New small capacity bikes running warm?

**Delerium** · 2nd August 2018, 18:47

Anybody else notice this.? I have seen a few reports of duke 390s running hot. I have an r3 that smells warm in traffic. Occasionally get an extra bar on the temp gauge too.

**WALRUS** · 2nd August 2018, 18:54

Originally Posted by Delerium

Anybody else notice this.? I have seen a few reports of duke 390s running hot. I have an r3 that smells warm in traffic. Occasionally get an extra bar on the temp gauge too.

Most things get warm in traffic. My R6 was pretty bad and my Ducati is a nightmare (especially with two big exhaust headers running up the inside of your right leg). I don't think it's a small bikes thing, just a bikes bikes thing.

Have you checked your coolant to make sure you're not cooking it?

**AllanB** · 2nd August 2018, 19:25

Originally Posted by Delerium

I have an r3 that smells warm in traffic. Occasionally get an extra bar on the temp gauge too.

Pretty standard shit in traffic on any water cooled bike. Your car's fans will kick in often in slow crawling traffic too.

**Delerium** · 2nd August 2018, 20:20

Thanks for the quick replies.

Yes coolant level checked. I flushed it and put in new coolant a while ago but it was happening before that so nothing has changed.

**Delerium** · 2nd August 2018, 20:21

Originally Posted by WALRUS

Most things get warm in traffic. My R6 was pretty bad and my Ducati is a nightmare (especially with two big exhaust headers running up the inside of your right leg). I don't think it's a small bikes thing, just a bikes bikes thing.

Have you checked your coolant to make sure you're not cooking it?

Yes no coolant issues.

R6 is what I would love to upgrade to. Thanks for the info

**Grumph** · 3rd August 2018, 09:44

Everything now is being asked for higher power per liter. Heat is the byproduct and can't be avoided.

It's put a bigger emphasis on using good oils.

**rambaldi** · 3rd August 2018, 13:18

Originally Posted by Grumph

Everything now is being asked for higher power per liter. Heat is the byproduct and can't be avoided.

It's put a bigger emphasis on using good oils.

And not picking one that is too thick for the heat range your bike will be operating in. Thinner oils will reduce frictional losses, but go to far and it won't adhere when everything gets up to temp. Luckily we don't have the huge temp shifts that more continental places like the US have.

**Grumph** · 3rd August 2018, 16:50

Originally Posted by rambaldi

And not picking one that is too thick for the heat range your bike will be operating in. Thinner oils will reduce frictional losses, but go to far and it won't adhere when everything gets up to temp. Luckily we don't have the huge temp shifts that more continental places like the US have.

Speak for your end of the country - from snow to high 30's/low 40's where I live....

**FJRider** · 3rd August 2018, 17:42

Originally Posted by AllanB

Pretty standard shit in traffic on any water cooled bike. Your car's fans will kick in often in slow crawling traffic too.

Air cooled bikes in slow traffic aren't that great at keeping cool either.

I had a SOC CB750 Honda in Singapore ... I fitted an oil cooler to the top front of the engine to increase/cool what oil was flowing through the engine.

There have been systems (home built and commercial) fitted to cooling systems for this reason. Any extra reservoir to increase the capacity of the fluids needing cooled is a bonus.