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