I've never noticed them after a ride but if I let the bike sit at a high idle, say 1500-2000 RPM they will glow red. Even if I position a box fan or two on either side of the front wheel it still does it eventually glowing about half way between the first and second bend. I usually quit by then and wait for it to cool down before continuing.

Seems scary but I don't notice any adverse effects.

Art.

 

meltdown normal

normal
but don't let it idle too long but
it is normal, on single wall headers
see it on the race bikes a lot
it does seem strange to see
when you first see it

 

Thanks for the replies. Glad to hear that it's not unusual. Was afraid that something was seriously wrong.

 

I had a Honda 450 dirt bike with a Yoshi pipe on it that would glow white it got so hot. My buddies would light their cigarettes off it.

 

You don't say what model or year you have, but this was a common complaint right from the start. My 01 would glow almost to the mufflers. Solution, ditch the AI and use some freer flowing exhausts.

 

It's a 2008 Thruxton. AI removed, with TORs.

 

Well with the AI removed and TORS that doesn't sound normal at all. You're either thrapeing the nuts off the bike or there is something causing it to seriously over-heat. I would be checking the fuelling as it sounds like you are running very lean to me.

 

A haiku:

Your headers glow red
Fear not, this is quite normal
But don't touch it, yeah?

 

My pipes are bright red
Choke is out, air fuel not right
Cool now, chrome is blue


Ah crap, whatever caused this on my bike messed up the chrome on my aftermarket pipes. But this is a Brit bike site, I'll leave the Japanese poetry to the Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki sites.

 

Rejetted for the TORS?

 

To be honest, not sure if it's rejetted as the dealer did the work. And, I ride very conservatively so that's not it. Guess I have to take it in for them to look at. I'm no mechanic, and aside from an oil change, I have no idea what I'm doing. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Triumph don't specify a re-jet when fitting TORs to a Thruxton so you should be fine. Indeed they only used to specify a re-jet for the earlier 790cc Bonnevilles as the 865cc versions have the same needle as the Thruxton. More open pipes (i.e. not TORs) are a different matter (as are the EFI bikes).

Was it dark or dusk when you got home and let the bike idle (so the glowing was more noticeable than in broad daylight)? Did the motor seem abnormally hot? If both pipes were glowing equally I doubt if you actually have a problem at all, but by all means talk to your dealer about it if you're concerned. This glowing has been remarked on several times over the years I've been reading this forum and bearing in mind the motor is largely air-cooled it's not that surprising. Do some dyno runs and see how they glow then!

 

Yeah, I was under the impression that a rejet was not necessary for the TORs, so I never really asked about it. It was dead night when it was idling so the glowing was VERY pronounced. And within seconds of shutting the motor, it stopped. In the daylight I cannot notice it. When running, it does not feel hotter than I have ever experienced with this particular bike. So, it's not as though anything has changed recently. Is there a way to measure the temp of the motor while it's running?

I'll take it to the dealer and see what they say. Currently also have a very small leak from the valve cover so need to have that addressed anyway.

Thanks for everyone's replies so far!!!

 

I just ordered an oil temp gauge from New Bonneville - the type that replaces the oil filler cap. Is this a good way to measure the temp of the motor while it's running? Or good way to measure the relative temp, to see how much it moves while riding, stopped in traffic, etc.? What is the temperature that the oil should be running at? Trying to trouble-shoot this issue on my own before heading into the dealer's shop.

 

Is nobody even going give a nod to that awesome haiku?


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I will give that nod.
It was magnificent in its simple honesty, its truth, and its purity of music which reverberates throughout the forum even now.

 

There are also thermometers that you can just point at a surface and they'll give you a temp remotely.


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People just don't appreciate traditional japanese poetry anymore...

 

What makes a haiku? Haven't done one since middle school.

So, are these temp gauges a good way of monitoring if the motor is overheating?

 

So, are these temp gauges a good way of monitoring if the motor is overheating?

In my view they are an unnecessary distraction and just give you yet another thing to fret over whilst trying to enjoy your ride (and avoid being killed by some moron in a car).

 

I have one of those oil temp gauges that you put in the place of the oil filler cap and yes, it's a dangerous habit to be looking down at it unless you're stopped at the lights. Still I think it's interesting, if nothing else, to be able to keep an eye on your bike and know what normal is under different circumstances.


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I would never consult a gauge like that while I'm moving. I want, more than anything, to see what temp my bike idles at under average conditions. Need to get a base-line to see if it is, in fact, running too hot.

 

This is all starting to make sense. My pipes are badly blued as well. Sounds like it is indeed an issue with the fuel/air mix.

 

Got the temp gauge in the mail and installed it ("install" if you count screwing something on). Went for a quick ride around town - 75 degrees outside, not really going over 30mph, rode for about 6 miles. Temp got up to 225 and stayed there. Not sure if it maybe wanted to go higher if I were out longer. Any ideas what the ideal temp should run at?

 

First, the haiku made my day.

Blue pipes are pretty normal - although I cleaned mine up (painstakingly) and removed the AI...the blue has not returned in years. I also have TOR's and did not rejet (as I have an 865). When I installed the TOR's I cleaned the plugs and ran it for a week for my own edification - inspected the plugs again and had a normal burn.
The bike starts/runs/responds/idles great, so I'm leaving well enough alone.

I HAD a screw in oil temp gauge until I installed the Renntec bars...it is tall so if I ever wanted to add oil again I decided better to return to the stock cap. Mine was in Celsius - typically rain 80 -100 (176 - 212F) even on hot days in traffic, so yours may be running a little warm.

Best thing to probably do is pull your plugs and have a look. Brown is to the best of my knowledge a normal burn...white...lean (and bad).

 

I'm using a free flow exhaust, de-snorkled, but have not removed the AI, maybe that's why mine glow red at high idle....

 

Just got my thruxton back from the dealer and he said the clamps on the R/H carb were loose, therefore it was running lean because air was getting in. But he said the L/H was fine. So, doesn't explain why both headers would glow. Also, the temp gauge on the ride home was at about 200*F. Still seems a bit high based on what some others have said.

Also, I'm idling at 1500 rpms. Is this too high?

 

1500rpm sounds a bit high....it should be 1050-1100 (with max 1200). To me it sounds as if you might still have a leak that's letting in too much air into the system and making it run lean. I wonder if you don't perhaps have the beginings of a vacuum leak? Are there any other symptoms....any other "odd" running? Is your bike stock or what mods do you have? How long are you idling the bike before it's headers glow...these guys are air cooled so a long idle might be exacerbating the symptoms.

I had a '08 Buell XB12S that had the same symptoms. It was caused by the clueless HD tech killing my ECM (dud firmware flash), resulting a bad fuelling map. This ultimately lead to a lean condition and the bike was glowing it's headers on idle. The headers should NOT glow...

 

Mechanic said he checked everything and there are no other air leaks in the system. I've got the AI removed, and TORs. Other than the first couple inches of the headers glowing, she runs great! Sounds good, motor is smooth. Only notice the red glow at night.

So, I guess I should back down the idle a bit. Which direction do I turn the knob? What else should I do? Just let it get to warm and idle, then back the knob down to the desired rpm rate?

 

Was this a dealer mechanic? Because if IMHO, if he is, then what he says he did and what he did are most likely two completely different things. I still don't think the headers should ever glow on idle....after a very spirited ride then "maybe"....but at idle???

If I remember correctly you turn the knob counter-clockwise to reduce the idle speed. I take my bike for a decent ride to get it to proper riding temperature and then I adjust the idle while the bike is idling in the driveway.

 

Yes, my local Triumph dealer's mechanic.

No, not at idle. I have only seen it glow, at night, after riding. But, I don't ride that hard. Just normal speeds. I guess my overall concern is that the motor is running too hot. But, I'm starting to get the sense that this is not a horribly abnormal situation.

I'll ride her and then adjust the idle.