Engine got near red! why? Help or advice

Blunet600 · Nearly there... Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Karma :

I was out the othe day ( sun was out but not warm ) wasnt going fast as i was out with my sister who is learning on her bike, we were in some traffic but were always moving but the temp on my bike was nearer to the red! I've never had that before, even in summer i dont think it got that hot. I have 10w-30 oil in the bike, could that be it?
I havent done a coolant change since i have had it so i am going to do that to see if thats what it could be.
Ive got a 2004 Hornet 600 , its got about 8,000 miles on the clock, i bought it when it had done 3,000.
Any help or advice would be really appreciated.
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Honda - Power of Dreams - NSR 125R - Hornet 600

MarkJ · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Karma :

My Hornet does it all the time - they get really hot quickly if you're going slow in traffic. The fan came on the other day when I had to do a lot of filtering - air temperature was very cold.

MattHirst · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Karma :

In order for us to give you an accurate assessment of your cooling problem, pictures of your sister will be required Razz

The fan used to come on my DRZ400 all the time in slow moving traffic/general slow riding. I wouldn't worry about it until it gets into the red and starts to boil your coolant.

A coolant change might help though, don't they reccomend you change it once a year/after so many miles?
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scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

The Blade is the same goes up near the red and then drops when your moving..

If it went past the red line that would be a concern..

Is your bike water cooled? If so check the levels..
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Ingah · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Karma :

My CB500 fan can be a bugger from time to time by not coming on when the temp gauge gets to halfway (like it should). It's only when this happens it can ever nearly overheat (and then only when slow-moving / queues).
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Dr. DaveJPS · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2008 Karma :

happens all the time on the KTM, really worried me for a while to the extent I took it to a garage (was also a near permanent wet spot on the radiator), they couldn't get it to overheat and there was no fluid loss so have ridden with it.

I'm beginning to think a lot of modern bikes have the fan cut in set too high.
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

If you are really worried it is pretty easy to wire the fan up to a manual switch Thumbs Up

my bike is always running hot in traffic though, just gotten used to it now. AFAIK it should have a cut out if it goes dangerously into the red anyway.

c_dug
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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

I tend to wire in the switch as mentioned.

Be worth checking the state of your coolant.

If it still gets very hot with the fan on and all good on the fluid front youll need to check the thermostat.
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Bubbs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 May 2009 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Blunet600 · Nearly there... Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Karma :

cheers guys, what coolant do i use? The guy at halfords asked me what colour i need and type? i didnt know. Thought it was just coolant then mix with water to a 50/50.
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Honda - Power of Dreams - NSR 125R - Hornet 600

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

any coolant should do really... i just use 50/50 water with crap from the esso garage..