Triumphrat

iansoady

How hot should my engine get? I've just put a couple of hundred miles on the new Tiger and am "recovering" with a nice glass of Bordeaux to rinse the flies out of my teeth. Whilst out I noticed, especially in heavy traffic, that the temperature gauge needle was getting to within a few millimetres or so of the red section. On one occasion I stopped and checked everything I could see - the engine certainly didn't look or smell overheated (and I've seen and smelt plenty!). The radiator was hot all over, but I could touch it, and the hoses were also hot but not excessively. When I hit the open road, the needle dropped but not quite as far as the little line near the cold end of the gauge.

As far as I can remember, when I had my test ride a month or so ago, the needle stayed on the little line. Is this supposed to be the "normal" temperature? The bike has been given its 6,000 mile service as part of the purchase deal by the dealer I bought it from (Knotts of Stratford upon Avon, who have seemed very helpful) - could they have done anything wrong?

FWIW the fuel gauge also seems to be somewhat random in its indications.

__________________
Ian
2004 Tiger 955i
1955 Velocette Viper.

Brock

Welcome matey...some of the early '04 bikes were subject to a recall (mine included). Apparently on some bikes the hoses on the coolant expansion tank were connected the wrong way round (honestly). When she had her 6,000 service Knotts should have checked to see if your bike was one subject to the recall (it probably wasn't).
Having said that, it's been bloody warm lately, and it could be that she's been getting a bit hot under the collar in some traffic, at standstill. So long as the fan's working and there's no coolant squirting out of anywhere you should be OK.

__________________
Chris

brittour95

My experience with "el gato grande" has been that as long as she's moving, the temp gauge stays close to the 'C' line. When stopped, it has never gotten any closer to the red area than 2/3. Has your fan kicked in during these 'higher temp' moments? Check that the coolant level in the upper reservoir is at least half full when cool.

As for the 'fool' gauge, with that odd-shaped tank, there is no way you're going to get a realistic idea of what's left to burn. Ride till the light comes on and start your fuel search. Mine stays close to full for the first 65 to 75 miles, then drops like a stone to 1/4 full and seems to stay there for about the next 75 miles.

__________________
I warn you now, the velocity I'm gathering...

pigpen955

My exxperience is that the coolant gauge is a bit sensitive on hot days in traffic. As long as the fan is coming on and it doesn;t reach the red area it has always been fine.

As far as the fuel gauge is concerned...I am tired of all the griping! What difference does it matter that the gauge does not descend linearly? As long as it is repeatble you will get used to it. Must be there is not much else to complain about :razz:

Fred

__________________
No such thing as cold weather, just inappropriate clothing.

lonewolf

just rode back from new jersey to fl. and had stopped to put on rain gear when the bike spit up coolant and the gauge headed for the red line. until that time the gauge stayed around the lower line and never budged. from the moment the coolant spit out it tended to want to run into the red line and the fan was running. i made appt with dealer to check it out. i had just picked up an 04 tiger off ebay. old owner said he never had the problem of overheating. and i did make it back to fl.

congo_181

Didnt hear any griping - just a comment...
And if the gauge doesnt move from max for the first 1/2 of the tank, theres not much to 'get used to' for 90 odd miles.

Its true that oneremembers its going to happen, but the bike does cost several grand - my old tiger didnt have a gauge, and frankly that was preferable to one that doesn't work properly.

But there's not much else to complain about either :-D

[ This message was edited by: congo_181 on 2005-07-16 10:30 ]

__________________
Jim