So, I often have this brought up by students. The ysay "I have been told that I should ride past traffic jams down the shoulder of the road or my Harley / Honda / Suzuki (etc.) will overheat and be ruined."

Riding down the shoulder and lane splitting is illegal here. My answer usually is, "Do you really think Harley / Honda / Suzuki (etc.) is selling a brand new bike that is incapable of cooling istelf in stopped traffic in 35C (95F) heat? What about the bikes operating in the Arizona desert?"

So, I just can't see that being true. An excuse to bypass stopped traffic, maybe, but nothing more. I've never had any problems with any of my bike engines in stopped traffic. BUT, if anyone knows the real story, what risks are there? I assume air-cooled bikes have it the worst. As Baz asks, do engines get toasted from sitting in traffic?

Have to wear heat shields on your legs, though. Not cool. Literally.

Cool lookin' though. What a piece of artwork. Wow.

Well, Saster, I can tell you with certainty that I fried a 70 Bonneville 650 stuck in traffic on a 90+ degree day back in '72. Melted the plugs right into the heads, and scored the cylinders and turned the rings blue.

My new Ultra's owner's manual has a whole chapter on its heat management system and how it works, and Harley now has it its accessory catalog a 12 volt fan that mounts on the horn side of the engine.

Nice bike