Year ago got a 2012 UC and one of the first things i did was take off the lowers to get more air to the engine. I had never had a bike with lowers so didnt really see the value in them.
About a month ago, with colder weather coming on, I put them back on. Totally amazed at the impact they have on handling. I used to struggle with strong cross winds and head winds and the lowers really help reduce that issue.

 

......... lowers rock !

 

And put a set of speakers in them and see how you like them!!!

 

myself and others have tested motor temps with lowers on/off.

my own testing at 105º ambient temperature shows 25º lower oil temps with the lowers in place.

the lowers help to order the turbulent air and direct it to the motor.

the air coming off the wheel/fender etc. is disorganized,

the increased air flowing past the motor and the increased heat removed from the motor may combine in a "blow dryer effect" experienced by the rider. I wear thick jeans, maybe chaps on a long day.

the same aerodynamics is why an intake flows better with an air cleaner ( or even cupped hand) than with out


fairing lowers work for me visually as they complement the overall tear drop profile of a touring chassis


mike

 

i really like the look and the feel of the lowers. i know a few guys that say it makes the bike ugly. i dont agree.

 

I did the same thing a few weeks ago and noticed a difference, for the good, all around, now my legs sweat

 

If you are experiencing lot of heat. Removing the lowers is the easiest and a effective way of cooling the engine. Yes They do make a difference.
The cat.. in the header is one of the most heat producing part of the bike other than it being so lean.
My CVO street glide would cook you. It was unbelievable how much heat this bike had. Every time we rode my wife's and my right leg would be red from the heat.
I changed to a cat.. less header and PCV and now it is good to go with the lowers on.
we love our music and did not want to lose the lower speakers.

just a thought

dd

 

I had never put mine on, they sat in my basement. I put them on two weeks ago when it was cold and we were going for a ride with some friends. I wish I had put them on earlier I also noticed a diffrence in the way it handles in the wind.

 

It's interesting that you have made that observation by testing it first. I never would have thought it would work that way. That's a pretty impressive drop in temperature. I've been thinking of getting lowers to at least partially block some of the wind I encounter here. I never pulled the trigger because I thought the bike would pull that parade crap on me again. Looks like I'll be shopping for some lowers this winter.

 

Yes, lower fairings block some of the air rushing past your legs. But where does that air go? Most think it's deflected to the outside like it would from a V plow. But if you look at the profile of HD hard lowers from above, you'll see that they are further forward on the outside than they are in by the frame. Any air hitting anywhere but on the curved outside edge is funneled into the front of the engine. It would therefore make sense (to me at least) that the increase in air flow over the engine fins while h bike is moving would serve to lower engine ttemperature.