Where does your VFR like to run - temp-wise?

Got an '06 with about 250 miles on it. While riding yesterday (relatively mild temp day - mid 60's), the temp gauge hit 220 while sitting at a traffic light, then struggled to get below 195 until I got home.

I bought the bike back in November when the temps were cooler, so this is my first experience riding the bike when the temp was above 45.

I'm wondering if this is common or if I have an overheating problem. If it has this trouble when it's 60 out, am I going to be able to ride it when it's 80 out?

TIA!

 

I'd say that's pretty common. These bikes run on the hot side, especially when newer. I've been stuck in painful traffic with ambient temps in triple digits before and was a little worried, but I haven't encountered any issues. Guess those little fans really do the job.

 

Even in the cooler months, my '07 will turn on the fan in stop and go traffic, and not cool off (<200) until I can run down the road for several miles at 45MPH plus.

 

I would say at crusing speed cold temps It runs about 180 wrm temps about 190-200. At ligths and trffic I hit 220 in a snap. THe fans kick in and it starts to drop but not too far.

 

I have often wondered the same thing. The replies so far sound close to what mine runs. Now I feel better.

 

37 degrees 2 weeks ago and she was 165 - 173
86 degrees today and she was at 190ish
have not paid much attention lately

 

I've hit 226 here in GA in Interstate traffic. But from what I understand they can go up to 250 before the temp gauge starts warning you (blinking, etc). That's definitly when you should pull over and turn off the bike. If it ever gets that high it also means you probably have a coolant problem.

 

I have an 04 that I got used about 6 months ago. Anyway, mine always seems to run about 100 degree warmer than the outside temp when cruising. Especially on the freeway. One example is cruising on the freeway, it's 37-40 degrees outside, my bike runs at about 145 on the temp gauge. Does anyone else notice this, I would think the thermostat would keep it a little warmer? It does kick the fan on at traffic light if it's 70 or warmer outside. It's very common to get in the 200-220 around town stop-n-go traffic.

 

Opps double post.

 

Appreciate the responses. I'll worry a little less. :smile:

 

I was told bysomebody else that Digital temp guages are a blessing and a curse.... You know the real temp but then you know the real temp... a needle guage with a white zone and hot zone and when it's in the red you shut down without ever really knowing what the real temp is is a blessing because ignorance can be bliss... if middle white zone is actually 200 degrees and bottom of red is 230 you might panic sooner if you really knew the temp...

 

My '07 also runs about 200-220 in traffic. Sounds a little hot to me, but that's the way Honda designed it. Temps that high burn all the crap out of the cat.

 

We had a real nice warm day here and I hit 223 in traffic. I guess it's how lean they dial these bikes in to be low emission that makes 'em run so hot. Probably a PCIII would fix that. It sure richened up my '08 HD and made it run a lot cooler.

Cooler engine = longer life. Right?

 

Whew

Good thing I checked here first, mine hit 105 celsius and i started to get worried, guess that's normal but DAMN, that's hot.

 

My fan comes on at about 104c (219) and goes off at 96c (205).

On a cool day like <10c (50) she runs about 70c (158) or so. On a warm day 15c>(60) she runs about 90ish (194). City riding add about 10c to each.

 

Depends on the temps outside, all thou the needle hardly ever gets much above the cold line, till June, fan comes on when the needle is half way.

 

Sounds like your thermostat is stuck open. Same thing happened to my '04 last year when the air temperatures turned cooler. I had the t-stat replaced and now it never gets below 167 even on 20 deg (F) days after warming up.
Quick way to verify is to check the left radiator while the bike is warming up. If the left radiator starts to feel warm before the temp gauge hits 170, then the thermostat is hosed.

 

55 deg. outside temp 5500RMS running at 170 engine temp. Temperature taken tis morning.

I'll try to remember to check the temp on the trip home. They are calling for 80 here.

 

This is how mine is up here in the northeast. I thought that thermostat may be stuck open, but there seem to be a number of folks who report the same behavior. This a.m. was ~50*F and bike was 160*F. Mine will/can go >200*F, but it has to be warm ambient as well as in stop & go traffic.

Normally 180*F or so coolant temp indicates proper combustion temps. Some bikes will not use the normal FI map below that temp; not sure about VFR. My other bikes run pretty constant at 185*F while moving at normal ambient (40*-90*F) and immediately start to notch up after coming to a standstill.

[edit] I just saw Rodon's post...maybe stuck T-stat is a common problem. I'll have to give that diagnostic check a try. Thx.

 

86 deg. outside qair temp. 220 engine temp. I was running 185 engine while crusing at hwy speeds. I hit some traffic and up up and away it went to 220 tehn the fan kicked on.
after the runup to 220 the temp would not drop below 198 running temp.