Newbie saying hi and asking a simple question

I am about to purchase a 2000 RS Sprint, whilst on the test ride the engine seemed to run very hot. weather was warm circa 24c, whist the bike was moving it seemed happy to operate at between 85 and 95C, however i pulled over for a few mins(6-7) with the engine running and the temp raised to 120 and the warning light came on, once moving again everything calmed down. is this normal? I asked the guy at the garage and he said all Triumphs run hot - is this true? I am concerned about overheating whist in heavy traffic and filtering, can anyone put my mind to rest?

The bike is a 2000 with 5k on the clock fitted with an art can.

P.s it felt "lumpy" in first gear any comments

Thansk in advance

[vdlcinc]

my C to F conversion is not the best.. but I would be concerned if the warning light came on that quick... maybe it needs coolant or oil or something...

I live in Texas... translation - a very hot place in the summer... although my normal running temp while moving is between 177 and 185 F... I do get up to about 213 F when sitting at a light... but the warning light doesn't come on... the fan kicks on and keeps it around there...

hope that helps...

[Nelson955]

213 F is virtually 100 C.

Bob

[DaveM]

Oakdene
I think Don is on the money. They do get hot in heavy traffic, sitting at lights etc but so do most sports bikes in these conditions.
I think my fan kicks in as soon as it starts to get hot same as my GSX R600 did at around 110 C. But I would be concerened about the warning light coming on, that is not normal.
It gets pretty hot here in Brisbane in summer but I have never had warning light come on.

Get it checked by the dealer asap.

cheers,
davem

[DaveM]

Sorry oakdene,
welcome aboard.

davem

[welshrob]

Welcome aboard, Davem`s right. We constantly ride in temperatures above 30 deg C, they will get hot at a standstill but I`ve never had the warning light on. The warning light, by it`s very nature, means that something is WRONG! Probably means all is not well with the cooling system. Did you hear the fan cutting in ??

[dolson]

Welcome,

This should not be taken for granted that these bikes run hot.

I have had to sit at a construction site in 110' temp. the temp gage would go up to 1/3 scale and the fan will kick in and the temp. will go back down. I have been in plenty of hot weather and my bike responds like it should.

Do I get some hot air from the fairing gills? Yes, but that dissipates in a bit.

Sometimes someone will over fill the catch tank. Cold, I make sure mine is at the low mark. Usually if you fill it to the high mark it will spit and siphon out. Also, sometimes some folks don't get the system burped. This will cause a over heat condition if there is an air bubble trapped in there too.

Try the simple things first. Check to see if the fan is cycling properly.

But, for someone to say that these run hot is not right. They run in the same temp. range as any other liquid cooled internal combustion engine, and should maintain a specific temp range, and not keep getting hotter.

Don

[Ron_F_D]

I do get up to about 213 F when sitting at a light... but the warning light doesn't come on... the fan kicks on and keeps it around there...

Same on my 00 RS... 213 F, (100 C) in traffic.

Sounds like the fan is not coming on when it should. That is why once you have air moving over the radiator because of movement, it goes back to normal. Might also be very low on coolant, but if that is true, why? Leak somewhere?

uhm...? 'lumpy' ? Not sure what you mean. Perhaps the engine was cold and you goose it?

The previous owner of my bike did not ride the bike much and therefore I have only about 2200 miles (3500 Km) on the odometer. That means the gearbox is still breaking in so when it's cold the gears are TOUGH to shift. Once it warms Up (about a minute or so), the gears are buttery smooth. This should pass by the 5000 mile mark. My Suzuki did the same thing.
Hope some of all that helps. Good luck.

[ This message was edited by: Ron_F_D on 2005-09-13 07:40 ]

[UK-SPD]

Somethings to add.
A 2000 RS, you might need to replace your fluids. It might be cheaper then having the dealer charge for a diagnostic and then they just change the coolent for you.

My ST runs hot in traffic and the fan kicks in from time to time.

[vanpraag]

My 2000 RS does exactly what everyone has said. In traffic, temp comes up and fan comes on. Make sure you don't have an air pocket in the system and that the fan comes on, about 213 deg F (100 deg C).