They get hot,no doubt about it. Here in Pa it was a hot summer and I rode carefully due to it. I do have a temp gauge and my rides are about an hour each in frequent stop and go on my commutes. It never got over 225 deg f for me, I don't know what would be considered overhot for these bikes but it still ran well at that temp. Just for info,I painted my cam covers with std rust oleum rattle can red and the heat has not affected the finish so its not getting terribly hot high up on the motor.