I was talking to a gent today about his 09 Ultra. Said he has had it 3 weeks and thought it was well worth the change from his 06.
I asked about the heat issue and his response was it actually seemed to toss off more heat than his 06!
Has anyone else found this?

 

Oh boy, here we go.... Just in case there's somebody out there that doesn't realize this, these are air cooled motors you're sitting on. Less than a foot away in most cases, a few inches in others. Internal combustion engines run as a result of an internal explosion, when air and fuel are ignited. And that my friends, generates heat. And that's lesson 1 in heat from your Harley. Nuff said. If you want a liquid cooled motor, (that will also generate heat) they're out there. But lets not beat up those new 09's yet. Let's at least let em get broken in, before we tear em down.

 

Harly sells a heat shield that is an inexpensive option and I saw it was standard on one model or another. Heat is a relative thing and depends upon if you're moving, how fast you're moving and ambient temperatures too. Test ride a Triumph Rocket III for an hour in the summer and you'll never ever say your Hog was hot again.

 

I've ridden an 08 and the heat was much worse than my new 09 FLHRC. Not sure why he would say that, look at how close the exhaust is to your right leg on an 08 compared to an 09

 

I sold my 08 Ultra and it did give you a hot ride in city traffic!... Test rode a new 09 Ultra with the new frame and exhaust changes.. To be honest with you... and in my opnion.. The ride was the same along with the heat..

Again, in my opnion, the so-called improvements are more like "changes" that Harley has done just to satisfy 07/08 owners.. Some changes are good improvements and some changes are just changes...

Harley bike R/D teams are only allowed to use 1/3 rd of their collective brains during any given year... They only leak a few real good improvements each year (or do they lack forsight)... Hindsight seems to be whats driving their changes.

 

Did your gents 06 have a stage 1 ECU download?
If so, it would probably run cooler than a stock leaned out 09 motor regardless of the exhaust

 

Stage 1 A/C, Power Commander 3 and free flowing exhaust.. Will fix the heat issue..

 

The 09 exhaust heat is definately less on the passenger (both sides)& the riders left side. On the right you do get minimal heat at an idle & even moving at speeds below 40mph. As you get some miles on them it seems to lessen. I spent a week & 1200 miles on a rental 08 Ultra recently & there was quite a lot of heat on both sides at an idle. Moving along it wasn't really noticeable. My previous 06 Ultra would put out heat at an idle but it wasn't objectionable unless it was over 85 degrees. And at speed ,I never felt any heat .

 

Test road a 09' FLHX today at the dealer, and while it wasnt a hot day outside....I think it was like 75*F, the engine heat coming off the bike felt exactly the same as my 08'. All but for when I stop the bike and put my feet down. Then its my left inner thigh that would start cooking on the 08'....didnt happen on the 09'. Other than that as far as heat....it felt exactly the same to me.

 

Heat issues??????...........I had an 05 Yamaha FJR1300. A 4-cylinder, liquid cooled bike. It was "their" best touring bike. That bastard would bake you off the seat it ran so hot. Motorcycles are motorcycles, on hot days, get in the car if you can't stand the heat.