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Advan Lowers Heat

8K views 43 replies 26 participants last post by  landshark 
#1 ·
Have always wanted the vented lowers from Advan Black for my standard Glide. But I’m wondering how bad is the heat gonna be with them. I know they have vents but I wonder how large and effective. And once I get them on they’re gonna stay on (unlike soft lowers). Besides looks was hoping they would help with wind management. Thoughts?
 
#2 ·
Having lowers > Not Having lowers

The plus's far out way any heat issues. I always get liners for the glove boxes so stuff isn't rattling around.

And I'll say this every time, the only thing that isn't junk on knock off lowers is the body it's self.
 
#3 ·
after you get your lowers, go to your local hd dealer and buy the screens for the twin cooled models. then you can just pop out the solid blanks and put the screens in their place. that will give you some additional wind for cooling. will run about $30 for the pair. the only thing is you may want to keep your solid blanks in your saddlebag, if it rains and you just have the screens, your shins will get soaked.
 
#4 ·
I put Hogworkz pre Rushmore lowers on my 2015 standard and loved the shit out of them. The only thing that made them better was putting speakers in them. Never had any heat issues. On last years trip to New Glarus when the temps were literally as hot as hell with full on humidity they performed great and never for one minute did I wish that they were not on there. I will say that I intentionally went with the pre 2014 model lowers because the vent was larger, or at least it seems to be. Now having a 2019 Ultra those are not so bad. Can't say I can notice any arguable difference.
 
#9 ·
I will say that I intentionally went with the pre 2014 model lowers because the vent was larger, or at least it seems to be. Now having a 2019 Ultra those are not so bad. Can't say I can notice any arguable difference.
I agree 100%. When I got my Rushmore lowers, I felt based on how small the vents looked, they had to allow for less air flow. One 95* FL day my riding bud and I switched bikes a few times during the day and neither of us could tell a difference in airflow or one being hotter or cooler than the other.

OP: With the old style some people take off the vent doors in the summer to get a little more air. With the new style people add the vent screens from the twin cooled model to get a little more air. Lowers are the single best thing to add for wind management but it is a bit hotter on the legs to run them in the summer. Nothing you can't deal with though. I do like to take them off in the hottest months here in FL but I got used to riding a Fat Bob for over a year so a RG without lowers is still better than nothing. I just like the extra air going past my legs. Once you get your lowers and do some riding you will ask yourself why in the world did you wait so long to get them.
 
#5 ·
I have a 2012 Road Glide and added the lowers to mine. Now I live and ride in FL, so it will be a bit different in Jersey, but the bike and engine became excessively warm. In traffic the oil gauge temp, I have an aftermarket one, went dangerously high and even with heat shields my legs took a scorching through the jeans. I do have the 255 cams in my 103 and have had the bike professionally tuned so it may/is running leaner than stock so that may add to it. I had to remove mine just for comfort and piece of mind. However I did keep them as when I retire I plan on moving nortward and will use them in the cooler temps.
 
#17 ·
Order these when you buy the lowers and you can pop them off in 10 minutes or less for the really hot summertime riding....
 

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#12 ·
I bought a pair used from BH#103. I thought i would kill 2 birds with 1 stone and really wanted to add a 2nd set of speakers. I have cloth lowers and like them in the cooler temps.

1st thoughts, put them on the day I got them l and went for a 45 min ride into the city on 85 degree and thought man, this is hot and there is no breeze. Headed home that night after dark when it was cooler and thought man do I like these lowers.

I rode with them for a week and got used to them, they are warmer. Then took them off to get them painted and went for a ride and thought it was going to be a lot cooler and didn't notice the difference. Just for the record I live close to the city but always ride in the country so I will rarely be in heavy stop n go.

They are staying.
 
#16 ·
If you do a lot of highway riding the lowers keep the wind from trying to blowing your legs apart. Heat has never been an issue for me. If you poke around on the back road I can see where heat could be an issue.
I guess it also depends on what you wear while riding. I ride in protective gear so the more air flow the better.

My minimum summer gear are tall icon elsinore boots, kevlar lined jeans, armored mesh jacket, gloves, and modular helmet.

I'd rather be on a naked bike in the summertime. The roadglide is relegated to breakfast runs during the summer.
 
#14 ·
I’m in LA (lower Alabama) and it is both hot and humid. I rode my new FLTRXS for two weeks waiting for my lowers to arrive. When they were installed I looked at that small vent opening and thought, “..man these things are going to be HOT”. Didn’t happen. I can’t explain it, but I just don’t feel the difference in heat. What I do feel is vastly improved air management on the front end. Some of it, to be sure, is the better heat management of the M8 vs the Twinkie...but those lowers do a great job and are not coming off anytime soon.
 
#18 ·
So, everyone running the lower fairings......Can you run the "EXTENDED" Brake pedal?? I've got the Kuryakan one, but I haven't installed it yet.

I'm also looking at the lowers as a place to put speakers.....(and that leads me into how to do six speakers in the bike.....I know this is the wrong place for that question.....)

Thanks!
 
#20 ·
If I didn't have to change the fairing brackets I would run lowers for sure. With all the crap I have inside the fairing It would be a PIA. I don't ride much in the summer. I sweat my ass off at work, don't want to do it on the bike
 
#21 ·
I just put the Advan Lowers on and ran 250 miles today. First, let me say I live in Louisiana, and until you experience the heat and humidity here, words just can’t describe it. One thing I have been battling is the stock exhaust head pipe, which has been bad enough on me, but horrible on the girlfriend. I have the coolflow fan and the mid-frame deflectors, but that only helps under 40mph. Here’s what I noticed today:

Pros:
1) Cooler air across the engine from higher velocity air through the vents.
2) Catalytic converter heat from the stock head-pipe was negligible due to the higher velocity air at higher speeds. Saved me $1400 on the full exhaust...for now. I’m still getting it, just not immediately.
3) My right thigh and the girlfriends legs weren’t cooking due to #’s 1 & 2.
4) Gave the front end a fuller look, and has plenty of room for more speakers in the future.
5) Wind/Bug/Rain protection. I didn’t come home looking like I had waded through a knee-deep swamp like I normally do.

Cons:
1) I noticed the stock air box wasn’t getting higher velocity air, and what it was getting was rather warm. Probably due to the speaker pod/glove box directly in front of it. Not a huge issue, just maybe an AC change to open it up to the cooler air around it. Probably the same with the H-D part.
2) Wind noise was slightly higher than usual.
3) Engine noise was very high. You don’t realize how loud the M8 “sowing machine” sound is until you surround it with plastic. I may look into getting some sort of cloth coating around the lower half of the fairings to both quiet it down and make it look a little better.
4) Fit and finish. There are several exposed bolts and nuts that could have been capped to look better. Also, as stated above some sort of sound deadening material could have been used. But, for $500 less than OEM, I can afford to add what I want to make it better.

Overall, I was very pleased. No change in fuel mileage. Comfortable ride. Pretty good investment, but time will tell.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Here’s what I noticed today:

Pros:
1) Cooler air across the engine from higher velocity air through the vents.

Cons:
1) I noticed the stock air box wasn’t getting higher velocity air, and what it was getting was rather warm. Probably due to the speaker pod/glove box directly in front of it. Not a huge issue, just maybe an AC change to open it up to the cooler air around it. Probably the same with the H-D part.
Yes I also believe that it helps the engine run cooler because of the lowers forcing air in towards the cylinders.


However, the airbox doesn't need higher velocity air as it is not a forced induction airbox. Even on crotch rockets that have the forced air air intakes they need to be going triple digits for it to even work properly. If you're just referring to the temps it is still sucking in the air at whatever the outside temp is. My point is that the lowers do not impede the performance of your A/C at all.
 
#23 ·
I have the AdvanBlack lower4s on my 2011 FLTRX first thing I did was remove the vent doors, plenty of air flow now and no buffeting from below best of both worlds, but ya gotta ditch the cat with the stock headpipe its the culprit with excessive heat.
 
#26 ·
I remove my lowers every summer and they go back on every winter. I can put up with them during the spring and fall seasons but start feeling the higher temps pull thru.
 
#34 ·
Does anyone have a picture of the Advan Black Lower solid panel that you just pop out?

Mine are on a slow boat from Hong Kong, and I'm just trying to get an idea.

That Solid Panel just pops out, and you snap the Water Cooled Vent Screen in???

Is there a "BETTER" Screen out there?

Thanks
 
#39 ·
I have the Kuryakin extenders. No issue with the lowers. Cant speak for the extended brake pedal. I have the Kury laydown brake pedal that's a bit shorter for lowers.
 
#37 ·
Finally got the OEM lowers on! Only rode for a half hour but so far love 'em! Did just what I wanted and created a nice calm cockpit. Now if I can just stop banging my left foot against them lol...
 
#38 ·
But I'm definitely feeling the heat. Temperatures are falling now so think I will leave be until the spring. But I'm definitely going to try those screens next year vs the solid covers. I'm also wondering if I need the Road Glide Wind Deflector kit which I installed a long time ago. Finally on the subject of heat in general can it be that the heat actually INCREASED after I added mid frame deflectors a few months ago? It seemed it did the opposite in terms of helping with the heat. Anyway, I love my new lowers and will figure it out.
 
#42 ·
those inner panels will block a lot of the air coming through. i have mine removed. in the winter, i'll probably put them back on, instead of popping those screens out and emplacing the blanks in their spot. there is a portion of space that will allow some air to flow, but with boots and jeans on, not sure that it will be noticed.
 
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#44 ·
one of the first things I did after I got the Glide was put matching lowers on it. I removed the inner panels and the solid snap in panels and put the honeycomb panels off a Ultra Limited on there. It lets quite a bit more air flow thru when its really hot outside. I doubt I'll ever take them off. Creates a nice pocket of calm air combined with my Freedom Shields touring shield.
 
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