Since your asking about temperature gauges, why does Harley install an ambient air temperature gauge in our bikes? I'd rather have an oil temperature gauge as standard equipment then the ambient temperature gauge. At least the oil temperature gauge is telling you something useful, even if some view it as not necessary.

If the ambient temperature gauge was only available through the P&A catalog, how many here would buy and install one?

 

Need one...............Nah
interesting to know .....YEA

You have to remember in the cars we "nuts and bolts guys" have the "Temp gauge" or idiot light's from the antifreeze cooling system to keep us entertained.

But the HD doesn't have a water cooling system so the next best thing as an indicator of engine temp is the oil gauge.

I was in Helo's in the Marines back in the day...The very first thing I looked at upon lift off was the engine temp gauge(s). If an engine overheated on lift off and you didnt catch it..you could be toast..LOL

Just a habbit for me so if I have the opertunity to yank that stupid air temp gauge out of the fairing and install something "Functional".....it would be an oil temp gauge.

 

These things come with an oil temp gauge??...Bah...never had one, never had a problem so I don't really worry about it.

 

I'd like to think that my engine might last a bit longer than another bike in which the oil temp is not monitored. I have set a temp limit at which I will pull over and take a break - usually at the end of a parade.

I like others did not see any use for the Air Temp which was highly useless. I added the little air temp guage on the handle bar and replaced the air with the oil temp guage.

 

I like my air temp gauge! I relocated the the sensor and it is much closer to the ambient temperature now. If I get an oil temp gauge, it will be a rocker box mounted one, probably.

 

I did the same thing to my '02, '03 and '06 and it was more accurate. But for me, I don't need to see '50 degrees' or '90 degrees' to know the ambient air temperature is just that. I go with 'it's cold', 'it's just right' or 'man, is it hot!' but none of the catagories changes the length of the ride...

 

This has been an interesting thread.

I removed the ambient air gauge & installed the oil temp gauge so I'd have useful information. I know when the air is hot or cold.

I also come from a background of flying airplanes with air-cooled engines. It was drilled in my head that engine temperatures are critical to long engine life.

Although I use AMSOIL, my background also tells me that oil breaks down when heated. Thus, have been in the habit of changing oil more often when it's warmer than when it's cooler. With my tracking of the oil temperatures, I am more assured that I can extend oil change intervals since I am assured that my engine's oil is "cooler than expected."

Is it "necessary"? No. Do I criticize any who don't install? No. Did I ask any who don't to critize me since I did? No.

If knowing your engine oil temps floats your boat, enjoy the rising tide.

 

Makes no sense to have an air temp gauge on bike that's not very accurate, but makes sense to me to see how hot she's getting!

 

Wrong
in order for the oil cooler to not function when you are stopped the air temp would have to be equal to the oil temp. It actually works well when stopped.

As for the oil temp gauge it's less useless than the air temp to me so maybe when I have the time I might just get one but for now it's low on the to do list.

 

I've owned around 15 bikes in my life and none had an oil temp or pressure gauge. If they needed them, they'd come from the factory with it already installed. IMO, it's just one more gadget to stare at and worry about instead of watching the road.