small overheating issue, I just cant catch a break!

[krisfnbs]

So I have only been able to ride a few times the past month. Been super busy. I do like 80-90% highway riding. Overheat red light never comes on on the highway, but will come on after a little while idling in city traffic. Once I get the bike moving again and get some air flowing to the rad the light shuts off again.

Im thinking bad thermostar or waterpump? I have not seen any signs of coolant leaking, and the radiator is full. not losing coolant in the overflow either. I cant recall seeing any white smoke out the exhaust either. I figured if I did the rad would be low, and overflow too.

I cant catch a break!!!!!

[max oradea]

Whats the temperate there buddy? If it's like 30 plus and you are doing a lot of stop and go in the city just after high way running then the fan would kick in and then the light should come on after a while.
I have seen my fan come on like only 2 times when I was riding for a long time in the city, but never seen that over heat lamp come on. So check if your fan is working first, have you ever seen it come on before? The fan I mean.
If not then check if it's working, there is a procedure on the manual to check if the fault is at the fan or at the temperature sensor.

[krisfnbs]

Whats the temperate there buddy? If it's like 30 plus and you are doing a lot of stop and go in the city just after high way running then the fan would kick in and then the light should come on after a while.
I have seen my fan come on like only 2 times when I was riding for a long time in the city, but never seen that over heat lamp come on. So check if your fan is working first, have you ever seen it come on before? The fan I mean.
If not then check if it's working, there is a procedure on the manual to check if the fault is at the fan or at the temperature sensor.

Consistent 70-90 degree fahrenheit currently. I have seen the fan come on the past, I can hear it, see it and feel it on my legs. Normally when I ride its about a 35 mile highway trip doing about 60mph... then about 5 miles of city riding. I have seen the light come on at least 3-5 times.

It shouldnt be the thermostat as both upper and lower radiator hoses are very hot. However my radiator when I touch it on both sides the metal piece is just 'warm' I can hold my hand there as long as I want and it will not burn me.

No signs of leaking, no signs of coolant loss in rad or overflow...

Maybe waterpump is not cycling the coolant during idle? but will do so at higher RPM...??

[max oradea]

Has the light come on during high way cruising?

[krisfnbs]

Has the light come on during high way cruising?

No, never has come on during highway riding. I think I figured it out. Im pretty sure I do not have an overheating issue. I think it is just a design flaw or something.

So just this morning I did the normal. Rode about 35 miles highway, 5 miles in the city. Weather was about 70F or so. I was able to make it to the parking garage without the overheat light coming on, this was due to no traffic and I was able to cruise all the way to my work. Once I got to the parking garage I let the bike idle in neutral and this is what happened:

The bike was idling about 3 minutes or so and the overheat light came on. It took the fan about 15~ seconds to come on. The fan stayed on for about 2~ minutes or so. The whole time the fan is on, the overheat light remains on. Once the fan shuts off about 5~ seconds afterwards the overheat light goes off. I kept the bike idling....about 2 minutes later the overheat light came back on and the exact sequence occured again. I did this 3 times. Same sequence. Light goes off AFTER the fan has been on for about 2 mintues.

One of you guys want to see if that same sequence happens with your bike? What baffles me is why is the light coming on when the cooling system seems to be doing its job, and the light goes off AFTER the fan is on for 2 minutes

[max oradea]

Funny thing you have, i am sure my fan kicks in first i never have I seen my light come on, is it possible someone played with your wires? And swapped them between fan and light?
Think about it the normal sequence is fan on then light, after cooling down is light off then fan off.

[krisfnbs]

i highly doubt anyone messed with the wires. I bought the bike from the original owner and he was an older guy who I cant imagine would do something like that...

thats exactly what I thought. Fan on first, then light, then light off and fan off. Im going to let the bike idle into normal temp and see if I get the same thing happen. I know this bike is not 'meant' to do long 60-70mph highway trips so maybe that has something to do with it?

[cors50agility]

Your exact sensor should have usable specs you can test.
Find the temp sensor specs and test accordingly.