i took my 1000 hurricane out yesterday about 85 degrees out
and ran on the back roads for a bit everything was fine

when i got into town i would sit at a red light and the temp wout climb up to hot
traffic was light and i was only sitting for maybe 2 mins or so
as long as i was moveing it stayed cool

thermostat or water pump???

 

My temp gauge creeps up at idle too, I always thought that was normal. I know Honda ditched the temp gauges on the VT1100s after the first two years because it just worried people! So long as the bike is not actually overheating to the point of shut down you should be fine.

That being said it's always good to do a coolant flush and ensure your system is working properly. Make sure the thermostat opens and your fan switch is working.

 

Check your electric fan is coming on. If not, check radiator fan electrical connections.

 

some one has by passed the fan switch and it stays on all the time

 

Then I'd say you have a blockage somewhere, water level is low or the thermostat is stuck.
Not good to have the fan running all the time, have a switch to turn it off when it's not in traffic.

 

Hi all, is it spewing out coolant through the overflow? if not check your overflow, the tube in the overflow coolant tank goes to the bottom and while you ride will get rid of any coolant in there at one point you will be very low on coolant ( it happened to me), I cut the tube halfway, after replace your thermostat , easy to do half and hour, if it does not open you will have that trouble and use a new o'ring in the housing.

It cure problem with mine, also while being there flush your rad with a mixture of distilled water and white vinegar. it cleans and won't attack the aluminum in the rad. also check the fins on the rad if some are bent.

That cured the problem on mine.

 

i run this stuff called engine ice in my bike. It stays cool while riding, and even riding downtown at a low speed and higher rpms, along with sitting at a idle (i love making noise sometimes) it will creep up and eventually stop, fan kicks on and off, but never gets higher. A lot better than other off the shelf coolant i had in it before.