I would like to apologize for my considerable references to my motorcycle experience. It’s kind of like getting a divorce and then meeting someone new and constantly talking about your ex.
Please accept my apologies.
You will probably notice that I tend to ramble on and on and on sometimes. My fingers just get talking and I cannot shut them up!!!
So I’ll get back to my Harley references now.
On ’08 and newer Harley CVO’s, maybe now on stock Big Twins, Harley developed a “Parade Mode” for low speed cooling improvements. Only at a stop and the motor is over a certain temperature, the rear cylinder is turned off, no fuel is sent to it; the rear cylinder it typically the hottest anyway. In Parade Mode, you just sit there at a stop light with one cylinder running. In the city this is a big help in reducing rider heat issues. Granted the motor sounds a bit funny firing on only one cylinder, but it does help.
I really don’t think that is an option for the M3W though. In my opinion I found the cooling fan upgrade to look quite nice. They extended the shroud out quite a bit behind each cylinder to draw over as much surface area as possible. I have to go back to the remapping of the ECM fuel and timing management as the best improvement in performance and rider comfort for the money. Obviously there are tens of thousands of new Big Twin Harleys made each year and most do not get any modifications at all and don’t self destruct because of the CAT and very lean fuel/air ratios.
Just this year on CVO Harley touring and a couple other models, they came out with water cooling for the heads. It’s still an air cooled motor in general terms but with a water circuit that runs around the exhaust valve in each head. I’m sure they pick up some of the heat through the water cooling to make it worth while. There’s been a rumor for many years that Harley will have to go to water cooling to be able to meet the ever increasing emission standards. S&S seems to have been able to still produce EPA compliant motors without going to water cooling.
Okay, I’ve rambled enough already…
Have a great weekend all!
