Well, not quite, not yet anyway. But it seems that now that it's warmed up outside, sitting still at the lights/in traffic for even the briefest of moments sends the temperature shooting up, as is perhaps to be expected. However, although the fans kick in they don't seem to be able to actually stop the temperature increasing, just slow it down a bit. To my mind at least this seems wrong, I've never had a bike where the fans couldn't contain the heat being produced (not one without a full fairing anyway!). Anyone experienced similar before I go query with Snells? (add it to the flaking waterpump cover)
I agree. The cooling system seems pretty marginal. It's fine when you're moving along, even climbing steep hills on hot days. But when you are stationary or in slow moving traffic, temperature soon rises from the thermostat opening point (about 64 deg) to the fan switching on point (about 103 deg). The fans are not really strong enough, and don't move enough air through the radiator, so temp can keep rising to 110 deg or more which gets a bit worrying. As soon as you get moving at say 20 mph or more, the temp soon drops into the 80s or 90s. In a car - any modern car - the size of the radiators and fans is always enough big enough to keep the temp stable, including while stationary, towing caravans up hills, hot weather etc. The constraints of space, weight and price make things more difficult for bike designers. Ducati seem to have cut it a bit too fine in the case of the MTS. I test-rode a Panigale recently and it was getting even hotter in traffic, so much so that my legs were getting uncomfortably roasted. Just to confuse us further, some early Multis had defective radiators where an internal fault reduced water flow and made overheating even worse. Those were replaced under warranty, I believe. But that is a different issue from the marginal cooling of all 1200 Multis. I wonder if it would be possible to fit slightly stronger fans, which might help?
I knew about the rad issues (and didn't think mine was faulty), but at least it seems I'm not alone in thinking the cooling is marginal. I'm not surprised by the Panigale, I'm fairly used to faired in sportsbikes cooking off; my dad's ZXR used to do it (and turn the frame into a heatsink), and my mate's ZX7/9 was a complete pig for it - more than about 20-30 seconds at a standstill and the temp gauge was bouncing off the top end of the gauge. The fans do seem a bit lazy so there may be something in getting them to spin a bit faster.
the solution could possibly be to fit a couple of shafts out of the beak with a propeller on the end of each. mts not really designed to town traffic i have found every time I take it into town (london). gets hot and bothered quite quickly and fans kick in, never had a issue and rad/fans seem to keep it in check, but I would not say its a happy-mts environment. as its a 'global' bike I dont think we should worry about it too much otherwise our US, and other hot-country cousins would have raised this as a major point, the temp in the uk is afterall very mild 20-30's as opposed to some other places.one thing that i would mention however, is that when idlying did you know that it actually drains the battery as alternator doesnt kick in until 4-5 k - found this out when I had a dodgy alternator (replaced under warranty) and I left it running outside (so that I didnt have to struggle to re-start bike)- it actually started spluttering and lights started dimming.bugs
When you say overheating, has it actually started displaying it's overheating with symbol/warning light, or is it just the temperature shooting up to 110-115C that makes you worried? On mine the fans go crazy, and in really hot weather, I can reach 115-120C, but I have not yet had it overheating. I don't like looking at it either, but have had other bikes with similar high temperatures, so not too worried. My VFR would get even hotter than that, and quicker (Really bad radiator design/position on the sides), that one had me more worried.
It's more that it's getting to 110-115 and not stopping, and the fans show no sign of being able to contain it. If it weren't for the fact that I tend to be quite *progressive* with my filtering it would almost certainly be cooking off on the daily commute through Oxford. I'm familiar with the side-mount VFR design, having had to work on my mate's one to sort out overheating (new thermo and a thorough bleed through)...it actually seems to fare better under the same circumstances, because the fans actually move some air rather than just gently wafting it.
My fans on the MTS are quite brutal, they make a lot of noise (And move some air), but it still gets pretty hot. Never seen the warninglight though, fingers crossed I won't. Have you felt how much air it moves?
I was out on mine last Wednesday evening when it was still quite warm & was surprised how cool the bike was running. Whilst the temperature did increase in traffic I never saw 90. Just one thought, have you checked that both fans are working OK?
On the move it's nice and cool. The moment you start to slow down for traffic the temperature rises towards 90+. Stop, and it's over 100. Both fans are definitely turning, but don't appear to be spinning that hard. Will check more tomorrow.
When touring in Italy and southern France last year in August temperature when stationary would hit 103 and the fans would then kick-in temperature came down quite quickly to about 90. The issue that some had I think was a batch problem on the early bikes mine's a July 10 and (touch wood) I've had no problem with overheating, one thought have you got a stone guard fitted and is this restricting flow?
I have a stone guard fitted and was stuck in a traffic jam in Germany last week. It was 35 deg C. Temp went to 103, fans kicked in and it dropped to 95 and sat there until we got moving again. Cooked my left leg though!!
From the posts in this thread it seems as though some fans are a lot more effective than others. Oddly enough the spare parts list radiator page (drawing 30) does not seem to give part numbers for the fans at all, let alone for different versions of them. Can anyone shed any light?
I have had some of the same sort of problems, and with me it was a thermostat that was corrupt. I have had it replaced under warranty. You might check this with your dealer. Right now, even with higher temps, the cooling is sufficient. Cheers!
+1 3 weeks ago Mosel Valley 32 deg C. Traffic Jam, Temp to 110 fans kick in down to high 90's, fan cuts out temp goes back up continues cycling like this. 3 weeks prior I took it to the dealer and had the Rad changed because it reached 110, I guess they all do that..
Wotcha Bugs. Are you sure about that? - Maybe your old alternator did but I defo reckon a properly working one should cut in way down the rev range......say 1200/1500 max?
One way to check if the radiator is faulty is when the temperature gets high gently put your hand on the bottom of the rad to see if it is hot or cold When my radiator packed up the bottom of the radiator was warm but the top of the radiator was red hot, the inside of the rad had collapsed restricting the flow of water through it If in doubt get it checked out with the dealer, preferably before the warranty runs out, i was told they are over £500 to replace, and make sure you get a rad guard fitted
I've got the EP rad guard, had it from basically new. Plenty of holes so although it'll make a little bit of difference, it shouldn't be that much - once on the move the temp shoots down to normal levels. Looks like something is amiss though, given the 4 posts above. My fans simply aren't lowering the temperature once they kick in. IIRC Chris lowers the cut-in point when he does he remaps (100 rather than 104) but that should only make things better, not worse. It's 2 years old in mid-July, but I have the extended warranty so no issues there. Will pop down to Snells tomorrow and have a chat, I think.
Chris at CJS racing changed the temperature setting in the ecu and set the fan to come on at 98deg, but to date I have not achieved that....I hardly go near the city. Prior to the dyno tune the temp did achieve over 100 but fans kicked in and temp dropped. On the other hand in winter I blocked up the oil cooler as I was doing short trips and the oil was not getting hot enough....White paste in the oil level window! I would have the dealer check it out....those fans should do the job...if not then it's either the thermostat (not likely as the fans kick in) or the radiator...perhaps the fans r not getting enough voltage??? Mine make enough noise that I hear them coming on. Alternatively always only stop at those lights that are facing into wind :biggrin::biggrin:
