[Villajuan81]

Great post. Thanks for the info. I have engine ice in my 1000rr now and its the first time I've ever seen 240+ temp on any bike I've had. I've seen 225 almost all the time 230
sometimes in this east Texas humidity but 240+ is ridiculous. Just went to the ROT rally in Austin and being behind a bunch of cruisers in a parade that's going 30 miles/hour, isn't where me and my bike is happy at. But the parade was actually kinda cool. Probly won't ever do it again. But at least now I know 240 is not necessarily bad. Thanks!

 

[fuzzbutt]

Great post. BTW, the thermostat has a metal spring in it that is heat sensitive, so that as it gets hot, the spring uncoils or expands to open the valve. Very basic stuff in there.

Also, in racing we use Water Wetter which is nice and cool but be sure you mix it at the exact measurements it says- too much will cause overheating! Plus if you crash and rupture the radiator, glycol is extremely slippery and hard to clean up so others behind you will slip and slide, too. Water Wetter is water soluble, non slippery. But you have to change it out at least every year, not leave it in like antifreeze for 2-3y years!.

In colder weather, we racers like to put a few strips of duct tape over the radiator to limit the cold air flow and get the engine up to operating temps quicker. Of course, this doesn't sound like anyone's problem here!

And get a damn radiator guard on that thing- one little rock can ruin your whole day. Try Wild Hare accessories, etc. A good investment. Josh Herrin was leading the AMA Supersport race at Barber on 6/17 when a rock holed his radiator and caused the engine to seize....

 

[Nico]

Great post. BTW, the thermostat has a metal spring in it that is heat sensitive, so that as it gets hot, the spring uncoils or expands to open the valve. Very basic stuff in there.

Also, in racing we use Water Wetter which is nice and cool but be sure you mix it at the exact measurements it says- too much will cause overheating! Plus if you crash and rupture the radiator, glycol is extremely slippery and hard to clean up so others behind you will slip and slide, too. Water Wetter is water soluble, non slippery. But you have to change it out at least every year, not leave it in like antifreeze for 2-3y years!.

In colder weather, we racers like to put a few strips of duct tape over the radiator to limit the cold air flow and get the engine up to operating temps quicker. Of course, this doesn't sound like anyone's problem here!

And get a damn radiator guard on that thing- one little rock can ruin your whole day. Try Wild Hare accessories, etc. A good investment. Josh Herrin was leading the AMA Supersport race at Barber on 6/17 when a rock holed his radiator and caused the engine to seize....

We had a discussion about the way a thermostat works a while ago, I had the same idea about it as you but I was wrong, it works by melting a little wax inside the thermostat bulb... the change in volume of the wax does the work.

 

[AfroCBR]

As I stated before, this post is very helpful. Quick question, although I realize you stated that "temperatures in the 240's are normal"....I lived in Dayton, OH and my bike never reached 225...I just recently moved to Tucson, AZ (three days ago) and my bike went up to 245!!! Is there a different mixture that I should be putting into my bike?! I understand that the temperature here is approximately 40 degrees hotter than where I'm from...but that seems a little much....in that it is getting close to that 250 degree mark......Thanks for any suggestions that you may offer

 

[Nico]

The cooling system's efficiency decreases as the outside temp gets hotter, so its not all that surprising you had that sort of increase. 245 is getting a little to hot for comfort though...

 

[Antares]

It is understood that the hotter it is outside, the higher the coolant temp will be.

However, i think i may have a cooling problem, thermostat maybe?

I live in palm springs, 20,000 on the ODO, 110f out now, the temp will rise to operating temp like normal, but wont pause around the 175-195 zone like she did 5,000 miles ago. Now it just rises until the fan kicks in. Highway riding temps are 205-215 and even more if I'm behind a car. I dont do this everyday, cuz that would be insane, but if I ride to San Diego where it's 75f, no "overheating problem", it'll be around 175-190.

In short, could it be time to R&R the cooling system?

 

[Nico]

Certainly wont hurt mate.

 

[tenjin]

It is understood that the hotter it is outside, the higher the coolant temp will be.

However, i think i may have a cooling problem, thermostat maybe?

I live in palm springs, 20,000 on the ODO, 110f out now, the temp will rise to operating temp like normal, but wont pause around the 175-195 zone like she did 5,000 miles ago. Now it just rises until the fan kicks in. Highway riding temps are 205-215 and even more if I'm behind a car. I dont do this everyday, cuz that would be insane, but if I ride to San Diego where it's 75f, no "overheating problem", it'll be around 175-190.

In short, could it be time to R&R the cooling system?

no, you are still operating below 220, and your temps resemble mine out here in arizona, i do 220 while in heavy traffic mid day all day long,.

 

[Clayslayer]

I have my temp gauge set on metric and the hottest I've ever had mine is 104 degrees (about 220 ish Farenheit). I have never been above that in any condition.

Factors that get it that high are speed and outside temp. If I'm going slow or stuck in traffic it jumps right up to 104 and the little fan works overtime, but does it's job just fine thank you very much.

If I'm moving right along at 50mph or better my usual reading is 78-80 degrees C (175F give or take). That's it. I don't know if I'm just lucky but that's all the hotter it ever gets unless of course, I get stuck at a red light forever...

 

[maine_CBR]

I have my temp gauge set on metric and the hottest I've ever had mine is 104 degrees (about 220 ish Farenheit). I have never been above that in any condition.

Factors that get it that high are speed and outside temp. If I'm going slow or stuck in traffic it jumps right up to 104 and the little fan works overtime, but does it's job just fine thank you very much.

If I'm moving right along at 50mph or better my usual reading is 78-80 degrees C (175F give or take). That's it. I don't know if I'm just lucky but that's all the hotter it ever gets unless of course, I get stuck at a red light forever...

Same for me here in maine...i think the hottest i've ever seen my gauge at is 225f. but that was being stuck at a light for 10 mins.

Then again hottest day of the year this year was 94. (sucked i might add:crackup

 

[leftyguns21]

thanks. i figured it was fine but now i know its fine when its hitting 220

 

[Pablo Escobar]

thanks a lot...needed this info like lady gaga needs jesus

 

[CK_32]

What about warming up? I see people stressing warming a bike up.. I live in CA and my RPM's never drop. They always stay at 2/3k Ive let it run for 20 min before..

Because oh where I live should I not worry about it or what RPM do I know my motor is ready to go?

Even on a cold night my exhaust starts to smoke but RPM never drops or raises...

 

[Nico]

Warming it up is a waste of time. It is made to be ridden so that is exactly what you should do.

Riding calmly whilst you wait for everything to come up to temp is better for it than letting it sit for extended periods of time at idle.

Don't flog the crap out of it while it's cold though... that will do damage (in the long term) due to the tolerances in the bearings, rings and valves not being correct yet...

 

[Scooterdude]

Operating temps

Thanks Tenjin for the info. I too was worried about running in the 210-220's F. I thought I had too many bent fins on the rad and I already replaced T-stat(had to pull motor for head gasket). Great forum!

 

[XeroXool]

I been noticing my bike has been running hotter then normal, around my feet, more so on my left side then right side, I rode last summer in fl heat no worries, didn't get up to 245' but its like 85 and its getting to the summer temp and its not 98' out yet. where should I start to take preventative action before I'm on fire in the fl sun broke down on road?

 

[Nico]

Ok...

If it's been a while since you changed your coolant... then do that. If the bike isn't getting into the 230s then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

If it is in to the 230s then you may be getting a bit to high once the heat of summer sets in but you can still ride around with it in the 230s... once it's into the 240s that's when you want to be looking for somewhere to stop and if it goes over 250 then stop right where you are and don't continue riding.

 

[Zhaef]

i saw 233 on a 95 degree day last week i hate it so close to wiring a toggle its easier to keep a motor cool than it is to cool a hot motor and i agree its not great to just park a hot azz motor unless its only gonna get higher id rather pass some cars and get her up to 70mph problem solved

 

[Nico]

wow... some punctuation wouldn't hurt mate! lol

If it's only getting to 233 I wouldn't worry about wiring in a switch.

And there is nothing wrong with turning off a hot motor... once you shut it down it's not going to get any hotter... even if the water in it does.

 

[N_Sandhu]

Had to re-visit this sticky for some piece of mind. Hit 225 today and almost considered pulling over to let her cool down :gun1: