New Gen6 owner, need advice on running temps

Hello everyone.
I picked up a 2004 Matte Black VFR800A yesterday. :smile: One owner with 8K on the clock. Everything including the tires are original. Replacing tires in a couple of weeks even though the originals are still showing available wear. I think I'm going with the Pirelli Angels as my replacement choices.

My Question is regarding operating temps. I'm seeing 225+ degress under normal riding in 50 degree weather. Fans are working to offset the temps but I'm thinking this is too high. I think I read the temp should be in the high 180's regardless of outside temp. I also read that a sticky thermo can cause a reverse condition (low temps) so I'm wondering if a stuck closed thermo can cause the reverse? Seem logical to me? Anyone experience this?

I'm in the Washington DC area if there a some VFR's clubs in the area please say hello.

 

Nah I hang out around 225 when warmed up. Now it shouldn't climb past that.

 

Hey Cowboy, welcome sir. I'm just north of DC in Rockville, we should get together soon and ride!! As for your running temps, they sound a wee bit high. If they're stayin under 230 you should be ok, but if they're allready goin up that high you may have problems once it gets hot around here. Check your coolant level (both the overflow bottle AND at the RH radiator where the pressure cap is) sounds like it may be a bit low or need some fresh coolant. :welcome:

 

Hey, did you buy the one that was sitting over at Ram Cycles????????

 

Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I cannot remember off hand if it was creeping up past 225 or not I think it's hovering around there and when get wind moving across her definitely the temps drops. My experience is with air cooled bikes and autos. I remember tracking my turbo mazda and anything over 220 was considered hot.

Not sure; this bike was for sale on CraigsList by the owner. It's possible it was on consignment there?

 

yeah.....you bought an Accord. Change the oil,keep good tires on it,fuel it with good stuff and beat the crap out of it.

 

@ poconovfr Great info; maybe I should get a Soccer Dad sticker for it :O).

 

http://www.motivatedmonkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/soccer-milf.gif

.....................or maybe just a hot soccer mom for the back:flex:

 

The temperature should be around 165 to 180°, If the bike is idle it can reach to 220 to 225° that is normal for VFR.

 

Yep, I have some experience with a hot VFR.



:laugh:

In my bike's case, a dealership isolated it to a faulty radiator cap with a deformed seal. After replacing that and changing out the coolant, runs about 180°F below 65°F ambient, around 210°F when under way above 30 mph when ambient is 90°F.

BTW, welcome to the group.

 

mine runs that hot at idle.

 

I'm in So. CA. and ride from 50 to 100 ambient temp. '07 RWB. It always warms up to 215-220 and will creep to 225 idling at stoplights. Seems high but that just the way they are. At 222-225 the fan does start to cycle on and off.

 

I'd change your coolant, and radiator cap too just to be sure. A stuck open thermostat can also cause that. The thermostat on my 99 stuck open and stayed at this partially open state, causing the bike to tend to run a little hot once fully warm.

 

I almost drove 3hrs to look at the bike you bought haha

I'm down in Hampton and found another vfr in Norfolk to pick up

-Drew

 

Welcome! In normal conditions (actually moving on the road 30MPH +) I run around 225-230*. When in traffic, I've been as high as 245* (Friday in 77* weather here in PA), and 250* back in July up in Vermont in 100*+ weather.

 

YIKES!! :shocked: Now that's a little too high for normal operating temps. You should never see 250 or run at 230 and above on a regular basis. I'd be worried about the thermostat or coolant levels with those temperatures.

 

Mind you, I have a 5th Gen ;-)

 

I see that... I stand by my statement...

 

I hit 250* once, in 100*+ ambient temps, in traffic. I hit 244* Friday in near 80* ambient temps, with less than 5 MPH moving/stopped traffic for over an hour. Normal range in say, 50* ambient temps, is around 180-190* when cruising 45 MPH+. I will be checking my system anyway.

 

Funny... I replied almost this same thing on another thread a little while ago... mine typically runs at 225 in the summer. Mine has been as high as 255 when I rode through Death Valley, and at 255, it starts blinking. I kept 'er going though cause the elevation was higher a few miles up the road and once I hit the higher elevation, the air cooled down and so did she. No known adverse consequences and that was about 2 years ago.