How I solved the Heat & Buffeting issues -Victory Cross Country

[@lancepayne7528]

Well done!! Beautiful bike, love the paint!!!! I have 152,000 on my 15 XCT.. Ride on!!!

[@nativeoutdoors1780]

Holy crap, miles?!?! You gotta do a video on issues you've had for that mileage

[@michaelroy925]

I`ve never heard anyone having a serious issue with heat on the XC or XCT. I watch lots of videos and this is the first I ever heard of heat complaints. I mean it is an air cooled bike, they will get hot but nothing out of the ordinary. No different than a Harley. I have a Victory XCT and absolutely love the bike, no complaints. As far as the buffeting, I do feel buffeting at higher speeds but I think that`s something you`ll get on any bike unless you set it up for specifically highway riding. I have a fairly short windshield with the flare edge and it does a good job. I had one of those madstad windshields on my bike when I first purchased it, I did not like it at all, it was way too far forward for me, had too much of a gap underneath and wasn`t the easiest to adjust and lock in place. Glad you are now enjoying your Victory and thanks for the video. Great Bikes! 😎

[@painsrides3616]

Thanks for watch... I don't know what to tell you as far as the heat goes. I probably could dig up pics from years ago of the scalds on my legs. Or tell you about the time ran hard lowers on a 90 degree day and ended up wreching in parking lot from heat stroke.

[@michaelroy925]

Damn, that sucks the heat hit you hard. No doubt, riding in above 90 degree weather is not fun, especially if it`s high humidity. I never liked riding in hot weather no matter what I`m riding. I don`t do well in high temps either. The Wife and I will ride early morning and be home before noon on the hottest of summer days. We`re in Massachusetts and this summer had some brutal heat. Enjoy the fall riding now 😁😎

[@painsrides3616]

@@michaelroy925 ... Hey neighbor 😊 I'm in CT. Those hot, humid days are tolerable and I've rode in plenty of them with my XC set up the way it is

[@michaelroy925]

Oh cool! 😀We love the roads in CT. Glad your setup helps with the heat.

[@jbboating3268]

heat was a big problem on my 2017 vision

[@tomlarkin5516]

I got a sheet of ABS plastic and fabricated my own wings. And they work! Up to 65mph, there is no or minimal buffeting even with my face shield open at the bottom. Above 65, I just have to close my shield completely, but at those speeds, there is still plenty of airflow inside my helmet. I still will use the hard lowers for cooler weather. Great idea. Thanks!!

[@painsrides3616]

Glad it worked for you. Unfortunately, not long after I made this video, the old Vic finally hit me with a one-two punch 👊 I didn't want to deal with. I sold it and moved on to a 2018 Goldwing Tour... This is another way to solve the heat & buffeting issue🤣. J/k the Vic was a great bike for me...I had it 10years and managed to put 80k miles on it.

[@tomlarkin5516]

@@painsrides3616 a little time has passed and I’ve done some more riding and happy to say that that blast of heat that was there with my hard lowers is completely gone. And my helmet no longer vibrates my teeth loose. Best of luck with your wing.

[@TwistedTriggerEnduro]

Solid tips! I don't have a streetbike anymore but it's good to look and learn about such a beauty! Thanks for posting!!

[@painsrides3616]

Thanks, this bike is an ol' girl with lots of miles on her. Its a good machine to pack a few bags, throw the wife on the back and take a long weekend ride on. But too be honest, I don't like road riding all that much, there's too much traffic and too many restrictions. Plus you all know...once hooked on the fun of off-road, no other riding compares... 😎

[@Jodyrides]

thank you, thank you thank you for letting me know about the heat issue. I can put up with things that I can correct like a bad seat, or the wrong, wrist, angles, or The wrong windshield height, but the heat issue has kept me from buying an FJR Yamaha, a Kawasaki concourse, 1400, especially the Honda, ST 1300.. heat is the one thing I will not put up with there is one of these machines for sale here locally where I live, it is gorgeous I was in the process of doing some online research about issues this machine may have, and you just saved me from making a purchase I would regret.. about 20 years ago I bought a Honda 700 saber with the CBX style, optional fairing color matched and the CBX/CX 500 turbo style saddlebags color matched. That machine was an oven on wheels and I only wrote it about 50 miles before I turned around and resold it. I could feel it roasting my legs through my aerostitch suit on a 55 degree day.. Thanks for the road trip evaluation.

[@painsrides3616]

As I have things setup on this Victory I don't feel heat when I'm riding, its very comfortable. But as with any big air\oil cooled V-Twin, at stopped and slow speeds the engine does put out noticeable heat, the hotter the air temp the more heat the rider is going to notice. Like I said, without lowers on my bike, the heat evacuates as soon as I get moving. With lower fairings the heat would build up and become an intolerable furnace in hot weather. The problem and basically what this video is about is with lower fairings off the wind buffeting was awful. This was my solution(s) to deal with both.

[@Ridingfish]

That's pretty damn smart!! When the wind was bad I would put my feet on the rear floorboards and that helped with 90% of the buffering.. I didn't have heat on my Magnum!

[@painsrides3616]

Thanks, I didn't have heat issues until I did things to stop the buffeting, fork deflectors or the worst, hard lowers😐. It took me two seasons of trial & error and $$ to work this out where I don't have heat or buffeting. But its been all good for many years now... Now as long as you don't convince me to buy a Pursuit, it should be good for many more 🤣😂

[@jeffpalmer5502]

Wow. That makes sense! I have a 2013 CCT with the winglets and lowers. After nine years and 91,000 miles this summer roll riding through California. I accidentally discovered that if I left my lowers closed and slightly cracked the winless I got no heat from that engine. It worked it completely away probably doing the same thing your little wing lakes are doing And in the winter now I slightly cracked the lowers, and it directs the heat in towards my legs and up into the seat I’ve been doing it backwards for eight years. I only discovered it because I simply was the last one to be ready that morning and jumped on and took off in 90° weather and had not adjusted any of the vents and realized I wasn’t getting any heat on my legs or my ass. The close lowers were creating a vacuum that was pulling the heat away.

[@jacob-tl3is]

Will try this out tomorrow when the sun is out. Getting that heat in during the cold will be nice. Inherited the xct from my father. Still trying to figure the bike out! Haha I come from the sport bike world. Love the bike though it has some power I’ll say that much!

[@jeffpalmer5502]

@@jacob-tl3is I have learned to ride this thing with both tires sliding and my stepson races and he said dad you should join the baggers race, if you have any questions as you learn this bike, I’ll be happy to help you out!

[@TheSaneRider]

Got a beaded seat cover for my drivers seat. Helped a bit with airflow under me on the warm summer days. They can be found for Super cheap too.

[@painsrides3616]

I really don't like anything between me and the seat, always seems to kill the feel of the bike for me.

[@TheSaneRider]

Totally agree when it comes to the sheepskin fur type covers and not feeling planted on the bike. The beaded seats help a ton with that swamp ass though. Sometimes a simple pair of textile riding pants can work wonders w heat too.

[@painsrides3616]

@@TheSaneRider 👍

[@russellrodgers3554]

Awesome vid, PaiN. You’ve always offered great real world knowledge. BTW, I didn’t own Bad Ace Billet, Paul did. I just designed and made parts for my bike that other people sometimes wanted.

[@painsrides3616]

Thanks... But most of the time I just ride around acting like an ass 🤣

[@mistergibson9703]

Do you know the specs for this so that people could 3d print?

[@paulfosbery6026]

A breath of fresh air, Mike, seeing the old Victory cruiser again! Watching your Speedo, I'm curious about your speeds...90+MPH!....😱..😱....! Over here, (England/Britain), it's 70MPH Max on our few Motorways (Freeways), and 60MPH Max on all our other roads! Either way, it doesn't affect me very much on my little Honda Cruiser! Most folks here seem to observe the speed limits, unlike to crazies down in Los Angles!! Take care, all! .😉..😉.... P.S. The Victory is looking immaculate, Mike!

[@painsrides3616]

This is A-M-E-R-I-C-A Paul... we're free not to knuckle down to authority. Besides, I don't believe me taking my motorcycle to 90mph for demonstration purposes on an open road constitutes surprised and shocked commentary.

[@russellrodgers3554]

When I ran the Madstad, I realized that the only position changes I made were tilting it forward and back about 3/4”. I experimented with how tight I could get the shield to the fairing without compromising the setup’s benefits. Turned out to be about 5/8” gap. Eventually I made some new, smaller upper brackets that maintained a 5/8” gap and allowed a 3/4” tilt forward.

[@painsrides3616]

I tried going to a 11" shield it didn't do much but put the top of the shield in my line of sight

[@justinmanning4055]

the heat the XC/XR puts out is beyond anything I've experienced, I've thought about putting a fan on the oil cooler to see if it would help but I don't know what good it would do.

[@painsrides3616]

Seems like you got a hot one too...

[@brianpons120]

I can't see this as a good idea because the back cylinder isn't going to get the cooling it needs and will fail sooner from being too hot. It's a motorcycle so you're going to be hot or cold sometimes. But don't cut off your engine from the air cooling it is designed to need. All bikes that are air cooled run the same way.

[@painsrides3616]

75k miles later and I'm pretty sure my rear cylinder is getting all the air flow it needs. The wings on the cheese wedges deflect air that was flowing up on to me from under the tank causing terrible buffering. Do to the wings angle they actually move the air flow downward and likely increase airflow to the rear cylinder..

[@ChristopherHughes21]

I think you may have a heat issue out of the norm. I ride with hard lowers all year round. Yeah it gets hot but never been hot enough I would get rid of the bike over. Rode the bike 1200miles in a straight shot from Louisiana to Indiana on one of the hottest weeks of the year and had no problems. Yea it got hot but nothing more than my harley ever did before this bike.

[@painsrides3616]

I agree, my heat problems were not " the norm"... but I definitely was and am not the only XC rider that's had to deal with it. It stems from the poor wind management of the non-tour XC. After the 3 Amigos mentioned the issues, I realized its been years since I talked about this. I figured it wouldn't hurt to make a video for the Vic community, in case anyone else is dealing with heat & buffeting.

[@jacekpiterow900]

Nice bike! Thanks for advice.

[@painsrides3616]

Hope some of it helps

[@ronaldwalters9488]

Thanks for the vid, been have the same wind issues on my 14CC. Was seriously thinking about the MadStat now I’m pretty convinced. Would you happen to know if anyone is still making the “tank wings” anymore? I too was/am considering my best me because of wind. Never really had a problem with heat though.

[@painsrides3616]

You're the guy I made this video for 🤣😉 No one makes the tank wings anymore and they aren't available as far as I can tell. But something like them can be made up out of Kydex, flexible metal or 3D printed. I didn't have excess heat problems until I tried to fix the buffeting with hard lowers or fork deflectors.

[@ronaldwalters9488]

@@painsrides3616 ha! I tried the fork mounted wind deflectors for 10 miles and was like “ nope! “ loo

[@painsrides3616]

@@ronaldwalters9488 Its been years since I used fork deflectors... I remember besides the heat, they did something weird to the bike's handling..

[@GreyManVan-550]

Been riding my '13 XC no real heat issues or major buffeting. Definately NOT scalding LOL I do notice the stock windshield does help with keeping rain off me and a bonus it pulls any rain up off the tank & blows it up over me. My 1/2 helmet NEVER had any heat "getting up under" it problems. Victory 106 runs cool, I couldn't even warm my hands on the engine fins during cold weather. So I don't know what mod you did to create excess heat. Oh ya on a side note, The Red with chrome delete mat black engine & trim is nice so DON'T add chrome LOL

[@painsrides3616]

I hate chrome... The heat and buffeting doesn't happen on all XC's

[@GreyManVan-550]

​@@painsrides3616 glad I got one of the cooler running ones then. Ya I test rode the blue & chrome one 🤢

[@MH-uf1bd]

I personally think the wind buffeting is caused by the extra long turning signals just saying I'm Thinking about building some tiny turn signals with some strong LED lights.

[@painsrides3616]

Na .. I'm going with wind as the root cause of wind-buffeting.

[@jeffpalmer5502]

PS I also have an OC industries American flag bandana! And that is a very nice Victory you have there.

[@painsrides3616]

Thx , and that bandana has been this bike's "flag" for a long time 😁 The time I had hard lowers on this bike it was a 90+ day, the heat on me was so bad, when we stopped, after about 60miles, I started wreching in the parking lot😶.... I loved the look and zero buffeting with hard lowers but I took them off after that and almost got rid of the bike...

[@blackdog19-64]

Where did you score the seat? Nice video every little bit helps all of us Victory riders;-)

[@painsrides3616]

I put that Corbin on years ago..but they still produce seats for Victory. Can be ordered off the Corbin site.

[@COREYBOYETT]

Awesome video. I'm most curios about all your additions, specifically your handle bars, but your windshield is pretty awesome. Did you purchase these online? If so, you have any links you could provide?

[@painsrides3616]

The Windshield is a Madstad with a 9" tinted shield on it. The bars are made by Klock Werks I believe they are 10" Klip Hangers

[@Jodyrides]

when looking for my next motorcycle over the decades, if I ever heard, there was the slightest hint of heat from the engine/radiator, making it uncomfortable to ride, I crushed that motorcycle off of my list, and I never consider it again.. I can put up with top-heavy, slow, expensive, funky colors, but I will not put up with heat

[@painsrides3616]

Are you down to mopeds?? Because in a lifetime of riding, I've never ridden a motorcycle that didn't produce noticeable heat 😶 This is especially true for large air-cooled V-Twins...

[@billzster]

Nice video, just picked up a CC and will try it. BTW- What kind of lights are those where the fog lights would go?

[@painsrides3616]

The light are Show Chrome mini-LED driving lights for the XC. Good luck squashing that buffeting... 👍

[@billzster]

Will do, thx for the quick reply!@@painsrides3616

[@cobrastang98]

Thanks, good to know what works through your trials and tribulations.

[@painsrides3616]

Those trials and tribulations are long past... 👍

[@wspollack]

Nice instructions, Mike.

[@painsrides3616]

Bill 💖...!!! I heard you were drooling in a cup??

[@wspollack]

@@painsrides3616 Not just yet. Details in an email I just sent, but for the rest of you, feel free to check out kzbin.infovideos

[@tnahomegrown2581]

Hey, little late to the party here. Cool video! My question is what bars are you running? Those are awesome

[@painsrides3616]

Klock Werks Klip Hangers...I believe they are the 10" rise. They used to come in 14" and couple different finish combos.

[@CDLNEPA]

Bike is still looking good.👍🏽

[@painsrides3616]

Its holding together. 😉

[@Viper6-MotoVlogger]

I don’t think the windshield looks bad at all. That tank winglet makes sense bro.

[@painsrides3616]

Had to do what I had to do...It took a couple years to figure things out.

[@MrmultiJeep]

I love the instrument gauge covers! Where’d you get them?!

[@painsrides3616]

Damn..I've had those bezels a long time.... I believe they are a Rusty Jones design.

[@jeremywest5433]

Is your engine modified, i.e. power commander, cams, etc? I wonder if that's the difference in heat.

[@painsrides3616]

Some Vics run hotter than others. But a turned engine should run cooler than the lean stock tuning.

[@gadengentry2]

Silly question, but did you add the wings to both sides of the bike?

[@painsrides3616]

I did.

[@davidvanbrunt4233]

I have the large windshield and no buffetting.....

[@vincentsantoro1118]

I live a couple towns over . Anyway I can get a look at the wedges so I can copy them thx

[@painsrides3616]

Where were you when I was looking for some road-riding buds?? 🤣 If you want to see those wedges in person you're going to have to make a trip to Quebec... After 10years of ownership, the Vic let me down twice last summer. I just couldn't split the frame and pull it apart for a second time. I ended up selling to a collector in Canada where it lives now. I'd be happy to help you with what issues you're having. I also have a different type of "wing" on hand that might be able to be used. Let me know, I'm in Bristol.

[@vincentsantoro1118]

@@painsrides3616 are you on Facebook?

[@vincentsantoro1118]

I have 2 xc you can ride the other if you'd like

[@painsrides3616]

@@vincentsantoro1118 That's super kind of you, but I have bikes to ride.... Motorcycles and riding are my passion, I can't be without 😉. Ride over after the rain clears out, I'll show you what I have that might work as "wingslets" on the XC.

[@painsrides3616]

@@vincentsantoro1118 I am on FB. facebook.com/mike.orciari.1 Also I'm a member of "CT Motorcycle Rides & Events"

[@Krotos1970]

I have a large switchblade windshield and the buffeting is so annoying at speeds over 75 mph

[@painsrides3616]

Hopefully some of this helps you... the buffeting sucks

[@Krotos1970]

@@painsrides3616 I guess I need to get highway bars and put some fairings or wind deflectors

[@Krotos1970]

@@painsrides3616 nowhere to find that little piece?

[@painsrides3616]

@@Krotos1970 I said this in the video; those winglets are no longer available they were made by a company called Bad Ace Billet that is out of business. You'd have to fabricate a part or use something similar.

[@mpltl69]

Is there any way i can get the specs or better pics on that deflector on the cheese wedge. I want to try to make my own

[@johnpapaserge9730]

Madstad is a great windshield

[@painsrides3616]

The Madstad was a good addition. 👍

[@jdreyno1958]

👍

[@sS-fs8pn]

Is the Madstad 9inch worth it?

[@painsrides3616]

I'm 6' tall, the Madstad 9" is the best solution I've found. I tried an 11" shield on the brackets, it puts the top of the windshield right in my line of sight. Less face it, the Cross Country doesn't have the best wind management. The setup I have in the video is the best I could come up with.

[@davidcason3448]

Beautiful location. Location.

[@painsrides3616]

This was recorded in Plymouth, CT.

[@curtbenson3014]

I have a magnum I don't feel no heat

[@painsrides3616]

You missed the point of the video or just didn't watch it.

[@trailbossvoss]

Woa look at all the views there hehe

[@painsrides3616]

Wow!! that is way over my typical view count ... I'm like a rock star!! 🤣😂

[@miguel123wence]

Will be nice if you can place a piece of paper and a little piece of plastic do you got right there and made some copies we can pay you some money if you send me one of those coffees that way I can Contour the piece of paper into something a plastic and try to get my own help us brother

[@painsrides3616]

The "wing" shouldn't be a difficult thing to fabricate and who knows, maybe a different shape might work better. Get some sheet metal or Kydex and experiment.