klr650 2nd radiator colder weather test results
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:58 pm
On Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:30:12 -0700 (PDT) Bill Watson
writes:
<><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> Bill, Thanks for the clarification on the stock stat and sensor issues. I'd just be curious to see how a stock KLR temperature gauge needle moves with someone riding in 36-38 degree temps doing figure 8s in first gear at 1,200 rpm. It'll be a few months probably before I can do the hotter weather tests. Last night we got 3" of snow and although it melted off the roads today it's now snowing again. I've got about 1 1/2" of new snow in the last three hours. It's about dark now and a motorcycle just road past the house doing about 15 mph on the shoulder. I guess that rider didn't pay attention to the weatherguessers on this evenings forecast. : ) The good news is the weatherguessers are suggesting mid to high 50s by the end of the week and the weekend. That might help allow me to get some more miles on the KLR toward the 2,000 mile oil change interval oil analysis. Those should be some interesting results too. I'm really looking forward to seeing the results you get when you try the 2nd radiator. You might just like it enough to keep it in your hot climate. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT> Wow, lots of data there Jeff, thanks for the update. Two comments: > > 1) You said: > > "if If anyone is riding a KLR650 with a stock cooling system and > can > duplicate the test above (i.e. ambient air temperature of 36-38 > degrees, > same type riding) I'd really like to hear the results." > > If anyone does this, to get accurate results they'd have to > measure the temperature just after the factory 'stat because with a > stock setup and no bypass, the water flowrate is so slow when cold > that the stock temp sensor is over in a dead corner which becomes a > hot spot- reading 15 to 20 degrees higher than the water is over at > the stat. So a stock bike is even colder than the factory gauge > reports. > > I do have data from a 37 degree morning on a stock bike at > www.xanga.com/watt_man and measured "at the stat" to eliminate the > hot spot by actually installing the thermocouple in an enlarged > bleed hole in the factory stat. The test was not identical to > yours, but has some similarity. > > 2) I'll be most interested in hot weather testing. I also have a > KLR250 Right-side radiator (not installed though, like you!) and > will probably play with it this summer, just for fun, here in > Phoenix. My installation won't be nearly as professional as yours, > mine will just be for test and then it will come off. > > Of course, depending on how well it works, I can see how that plan > would change... > > Thanks for all the hard work. > > Bill Watson > Phoenix, AZ > www.xanga.com/watt_man