Triumphrat

mlatrella · 12-28-2007

Whats normal oil temp on these bikes after a 2 hour ride?

grayghost · 12-28-2007

I have one of those fancy screw in oil temp gauges from New Bonneville that replace the oil filler plug. (recommended!). As the engines are air cooled and riding conditions vary so much (stop and go traffic, ambient temperature etc.) that this with a grain of salt.

For an extended highway run my 2007 T100 865cc engine will vary between 80 - 100 degrees C, with it usually around 85 -90 degree mark. Stop and go traffic on a very hot summer day and it will shoot up to 110 degrees.

I hope this helps.

mlatrella · 12-28-2007

OK, mine is about 280 when i park it, maybe my new bonneville oil temp gauge is defective??

Deacon · 12-28-2007

He is reading celsius.

That would make his 90-100 degrees 194-212 F

Jimbonnie · 12-28-2007

From a low of 200 F on a highway in Toronto Canada, to a high of 280 F in New Jersey traffic, sounds about right to me.

The Bonnies don't seem to run particularly hot and synthetic oils are certainly up to the temperatures discussed so far. In some ways (retention of condensation which forms acids in the oil) the lower end of the temperature range is potentially more problematic.

REVOLT · 12-28-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbonnie

From a low of 200 F on a highway in Toronto Canada, to a high of 280 F in New Jersey traffic, sounds about right to me.

The Bonnies don't seem to run particularly hot and synthetic oils are certainly up to the temperatures discussed so far. In some ways (retention of condensation which forms acids in the oil) the lower end of the temperature range is potentially more problematic.

280!!!! Synthetic or not...That's CRAZY hot for any air cool motorcycle! I hope you are not running it for long at that temp...anything above 250F should be shut down and allowed to cool for a bit...Mine runs 200 all day...most weather...then 225-230 in stop and go Summer super-slab traffic...When she gets near the 240 mark...I exit...find a local Cafe and let the Bonnie and I cool down a bit...Does anyone else run thier Bonnie that hot? 280F? WOW!

ohiorider · 12-28-2007

I'd say 280F would be pushing it, since a premium oil like Mobil1 VTwin 20w50 brags about still protecting at 300F.

Re my T100, I simply maintain it and ride it. From the mountains to the prairies. Warm Ohio spring days to the heat of Monument Valley and Southern Utah in early June. No oil temp gage. Change syn oil every 4-5k along with filter. The same way I've ridden my air cooled R100GS for the past 110,000 miles. Aside from the fact that the Beemer probably runs cooler, with the jugs out in the windstream, the Bonnie has that monsterous oil cooler, plus she carries 4 quarts of oil vs 3 for the Beemer, and is nearly 200cc smaller.

I'd be concerned if I was sitting in traffic on a 90 degree day with no air movement, and would find an alternate route to get some air moving across the engine and thru the oil cooler. I heard the old Beemer start to rattle when I got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic south of Chicago a few years ago, so I exited and rode a service road ....slow but traffic was moving.

BMWs newer Oilhead bikes have smaller oil coolers and larger engines than our Bonnies, and are ridden in some extremes of temperature. The same engine is used on their Police R1200RTs, but come equipped with fans to pull air thru the oil coolers (thermostatically controlled)when they're stopped and idling.

Bob

rbrian_taylor · 12-29-2007

REVOLT +1, 200-210F normally. Any hotter than 240F is too hot for me and my legs. There is a little red line on those temp gauges from NB at 250F.

HiVel · 12-29-2007

rbrian +1 same deal - not ever over 210 if you are moving.
BTW I have an oil pressure guage too -it seems to like about 72 lbs above idle no mattter what the temp.

GleaminTwin · 12-29-2007

I also have that gauge, and been using it for a couple of years now, in heavy, summer, stop and go traffic mine gets up to maybe 270, but that's only in very severe traffic jams, normal summer highway riding usually about 200, backroads 45 mph summer driving probably about 170 degrees.