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On the way home today i glanced down and noticed the temp gauge was reading 129 degrees and flashing. It was only then the fans kicked in and it dropped down to 82-83. A bit worried i kept my eyes on the temp and when i stopped it crept up to 98 and the fans kicked in. I haven't had this happen before even sat in stationary traffic on a hot day. My queries are: Is this normal? What temp are the fans supposed to kick in? If it's not normal what can i do about it?
Thanks

Def not normal. My temp change is gradual, I've never seen over 98C, fans kick in at 96C and turn off at 92C (on mine anyway). would think either a leak/air lock, or faulty sensor. Definitely check your coolant level as a priority

Fans do kick in at about 96C and off at about 90C (give or take).
I have seen temperatures above 100 but very rarely - really hot weather, stuck in traffic - beyond the ability of the fans to cope. As I say, almost never does it go above 96.
Normal riding it tends to stick at about 76C - which I guess is the temperature at which the thermostat opens.

What Firestarter recommends would be the places I'd start looking.

Agree with all posted so far - definitely not normal.

My fans kick in at 94 and turn off at 90. Normal running temp when moving is 67-68 on mine.

It is unlikely to be an airlock unless you have changed the coolant recently or there is a leak.

Check the coolant level, if it is low that would explain it. The next thing to do is find the reason for it to be getting low. Check for leaky radiators and coolant piping. If a lot of coolant had escaped and it is leaking, it should be fairly obvious where it is leaking from.

If you can't find a leak, fill it up and keep a very close eye on it. It could possibly be a blown headgasket, although i have never heard of one going on the falco before. When the GPZ head gasket went, the whole bike smelled very sweet when hot, particularly the exhaust gasses and the coolant bottle would boil and overflow. Oh and the bike would run like crap.

Saying that, I definitely notice when mine gets to 90. I wouldn't rule out a faulty temperature sensor either. If it was a real reading, by the time it got to 129 I would be trying to open the sauna door and get out...

Well i've checked the coolant and it was low so thats been topped up. I've checked the wires to the sensor and they seem ok. I'll fire it up and run it till it's hot in a bit and see how that goes. The bike defo needs a service as i don't know when it was last done. It doesnt appear to have any leaks so i'll keep tabs on it and look out for someone in Notts who knows what they are doing to service it. Any recommends?

Get it down to Aprilia performance in Tamworth if you can, Griff knows everything Aprilia.

Is it too early to put this one down to "Global Warming"

Dalemac wrote:My fans kick in at 94 and turn off at 90. Normal running temp when moving is 67-68 on mine.

How do you manage such a low temperature? I've never seen mine running below 76C (and that was on a very cold morning.)

There is an alternative thermostat that runs cooler, presume it's for warmer climates. Mine is generally at 76-78C, depending on the cooling rate over the rads

Viking wrote:

Dalemac wrote:My fans kick in at 94 and turn off at 90. Normal running temp when moving is 67-68 on mine.

How do you manage such a low temperature? I've never seen mine running below 76C (and that was on a very cold morning.)

I don't know - it has always run at that temperature since I have owned it.

Dale

Viking wrote:

Dalemac wrote:My fans kick in at 94 and turn off at 90. Normal running temp when moving is 67-68 on mine.

How do you manage such a low temperature? I've never seen mine running below 76C (and that was on a very cold morning.)

It's because a cold day down there is like summer here :)

Mine runs at about 68 on the motorway at 80 (sorry I mean exactly 70mph :) ) about 76 on normal roads when hooning and when i stop it shoots up to 95 before the fans kick in and drop it back to 89-90

My fans kick in at 99 and off at 97, normal running temp about 76 to 78, rising rapidly in the snail trail.
Fan cut in point a bit high really, automotive industry standard is kick in at 98, cut out at 95

well i ran it up today and the fan kicked in at 99 so i'll keep tabs on it but it will be paying a visit to Griff for a full service once i get the time and some reddies spare.

I took out the fan sender yesterday and did the old boiling water to cold water trick for a good 15-20 minutes last night. Then i cleaned up all the connectors and also the relay connectors. Fired it up this morning and as soon as the temp hit 94 the fans came on hit 90 and off they went again. I cycled this for a few times and it all seems fine now Think i'll still order a new sender just to be on the safe side but for now it all seems hunky dorey.

Well after a brief run today the temp was up and down which seems very odd and the fan was coming on at all sorts of temps. So i don't know if it's an electrical problem and the temp is not showing right on the dash or the fan sender is tattered and the temp was up and down because of the traffic stop start. Although it was not extraordinary traffic and i don't recall the temp going up and down whilst stationary and the fans not on before. perhaps there's an airlock? but it was fine although it did need a bit of a top up. Further investigation in order i think.