Hi everyone,
I need some help with my bike. I really dont know anything about bikes but i just wanted some opinions because i havent seen anything online with anyone having the same problem as me. I just got it this summer and its been having some issues overheating. The bike was dumped previously and the fan switch snapped off the side of the radiator. After that was when we started having issues. At first it would overheat and bubble over the top of the radiator, and wouldn't cool down even though I was moving. We sat in a parking lot after and got all the air pockets out (I don't know what this process is called) and it seemed okay for a little bit after that. Then just yesterday I went on a ride and pretty quickly it started to overheat (I honestly just thought at this point my guage is wonky because it wasn't overheating from the radiator) so I kept going and it was still getting hotter and eventually coolant started pouring out of the run off and my clutch lever went loose. The fan turns on but doesn't stay on. Even though my fan isn't functioning properly I should still be able to ride and have it not overheat. What could be causing my bike to overheat even when its going and not stuck idling? I just want to ride my motorcycle without it overheating :(
It could be several things the thermostat may not be opening, radiator may be clogged, maybe low on fluid, flush the radiator and check the radiator cap it could be the cap is not holding pressure.
Thank you. I do actually feel like it is an issue of coolant not getting to the appropriate place. How would I know if its my thermostat not opening up?
After it has been running for a short time remove the radiator cap and see if the fluid is circulating if it's not then you will know that the thermostat is not working.
Jerry is giving you an easy way to test the thermostat.
If you're not sure after that and you want to test it using the Honda service manual method, you're supposed to take it out and boil it on the stove suspended in fluid and note at what temperature it opens. Now they want you to actually boil it in coolant but I wasn't going to do that. The service manual has the temperature range for opening and closing. I can't remember it off the top of my head.
Thanks guys. I'm gonna try flushing it out this weekend and I ordered a new cap so hopefully that'll help. I'm also gonna test the thermostat too. I'll keep you posted if it works or doesn't.
So we flushed it and got the air bubbles out and the thermostat seems like its working but its still getting really hot and not cooling off when you ride it. It still continues to get hotter and my fan is still turning on. If it was my radiator cap that was the issue, are there tell tale signs? For instance, should the coolant be bubbling out from the radiator cap?
No the coolant should not be bubbling out of the cap, your cap may be losing pressure.