I was stuck in a tunnel and it was about 100 degrees in there with all the traffic and the tunnel is very long. Well needless to say I couldnt shut the bike off since we kept going at a stop and go pace. Well the engine temp climed to 220....230....240...i think 250 than started blinking for like 5 mins. I was so pissed but what could i do?? I couldnt ride down the center either to get out. Do you think I did any damage? The bike has only 1800 miles on it and this never happened before?? It seems to run fine now but when I was finally leaving the tunnel it seemed to be ticking somewhat loudly but when it cooled down it never did it again. Maybe im just being worried but who knows.....

 

Yeah, it's fine. The bike got hot and thinned the oil; that is why you heard more ticking. Start using Synthetic oil. It will reduce your operating temperature by reducing friction and if it overheats, the engine will be better protected from damage. Also try Water Wetter in your coolant.

 

For me when the temps got really hight I would give it a little bit of revs and the temp comes down a little

 

+1 I don't think you did anything, but I would have been nervous too.

 

Got lucky on that one it seems... i use full synthetic and water wetter and my temps never exceed 212 in and over 100 degree weather in stop n go traffic.

 

Meh I use water wetter and full syn and I go up to 230 every day. That's when I turn it off and it stops circulating though or a long red light.

250 would worry me too but I worry about my bike to much lol you'll be fine.

 

I get in the 210-220's a lot over here. Once I changed to full syn and changed my coolent the bike ran cooler. I also turned up the idle a bit. It was set at about 750 rpm but the bike seemed to get hot at stop lights so I brought it up to 1.5k and the bike seems much happyer and cooler.

 

thanks for the suggestions. I got some water wetter today at advance auto parts on sale for 6 bucks. I will add some tomorrow. Should you put it directly in the radiator or the overflow bottle?

 

You will have to drain some to add the Water Wetter. Follow their directions for the best results.

 

i have a 2000 and it gets hot really fast. after a stop sign and a few minutes of travel between 15-30 mph it gets into the low 200's. its up to 215 after just minutes of stop and go. just changed to synthetic oil but the coolant is old so i'm going to try to change that which sounds like it may help. is there and anyway theres something wrong with the thermostat????