Super Tenere temperature when running in hot weather ?

[Cycledude]

When it's above 80 degrees outside what kind of cooling system temperatures does your Tenere show ? Today while riding down a gravel road at about 30 mph mine showed 200-220 degrees would you consider this normal ? When I got back on a paved road going 70+ it took over 5 miles for the temperature to drop below 200.

 

[Riteris]

That seems about right to this newb Tenere rider.

I think seeing the actual temperature go up an down is way more distracting than a less than accurate led bar system.

Hearing the fan turn kick in as often as it does is somewhat disconcerting as well.

 

[Sierra1]

Mine runs 176ish in 95+ degree weather on the highway @ 70+m.p.h., and remains steady. In town, in normal traffic, my fan stays off. In congested traffic, which is the only time my fan will come on, my fan cycles often. I have never looked at the temp when it is cycling on/off; I probably should.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Normal.


But do check the coolant tank beneath the seat now and then. You'll loose coolant if the rubber cap comes loose.

 

[WJBertrand]

Mine runs up to 200F + going slow like that, if you had a bit of a tail wind especially. I think mine will drop down faster and lower at highway speeds though and settle in 170-180 range. Lower ambient temps it'll stay 168-170 as long as I'm moving 30+ MPH.

Having said that my bike has a Flash Tune reflash which resets the fan on temp to 205 and the fan off temp to 195.

 

[steve68steve]

I've noticed the coolant temp at speed runs about 100 degrees above intake temp, which in turn is a few degrees above ambient temp.


Idling, or stop-and-go, or lots of clutch + rev at low speed, will all create heat faster than the un-fanned radiator can dump it. When it gets up to 221, the fan will kick on until it gets back to 212. If your fan doesn't work, temp will climb until the reservoir cap blows and you're boiling coolant. IME.

 

[Cycledude]

The coolant resivor is properly full and I've never needed to add coolant since it was changed last winter, if fact I've never needed to add coolant for the entire 32,000 miles so far.
The fan seems to work fine, I can very easily hear it kick in and out about like I think it should.
To me it seems like the cooling system just isn't big enough for the job but it sounds like everyone else's perform about the same as mine does so guess I will have to quit worrying about it. THANKS for all the very helpful replies !

 

[steve68steve]

... guess I will have to quit worrying about it.

More often than not, that's the best course.


FWIW, I agree that the cooling system seems undersized - the fan works hard in hot weather at low speed. I suppose if it can idle at high revs in 100+ ambient temps with the fan running continuously and not overheat, the cooling system is "just good enough."

 

[Nikolajsen]

And what a noise the fan is making when it is running...sounds like a small jet engine. I guess it could be annoying when driving much in the city...
Maybe a bigger fan running slower, would be nicer (I know not enough space)

 

[Cycledude]

Not often very hot in Wisconsin where I'm from, I've always wondered how the southern Tenere riders got by .

 

[HeliMark]

And what a noise the fan is making when it is running...sounds like a small jet engine. I guess it could be annoying when driving much in the city...
Maybe a bigger fan running slower, would be nicer (I know not enough space)

Ear buds with music. Fan is just a low whine then.

Have ridden in lots of 105+ temps. Both fast, slow, and in heavy traffic. Fan other than when about 30-40+ mph is almost always running, but it has never overheated. Have never needed to add coolant either.

For the OP, mine does the same thing at those temps also. Normal.

Mark

 

[AVGeek]

Not often very hot in Wisconsin where I'm from, I've always wondered how the southern Tenere riders got by .

Previously commuted year-round in Vegas and Phoenix. Fan was kicking in and out frequently, until I hit the freeway for home. It would usually settle down then.

 

[bob dirt]

If you have 32k on it, maybe look at the inlet side of the radiator for bugs and debris. It might just be a good idea to run some water across it anyways.

 

[Cycledude]

If you have 32k on it, maybe look at the inlet side of the radiator for bugs and debris. It might just be a good idea to run some water across it anyways.

Yes I probably should do something like that, on the Goldwing about once a year I spray both radiators with hydrogen peroxide which is well known for softening bugs, let it soak for 5-10 minutes and it's amazing how many bugs get flushed out with a spray from the garden hose.