·
Pain; have you ever had the valve covers off on your bike? I mean if your bike and only your XC has this issue then it has to be something with your particular bike. I'm wondering if whomever set the valve timing on it was one tooth off causing just the rear cylinder to be significantly advanced which would explain why just your bike is like that and why just the rear cyl.

One way to find out I think would be to adjust your Lloydz timing wheel, assuming you have one, as far retarded as you can then go for a ride on a warm day to see if you feel any difference in heat. Don't worry about how it runs and don't ride too long. Just see if it runs cooler. If so then I think you might have found the culprit.

You can then pull the rear valve cover yourself if you're comfortable with it or possibly see if your dealership will take care of it for free since it has been this way since day one. I would, of course, check the front cylinder timing as well.

Either way; it sucks you have to go through all this. Kudos to you for hanging in there and doing everything you could to remedy the issue. It probably feels like grabbing jello in a full bath tub. Just when you think you've got it; it slips away...
 
#27 ·
Whouw that is a serious good point you made Bbob .... I remember when I put the cams in myself, how easy it was to line-up evening inside the motor,

Sooooo if pAiN would follow the same steps then he would be certain that his motor is lined up properly internally ....

Remember that guy who did the cams himself and did the 180° wrong turn of 1 cam .... And the forum members figured it out for him ??

Like you said Bbob ... Just imagine from factory or something else 1 tooth set wrong, engine would run "fine" ..

TaPaTaLk for VIC forum
 
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#33 ·
As far as I know the engine has never been opened(past the oil drain plug and filter) I don't see how one cylinder could be off, unless it was a factory error, which I've never heard of before.
Or maybe its my timing advance.....
 
#34 ·
That's my point Pain. If no one else has this issue to this degree then it has something to do with just your bike. As unlikely as it would seem to be a factory error; the fact that you have not opened up the top end indicates that's exactly what the issue likely is. You would need to have the dealership sign off on the extra level of heat before they would see about doing it for you as a warranty issue. If they can't find the heat to be any hotter than any other XC they service then they won't be likely to do the work for free.

Ever hear of Occam's Razor?

Occam's razor is more commonly described as 'the simplest answer is most often correct,' although this is an oversimplification. The 'correct' interpretation is that entities should not be multiplied needlessly.

After you explain everything you did to solve the issue; I would think they would be eager to help you. A good dealership would.
 
#37 ·
This is definitely the correct and only avenue these days to get quick action from telco's for example. Social media complaints are actioned fast just because they have big potential to reach and impact the market instantly and negatively. Nipping in the bud quickly is the modern response. I like that and use it every time now. Ymmv
 
#36 ·
Sorry to hear of your Pain, PaiN
I empathise with your desire to rant at such frustrations when you are not enjoying your pastime as much as previously

You sound here like you might have bought the wrong config for your needs
To summarize what you have said to us here:
1. You cannot stand the heat at 70F, on long rides?
2. You cannot ride due to crappy weather in May?
3. The buffeting of your current config is annoying you?
You have attempted to mod your way out of these, but believe you haven't achieved what you need?

I am no expert by any means but either I have a greater pain threshold (unlikely) or I have bought a bike more suited to my needs, but I get no buffeting nor heat issues on long rides even at 90-100F on my X bike. Yet, It is a standard XCT. Maybe the Vic designers got these benefits spot on compared to the other configs for a cross country rider. The only buffeting I have ever felt is when I took the windscreen off last summer, and the high speed cornering definitely became less stable also, albeit it was cooler on 100F+ days.

So the big ugly stock screen on the XCT has its advantages in poor weather (fixes #2). I have also ridden through both storms in the Midwest prairies and heat in the Arizona desert on a rented Harley Ultra and found same benefits with their tour config for long distances. The HD was far worse for burning leg heat in towns for sure.

Admittedly you have different weather, road conditions and uses than me, but if you haven't tried the XCT or indeed a Vision on a long ride that would be worth comparing. I am sure you have already, but maybe don't like that style visually. Dunno

Good luck with your upcoming ride, and your next choice of ride if it comes to pass
 
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#38 ·
New ride

Pain maybe it is time for a new ride. Good wind protection, protection from the heat , cold and rain and fairly inexpensive brand new. Order your new Elio today.:grin...............Could not resist. Suppose to be 3 wheels of fun and get 84mpg.
 
#39 ·
Pain maybe it is time for a new ride. Good wind protection, protection from the heat , cold and rain and fairly inexpensive brand new. Order your new Elio today.:grin...............Could not resist. Suppose to be 3 wheels of fun and get 84mpg.
Worthless without pictures ???

TaPaTaLk for VIC forum
 
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