Running Hot
 

I tried to use the search button, but it would not work, so here is the deal. I have an 05 F4I that I rode for the first time today. I noticed that when riding the temp ran around 205-220 on the hwy. My buddy said that is normal for these bikes and that when he bought his new, they said let it warm to 190 before you take it out. I have gone from and Aprillia, to a R6 to a ZX12R to this and none of them ran over 180-185 on the hwy, but this thing stays at 205 at night and 215-220 during the day. Is this normal or is the dealer talking out their butt?

I have an 04 F4i. In HOT stop and go traffic, it will edge up to 225 and the fan will kick in, but when I am driving freeway, it is usually around 170-180. All that cold wind kicking through there really cools it down. As long as it is not stop and go freeway traffic.

My friends F4i was running really hot, and it was really low on coolant. Check that first.

Sounds like your bike is running hot.

That's pretty hot for an f4i...mine rarely sees above 185 unless i'm going slow, stopped, or riding hard.

Mine has been running at 172 consistently on the hwy. I live in WI tho, and it hasnt gotten warm here yet...its like mid 70s for highs so far this yr.

Check the coolant level for sure.

Cruising around town, it is in the 170's, and usually settles down at 172, like everyone else said.

And it's in the upper 90's here.

Granted, it heats up like hell whenever you stop, but as soon as it gets air moving over it, it drops dramatically.

hot
 

My buddy that I bought it from bought it new and said that it has been that way ever since he bought it new. I figured being lowered 3 inches would have something to do with it. I thought of putting an extra fan on it but I should not have to do it. It is hot here, but still, my other bikes never ran that hot.

Lowering has absolutely nothing to do with how hot a bike runs, lol.

On the highway you should be under 200 - there's too much air flow to be that hot. In the city it can vary a lot depending on temperature, speed, stop-and-go, etc. But as long as your fan kicks it, you should be okay regardless.

Oh, and you don't need to wait until 190 to ride the bike, either. Don't listen to your friend (I don't trust people who lower their bikes 3" and aren't five feet tall, lol). A usual rule is just let it warm up until you see the temp gauge read something, usually starts around 100. A little longer if it's in the winter or you haven't ridden it for a few weeks.

Let it idle for 20 minutes then check back... nobody's bike stays that cold unless they're running on full engine ice, even then i'd doubt it. engine temperature doesn't depend on outside air temperature as much as it depends on air flow around the radiator. I've hit 225 on days when i was riding at 30F outside.

the thermostat starts to open around 160. It is fully open around 180 or 185. Fan switch usually kicks on at 225 or so, however that's 225F coolant exiting the engine. The Radiator fan switch activates when temperature inside the radiatior reaches 208 (per shop manual)

Rarely do these bikes get up over 230, however, you're safe to ride them up to 251 indicated.

172 hiway, 180's around town, 200+ at stop lights, check your coolant and thermostat

if your temps are constantly high you might have a bad water pump