Possibility of Overheating During Summer Riding

[rogijero]

Hey all,

I recently discovered the parking garage at work doesn't charge for motorcycles so I've been taking the Kat to work a few times a week. I am currently living in Cambridge, MA so the traffic is less than ideal. We have had a few 90+ days when I've been in stopped or slow moving traffic. It isn't a very long commute, 6 miles or so, but I was wondering if I'm doing my bike any harm. The air cooled set-up doesn't seem sufficient and I was wondering at what point I should pull over and let it cool down.

Thanks as always

[Sjorge3442]

For short times intervals the engine will cool better when running than turned off. Its an oil cooled engine, its constantly circulating oil around the engine and as the oil gets pumped into the oil cooler it is cooling down regardless of whether the bike is sitting still. Dont worry about. These engines were built for this type of stuff.

[thetable]

I have an oil temp gauge on mine, and used to spend an hour in traffic, and, it would get hot on 90F+ days. Basically when the idle starts to climb, it's time to kill the engine.

Oh, and might want to check your local laws. I know in Virginia, an oil cooled motorcycle is allowed to take to the shoulder when traffic is stopped.

[STULER]

I have an oil temp gauge on mine, and used to spend an hour in traffic, and, it would get hot on 90F+ days. Basically when the idle starts to climb, it's time to kill the engine.

Oh, and might want to check your local laws. I know in Virginia, an oil cooled motorcycle is allowed to take to the shoulder when traffic is stopped.

Wish that would be allowed in Wisconsin! Id take the kat everywhere!

[Nero]

I have an oil temp gauge on mine, and used to spend an hour in traffic, and, it would get hot on 90F+ days. Basically when the idle starts to climb, it's time to kill the engine.

Oh, and might want to check your local laws. I know in Virginia, an oil cooled motorcycle is allowed to take to the shoulder when traffic is stopped.

Take to the shoulder and sit, I believe.

[solgerny]

I have an oil temp gauge on mine, and used to spend an hour in traffic, and, it would get hot on 90F+ days. Basically when the idle starts to climb, it's time to kill the engine.

Oh, and might want to check your local laws. I know in Virginia, an oil cooled motorcycle is allowed to take to the shoulder when traffic is stopped.

would have loved to have known this two fridays ago.
for me to ride 24.6 miles it took over 2.5 hours and twice i had to sit to let her cool down.

[thetable]

Take to the shoulder and sit, I believe.

I'll have to dig for the code...

[Nero]

My '14 has a radiator, but older '14s and 'busas must pull off and sit if we're stagnant for more than about 5 minutes. The newer '14s and 'busas don't have as much of a problem, because they've dual fans and larger radiators (because people were complaining about overheating) but my year model only had a single fan, and that's an issue. However, I ride in the country almost to exclusivity, so it hasn't presented itself as an issue.

[thetable]

My '14 has a radiator, but older '14s and 'busas must pull off and sit if we're stagnant for more than about 5 minutes. The newer '14s and 'busas don't have as much of a problem, because they've dual fans and larger radiators (because people were complaining about overheating) but my year model only had a single fan, and that's an issue. However, I ride in the country almost to exclusivity, so it hasn't presented itself as an issue.

My Connie tries to cook my shins (shinders) if I so much as get stuck behind another vehicle, much less traffic. The bike itself is doing just fine.

...still digging through 46.2-8, but not finding it, perhaps I remembered incorrectly, or perhaps the code was changed. Either way, don't do it just yet.

[Katana91_750]

I know if i'm going under 15 mph and stopping and sitting and going again my rpm's lower and if they go under 800 it knocks... I either have to keep rev'n the engine or pull over to stop... gets annoying and the seat gets a little warm (uber more then little).

[zuma]

"exclusivity"...now there's a cool term. My 03 zzr1200 has dual fans, but I still watch it in those situations. Of course I live in an oven in the summer when I'm in Tejas and can't enact a GFOT.

[thetable]

GFOT.

??? Not in my acronym lexicon.
Get the F Out of Texas?

[zuma]

??? Not in my acronym lexicon.
Get the F Out of Texas?

You nailed it, Joseph.

[scottynoface]

My '14 has a radiator, but older '14s and 'busas must pull off and sit if we're stagnant for more than about 5 minutes. The newer '14s and 'busas don't have as much of a problem, because they've dual fans and larger radiators (because people were complaining about overheating) but my year model only had a single fan, and that's an issue. However, I ride in the country almost to exclusivity, so it hasn't presented itself as an issue.

Yep, my bike has a single fan and it gets pretty freakin hot in traffic as well.

[brentwoodkris]

Yeah, my SV1K gets pretty hot too when I'm sitting behind a car with no breeze and no movement. It's water cooled and even I've been known to shut her down on days where it's really hot. Lane splitting isn't legal here in MO unfortunately.