I was getting close to overheating on Friday (Stop and go traffic). My question is is the plastic coolant container under the seat, is that for overflow or is there suppose to be coolant in it for backup? I thought there was stuff in it last year (Maybe I was just seeing things). Thanks guys.

 

Overflow

 

Thanks.

 

can ya explain what it does the excess justoverflows into there?
coulda sworn it was called a reserve? just need to know because iwas stresing about this a few weeks ago

 

when the engine heats up the coolant expands, when this happens it would have to push the fluid out on to the ground or hold the pressure which would be blown hoses etc,
so when the coolant gets hot and expands the excess fluid is pushed into the coolant reservoir, as the engine cools a vacuum is created from the cooling coolant shrinking which draws the excess coolant back from the reservoir and into the engine,
as with any system of this nature there is a certain amount of coolant that turns to vapor and goes to the atmosphere which is why you need to check the reservoir fluid level, unless your system is going empty every few days or weeks then it just normal evaporation of the system, instead of a leak.

anyone else feel free to to add or correct me on the above but i think its about right, best of luck hope it helps

 

basically everyone is right. It's an overflow/reserve. It has fill lines on it to hold a reserve amount of coolant in it, as well as enough room for the coolant to expand into it.

 

sweet. learned something new thanks

 

Thanks again guys. I also learned something new.

 

So, is the bike suppose to leak coolant if it gets too hot too fast?

 

where is the fluid leaking from? do you mean the reservoir is over flowing?

how fast is fast? if the coolant heats up really fast less than 5 minutes and is boiling outthen i would guess you have a faulty thermostat, or sometimes the coolant may not be hot but give the effect of boiling which is caused by blown head gasket or warped / cracked head or cylinder wall, causing the compressed fuel/air from a cylinder to be pushed in to the coolant system, kinda like blowing through a straw into a glass of soda.