Right, that’s why yesterday was so weird. I’ve ridden in plenty of high temps/high humidity (high 90s/100% humidity) weather in DC. Never experienced anything like this though, but with the bike acting normally, I can only suspect I’m the one with the defect. 🤣 I’m hitting the road shortly, so we will find out! 🏍💥💥
Extreme Heat from my Power Plus
Hey all, wanted to see if anyone has had this experience. I’m on a road trip from the DMV to FL, stopped in GA. For the last 4 hours of my trip today I experienced extreme heat coming from the engine. This was not just a cloud of hot air around the engine, it was like a blow dryer on max blast! Has anyone experienced this? I’m at 20,000 miles, all recommended maintenance has been done, including the latest factory ECU flash. This heat was so powerful, so consistent, and so unpleasant that I had to ride my bike without my mesh jacket for the first time ever. The heat emanating from the engine was so strong, losing the jacket didn’t even really make a difference. It’s so bad that I’m wondering if I should leave the bike with Indian Daytona and fly home. I seriously almost passed out. 🤣 Sure, it was a very hot day today, but I’ve ridden all my bikes in high temps/high humidity, and I’ve never experienced anything like this!
Any feedback?
Any feedback?
21 - 40 of 85 Posts
Right, that’s why yesterday was so weird. I’ve ridden in plenty of high temps/high humidity (high 90s/100% humidity) weather in DC. Never experienced anything like this though, but with the bike acting normally, I can only suspect I’m the one with the defect. 🤣 I’m hitting the road shortly, so we will find out! 🏍💥💥
Maybe your heat tolerance is waning.......
I feel like that with my soft lower close outs on when it’s warm out. Not like pass out but def warm/hot air swirling around my legs and feet. It gets ‘satan’s taint’ hot out here too
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The fan is enclosed in a shroud that when the fan is on directs the hot air DOWN under the engine. In stop n go on a stock bike and the fan on one can feel the heat down at the ankles, coming from the cat and hot air from the fan operation.
Now goin down the road with temps in the high 90's or above the heat felt is from many sources, from the upper exhaust tubing (rite side only), from the engine (both sides) and the hot air coming outa the radiator.(both sides). 184 engine temp is well within range but ya gotta figure how much HOTTER THAT AIR IS coming outa the radiator when ambient temp is also high. Add into the mix is high humidity and we are sitting in an oven next to a pot of boiling water. WE ARE HOT, not the engine, but the RADIANT heat coming from all the mentioned sources gets us,
AND something I found out is in 2011 when I bought my first bagger, a Kawi Vaquero, and especially with my Challenger, is that big ole fairing up front that werks very well in wind protection (specially in cold temps) werks against us when it is hot.I came from the sportbike werld and bought that first bagger in June 2011 and on one long Sunday ride I was near heat exhaustion, was very dangerous. We get a good amount of airflow on a sportbike so I learned real quick to keep my body cool.
I came off a 2016 Chieftain of 4.5 years to my Challenger (in Feb 2021) and was VERY happy with the improved wind protection (we were still in mild temps of 70) until late May early June when it got hot, and realized wow whats good when it's cool not so good when it's hot.
I have insulated the inside of my exhaust heat shields which made a HUGE improvement in how much heat gets to me., along with wrapping the TAB cat delete with exhaust heat wrapping, good set of slip-ons, DynoJet flash, K&N filter along with the Indian STG1 intake, modified intake snorkel and my own "ram air" intake skoop so the engine is getting alot of cool fresh air. With outside temps and humidity comparable to elsewhere (high 90's high humidity) running down the road I am seeing 180-182 engine temp.
But I am hot. I also learned that wearing a black helmet when it is so hot cooked my coconut, and a white helmet helps ALOT.
RACNRAY
Now goin down the road with temps in the high 90's or above the heat felt is from many sources, from the upper exhaust tubing (rite side only), from the engine (both sides) and the hot air coming outa the radiator.(both sides). 184 engine temp is well within range but ya gotta figure how much HOTTER THAT AIR IS coming outa the radiator when ambient temp is also high. Add into the mix is high humidity and we are sitting in an oven next to a pot of boiling water. WE ARE HOT, not the engine, but the RADIANT heat coming from all the mentioned sources gets us,
AND something I found out is in 2011 when I bought my first bagger, a Kawi Vaquero, and especially with my Challenger, is that big ole fairing up front that werks very well in wind protection (specially in cold temps) werks against us when it is hot.I came from the sportbike werld and bought that first bagger in June 2011 and on one long Sunday ride I was near heat exhaustion, was very dangerous. We get a good amount of airflow on a sportbike so I learned real quick to keep my body cool.
I came off a 2016 Chieftain of 4.5 years to my Challenger (in Feb 2021) and was VERY happy with the improved wind protection (we were still in mild temps of 70) until late May early June when it got hot, and realized wow whats good when it's cool not so good when it's hot.
I have insulated the inside of my exhaust heat shields which made a HUGE improvement in how much heat gets to me., along with wrapping the TAB cat delete with exhaust heat wrapping, good set of slip-ons, DynoJet flash, K&N filter along with the Indian STG1 intake, modified intake snorkel and my own "ram air" intake skoop so the engine is getting alot of cool fresh air. With outside temps and humidity comparable to elsewhere (high 90's high humidity) running down the road I am seeing 180-182 engine temp.
But I am hot. I also learned that wearing a black helmet when it is so hot cooked my coconut, and a white helmet helps ALOT.
RACNRAY
Just thinking out loud.... On a hot day sitting on top of an internal combustion engine with a radiator/fan right in front of the driver, and the driver is feeling hot air. This isn't really a deep thought moment, for me.
Deleted my original response cause I’m a dummy. 😉Just thinking out loud.... On a hot day sitting on top of an internal combustion engine with a radiator/fan right in front of the driver, and the driver is feeling hot air. This isn't really a deep thought moment, for me.
I might be getting old. 🤣 About to hit the road, so the moment of truth is approaching!Maybe your heat tolerance is waning.......
If you're coming down to FL today, stay hydrated. Local news is putting the index at 112 for a high.
I believe @WillyH was just being funnee, I understand where you r coming from but I laffed at his response. Reminded me of that giff bout bikers are crazy we put a hot engine with gasoline sitting on top of it between our legs funnee...No, but it’s clearly an asshole moment for you. I’m not a “I rode a thousand miles this year” dipshit. I ride a lot, I’m familiar with how my bike feels, and I was feeling something way outside the norm. So I posted asking for feedback. Yours was ridiculous and you should be embarrassed.
Snarky comment removed
Absolutely! Rode about 50 miles and the heat/blow torch was in full effect, right as I was riding by Indian of Savannah, so I stopped in. They’re checking, and their concern is my dealer forgot to tend to the coolant level on the bike when I had it serviced 2 weeks ago. No codes or messages though, so who knows. Will let you all know if there’s a problem, or if the problem is me. 🤣If you're coming down to FL today, stay hydrated. Local news is putting the index at 112 for a high.
😘Well Frances, it was just a bit of levity on my part. Sorry to have upset you so. Clearly, you're not an asshole, or a dipshit. I'll retire to my safe place now
My apologies - I didn’t catch the levity. 🤣
I get it. The sarcasm just kinda went past me reading too quick. I always appreciate responses when I have a question. It’s tough when you don't have a lot of experience with bikes, but you still ride a lot - you never know if it’s an actual issue, or if it’s just you. 🤷♂️🤣I believe @WillyH was just being funnee, I understand where you r coming from but I laffed at his response. Reminded me of that giff bout bikers are crazy we put a hot engine with gasoline sitting on top of it between our legs funnee...
Indian of Savannah is my dealer, and they do good work. Relax, have a frosty at Hooters and enjoy the heat and humidity of the Lowcountry!
Thanks for that. For whatever reason, at 20,000 I still prefer to keep my bike stock. Haven’t felt a need for any performance upgrades, and I haven’t had any reason to tinker for heat management purposes. I had a Chieftain prior to the Challenger, and honestly - I only had 1 day when I experienced miserable heat issues on that stock bike. It was 102, high humidity, and I was in stop & go traffic. Outside of that one event, the Thunderstroke treated me well heat-wise. 🤷♂️The fan is enclosed in a shroud that when the fan is on directs the hot air DOWN under the engine. In stop n go on a stock bike and the fan on one can feel the heat down at the ankles, coming from the cat and hot air from the fan operation.
Now goin down the road with temps in the high 90's or above the heat felt is from many sources, from the upper exhaust tubing (rite side only), from the engine (both sides) and the hot air coming outa the radiator.(both sides). 184 engine temp is well within range but ya gotta figure how much HOTTER THAT AIR IS coming outa the radiator when ambient temp is also high. Add into the mix is high humidity and we are sitting in an oven next to a pot of boiling water. WE ARE HOT, not the engine, but the RADIANT heat coming from all the mentioned sources gets us,
AND something I found out is in 2011 when I bought my first bagger, a Kawi Vaquero, and especially with my Challenger, is that big ole fairing up front that werks very well in wind protection (specially in cold temps) werks against us when it is hot.I came from the sportbike werld and bought that first bagger in June 2011 and on one long Sunday ride I was near heat exhaustion, was very dangerous. We get a good amount of airflow on a sportbike so I learned real quick to keep my body cool.
I came off a 2016 Chieftain of 4.5 years to my Challenger (in Feb 2021) and was VERY happy with the improved wind protection (we were still in mild temps of 70) until late May early June when it got hot, and realized wow whats good when it's cool not so good when it's hot.
I have insulated the inside of my exhaust heat shields which made a HUGE improvement in how much heat gets to me., along with wrapping the TAB cat delete with exhaust heat wrapping, good set of slip-ons, DynoJet flash, K&N filter along with the Indian STG1 intake, modified intake snorkel and my own "ram air" intake skoop so the engine is getting alot of cool fresh air. With outside temps and humidity comparable to elsewhere (high 90's high humidity) running down the road I am seeing 180-182 engine temp.
But I am hot. I also learned that wearing a black helmet when it is so hot cooked my coconut, and a white helmet helps ALOT.
RACNRAY
My noggin was definitely frying yesterday in my black Shoei.The sun visor wasn’t even any help - just trapped hot air inside. Today it’s sunglasses and no visor!
Anyway, we’ll see what the dealer says. As upset with my own dealer as I’ll be if it’s a low coolant situation, I’m hoping that’s exactly what it is and my operating temp is back to a solid 180! 🤣
I don’t know man. They have an amazingly beautiful Chieftain in that new gray/platinum color. Maybe I should do a trade and get back to basics! 🤣Indian of Savannah is my dealer, and they do good work. Relax, have a frosty at Hooters and enjoy the heat and humidity of the Lowcountry!
No harm. Sometimes my dry sense of humor gets me in trouble😘
My apologies - I didn’t catch the levity. 🤣
Hope the heat issue gets resolved 
I'm not a Challenger owner, so this may or may not be relevant. Installed an entire Rinehart system on my 2016 Chieftain, getting rid of the CAT dropped temps 60+ degrees. Not sure how much that would help a Challenger, it probably would cool down the exhaust heat where the CAT is or isn't184 is not an abnormal temp. Like @Gametech, the hot air has to go somewhere. Rmember, you essentially sit on top of the catalytic converter which produces it's own heat. Add that to theheat from the engine (184deg), and it's gonna get effin hot. You can always try something like the heat deflectors that Capt Itch has, but it's a band aid, not a cure. Only other option is to remove the catalytic converter. Just my .02.
In addition to the above comments, I have an important tip. Stay well hydrated on those hot rides. I rode 4 hours in 98 degree SC heat the other day and I drank 6, 20oz bottles of water and two bottles of Gatorade. I didn't pee all day until I got home. That tells me that my body needed all of that fluid to replace what I was losing. A cup holder is a great addition for those hot days.
I start out with a bottle in the cup holder and 2 in the saddlebags. I usually pull over briefly when the current bottle is empty and chug one from the saddlebag and put the other in the cup holder. Then I get another 3 at my gas stop and do it all over again. This way, I'm only drinking some warm water and some cold and I only have to stop when it's time for fuel.
This helps me avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion. It's hard to focus when I'm extremely dehydrated. It's almost like driving drunk.
I start out with a bottle in the cup holder and 2 in the saddlebags. I usually pull over briefly when the current bottle is empty and chug one from the saddlebag and put the other in the cup holder. Then I get another 3 at my gas stop and do it all over again. This way, I'm only drinking some warm water and some cold and I only have to stop when it's time for fuel.
This helps me avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion. It's hard to focus when I'm extremely dehydrated. It's almost like driving drunk.
Absolutely!! If you're out riding on a really hot day and think you've drank enough, you probably didn't. Like ChiefHelm said, if you ain't peeing you're not hydrated.In addition to the above comments, I have an important tip. Stay well hydrated on those hot rides. I rode 4 hours in 98 degree SC heat the other day and I drank 6, 20oz bottles of water and two bottles of Gatorade. I didn't pee all day until I got home. That tells me that my body needed all of that fluid to replace what I was losing.
This helps me avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion. It's hard to focus when I'm extremely dehydrated. It's almost like driving drunk.
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