Why is my Triumph getting so bloody hot?

[Pothole]

Both mine run hotter than any other bikes I've owned (2013 Tiger Sport 1050 and Speed Four) . The fans kick in and they're fine, though. No boiling noticed.

[gareth_r]

Pothole said:

Both mine run hotter than any other bikes I've owned (2013 Tiger Sport 1050 and Speed Four) . The fans kick in and they're fine, though. No boiling noticed.

The fan on my Speed Four operates when the gauge hits 107°, which it does quite often.

[SteelerSE]

For £400 you could have a shaft drive XJ900:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

It's not a Diversion as the ad states but it's cheaper than a new radiator.

[Tango13]

https://www.aaronradiator.co.uk/index.php?p=home

Just get it re-cored, mine runs much cooler since it's been done.

[anonymous-user]

So instead of spending £500 on fixing a ten year old 100k bike that has never let me down until now, I could spend £400 on a 25 year old almost-100k bike about which I know nothing (and looks like a barn find to boot)?
Nope.....you'll have to explain.

[CaptainSlow]

Sell yours for £1,500, stick in another grand and get something a bit fresher.

[Prof Prolapse]

CaptainSlow said:

Sell yours for £1,500, stick in another grand and get something a bit fresher.

It's hard to let go when you've put time into something but I'd do this personally. You're still at a point where you can sell with a clear conscience as well.

Christ, if nothing else think of the time of your life you've lost already chasing a slightly hot engine!

[anonymous-user]

Nah, not gonna let the fuxker beat me now.
Despite the mileage it's in very good nick, probably better than anything I'd get for £2500, plus I've got it just so, nicely set up and adjusted. I know that can be done to any bike but yeah, I have grown attached to it.

[SteelerSE]

Crossflow Kid said:

So instead of spending £500 on fixing a ten year old 100k bike that has never let me down until now, I could spend £400 on a 25 year old almost-100k bike about which I know nothing (and looks like a barn find to boot)?
Nope.....you'll have to explain.

Just highlighting that there's stuff out there that could do the job for you that could work out cheaper. It is an old snotter but it's air cooled and shaft drive so not a lot to go wrong.

If you're happy replacing major stuff on older machinery that's fine but when I've done that with cars it's usually been an expensive period of ownership. Maybe if it owes you nothing at this point and you like it then why not?

[anonymous-user]

That's the thing. It owes me nowt, so the only expense is running costs. Given the miles I do, I'd say a new rad isn't excessive and to my mind it'd be a shame to let an otherwise good bike go.
Looking at it another way, I'm getting a full service history two owner bike for £500.

[anonymous-user]

New rad.
Sorted.

[crofty1984]

Crossflow Kid said:

New rad.
Sorted.

YEAAAAAH! I was rooting for you and the bike.
I considered chopping my bonnie in for something modern when it let me down, but that was just the anger talking.

Good for you.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks.
Might be the placebo effect but it feels much better overall.
In addition to not getting hot any more, it's also noticeably quieter and a bit smoother, presumably because the cooling system is full of coolant once more, as opposed to a load of cavitation-induced bubbles and froth.

[anonymous-user]

Looks like I spoke too soon.
Couple of days local riding and it was ok.
Then today, longish motorway jaunt....back to square one.
Mate.of mine has suggested the rad was blocked, and now it's free-flowing, that's caused gunk elsewhere to break loose and cause hassle.

[CaptainSlow]

Sell yours for £1,500, stick in another, now £500, and get something a bit fresher.

[anonymous-user]

Is that a thinly veiled "I told you so"?
Our ideas on value clearly differ somewhat.
A quick sniff on Autotrader, the only newer/fresher bike that fits your £2500 criteria is an ex-plod Beemer with double the mileage. Everything else is nearly twice the age of my bike.
That cannot be a step forward in anyone's book and I think mine's worth a bit more digging.
If nothing else, I'm now genuinely intrigued although I'm beginning to doubt the validity of the coolant test my local indy did.

[CaptainSlow]

Lots of 1200 Bandits

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[poo at Paul's]

Is there a temp sender unit?

Sadly it does sound like there may be some HG problem or porosity in the head, but worth checking or changing the easy stuff.

[anonymous-user]

There is a temp sender but that's not the issue really. It's the physical symptoms that add up to some kind of head thing going on.
And I don't want a Bandit.

[cmaguire]

Crossflow Kid said:

There is a temp sender but that's not the issue really. It's the physical symptoms that add up to some kind of head thing going on.
And I don't want a Bandit.

Did you ever change the thermostat?

With your current situation, I might be inclined to run it without the thermostat as a test for a few days.

Edited by cmaguire on Saturday 22 July 13:20