When sitting in traffic I noticed that it felt like my right leg (inner thigh) was on fire. Now I know Harleys air cooled and run hot..... But should it feel like my right leg is literally burning? I believe that the bike runs really lean at idle. To prove my point I started the bike in the garage with the door closed and lights off. After about 5 - 8 min of idling the pipes turn red hot near the cylinders (both front and rear). Is it normal for pipes to turn red hot?

 

If you were riding a softail, I would say thats normal. But for the pipes to be turning red hot(not normal) means it's way to lean. Best bet would be, do a stage 1 upgrade and get it tuned. Oh and welcome to the forums!

 

Why would this be normal on a Softail? My scoot never glowed in the dark, that's for sure...and that's after being stuck in July & August traffic. Not that things (including myself) didn't get warm, mind you.

 

No way should your pipes glow red hot. That bike is running way lean. I believe HD really leaned these to an extreme level as they were tryin to get 50MPG for sales. My opinion is that all FI bikes need a tuner on them to richen them up. The Thundermax system is a nice one. I never had a stock HD but my buddy that works at HD said the OEM fuel maps are crazy lean.
Maybe someone else will have a better answer,thats all I got.

 

This happened to a friends 10wg when he had stock pipes on. Dealer said nothing to worry about. He's since changed pipes and tuner and no more problems. Seems strange though and looked strange at night

 

When I said it being normal on a softail, I meant about his inner right thigh being hot. The pipes glowing red isn't normal on any model.

 

Catalytic converters in your pipes . Switch them out to something else , and get a tuner . Or trade it in on a Liquid cooled bike ....Just sayin' :/

 

One thing is certain:

that scooter of yours is hot even when it's not running!

 

Thanks TORQUEY!!!

 

Like that raised drag bar. I see you previously had the stock mini-apes, is the hand position near the same with the raised drag bar?