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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Riding in the 100+ degrees
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Message started by MrBrownTX on 07/13/11 at 18:15:07

Title: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by MrBrownTX on 07/13/11 at 18:15:07

Do I need to be worried about running this aircooled thumper in the 100+ degree heat of Texas? Is it built to do that or should I avoid it? I generally keep moving and don't sit at any traffic lights where I usually ride.

Today I got stuck at a construction traffic stop for at about 5 minutes so I turned it off after a minute when I started to worry about it over heating and not having a temperature gauge to monitor it.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Howitzer on 07/13/11 at 18:26:38

Wow, you must be roasting while riding in that weather. Do you wear gear/helmets in that weather?

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by MrBrownTX on 07/13/11 at 18:32:12

Roasting, lol. Full gear. I have a nice Teknic jacket that is has a lot of peforation on the front and big vents on the back so if I keep moving It is bareable.

I have seen alot of people riding in shorts t-shirts and sneakers lately but I know the first time I try that I will go down, I have that kind of luck.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Boofer on 07/13/11 at 18:38:17

MrBrown, congrats on being tough enough to ATGATT. I had to break that rule on July 2. 94-97 last week. Same this week and predicted next week. I wear boots and Kevlar padded jeans and an awful neon yellow shirt that seems to really work. It is so hot one of the fish in my pond wiggled up to my leaky hose faucet and just laid under the drip. Poor thing was covered in ticks, too. ;D

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by MikeRIC on 07/13/11 at 20:19:06

It's been 95+ here for the past week and I've been riding (in full gear) with no noticeable issues. Interested to hear from someone with technical info though!

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by jef.savage on 07/13/11 at 20:36:41

Remember that when it's 100 it's hotter outside than your innards so you want some insulation. I've got one of those bandana cooler things that you soak in cold water and it retains it for a while.

As for the bike I think I would be sure to use a full synthetic oil that won't break down and you should be fine. Oh darn I said the O word.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by splash07 on 07/13/11 at 20:47:19

I would say as long as your not in stop and go traffic or gunning it full throttle between stop lights then you should be fine, just dont push it too hard.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/13/11 at 21:41:06

For personal comfort, a sports bottle, one that pumps up & has a spray nozzle, really helps. Damp clothes rolling down the road at 40 MPH is like an air conditioner compared to not being wt./.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Routy on 07/14/11 at 05:30:13

I sure don't know,.....but logical thinking tells me that even tho the engine feels much hotter at idle, there is only a small fire at idle, which doesn't need near as much cooling as a big fire does at....60.
Not saying it doesn't run hotter at low speed and idle, but I would never believe it is "overheating" as such.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Arnold on 07/14/11 at 08:00:29

I had a shi77y car with shi77y cooling long ago and whenever I would go under 30mph it would slowly start to overheat, over 30mph it would cool off again. So wind speed has to be an even bigger factor with exposed air cooled engine. Run the Savage idle long enough and it will cease. In hot summer weather I raise the idle a tiny bit.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Boofer on 07/14/11 at 19:35:53

The Savage can take it. What we need to do is keep the rider hydrated. I took water with me on my little three hour trip, but I only had about 16 oz during my one stop for gas. that night I ended up drinking bottle after bottle. I was so thirsty. I kept misplacing my keys, forgetting what I was doing, and being distracted in general. Part of it was being tired, but it usually doesn't cause those problems. Hydration is important. Don't forget it. I won't again. ;)

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Wolfman on 07/15/11 at 00:36:36

Go to wal-mart and in the sporting goods section you can get those neck wraps you toss in the frig. Give em a good soaking then toss em in the frig or freezer. They keep you nice n cool on a ride.
Its a good idea to drink some gatorade or other sports drink, about half n half with water to stay hydrated. You not only needs the liquid you also need the salts and other minerals you sweat out.
For the quick fix salt tablets work well.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by WD on 07/15/11 at 02:17:54

I bought my bike back in 98 at a dealership owned/operated by former racers. In Mississippi. They recommended running 20W50 when the outside temps were over 85 or so. I did so, without overheat/oil loss issues. Screwed up and ran 10W40 full synthetic in the heat, once. Oil lasted from Memphis TN to Sturgis MS, and the well was dry.

I don't ride in this kind of weather anymore. Heat index has been up around 110 for awhile. Won't even ride Lisa's water cooled Intruder in this heat. The bikes can take it, the body can't. Even with a 1/2 helmet, just too hot.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Serowbot on 07/15/11 at 12:20:48

My bike handles it better than I do.... :-?...

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/15/11 at 12:43:31

Wnna see a bike overheat? Watch a Harley in a long parade., thst rear cylinder gets HOT..

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Routy on 07/15/11 at 12:53:53

6D786360606978697E0C0 wrote:

Why idle faster in hot weather ? Faster is more fire, more fire is hotter,.......it ain't like we got a fan/blower making more wind at higher idle speeds.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by txsizzler on 07/15/11 at 14:19:09

I, too live in Texas. Made a trip from Wichita Falls, TX. to near Corpus Christi, TX. in just one day (a hellish trip on thy arse, which I won't repeat again!!). Well over 100 degrees through a large portion of the trip.

Only had one incident I believe of slight overheating on the bike during that trip. After I had been riding around 65 mph for about 45 minutes straight, was climbing a fairly long hill when I felt the bike completely lose power for a few seconds, then it just restarted. I pulled over to the side of the road, and sat for about 15 minutes, and then got going again. No more problems. The bike was viciously hot though when I had pulled over.

Anyhow, today I put my saddlebags on. Moved the rectifier to the toolbox and mounted it in there using wire. My only concern with it being in there is that I have the tool lid cover on, and I am concerned it will get too hot. I had considered just leaving the tool lid off. Any thoughts on this?

Ian (2003 Savage)

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 07/15/11 at 15:12:57

txsizzler, I'd be willing to bet your bike got hot & lost power due to fuel starvation from lack of vacuum to the petcock. If it does it again, switch the petcock to the 'prime' position & see if it doesn't pick back up. 8-)

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by txsizzler on 07/15/11 at 15:50:11

0F34393A380F283333382F6C6E5D0 wrote:

Hey neighbor! You are just around the block from me! Anyhow, I will try that next time it happens. I initially thought that I had low gas, and was attempting to switch to the Reserve when the bike came back "alive". I hadn't thought about the vacuum issue with the heat.

Ian

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by adberns on 07/15/11 at 18:47:24

My bike is a CB700SC - an inline-4 Honda that is air-cooled. On one of the forums, a guy was asking about his bike. He took it out of storage, started it up, and then went to mow lawn. For about an hour. Got back and the bike wouldn't start. Let it sit overnight, and it started again. Apparently, when that bike overheats, the piston expands and stops spinning. Once it cools, it moves again. Or so I heard.

Why do I mention this? I assume the Savage, like the CB700SC, can take some abuse. I have heard you will notice rough running before any damage is done. Would I idle an air-cooled bike for 10+ minutes in any temperature? No. Would I ride in any temperature in my air-cooled Honda? Yes.

My 2 cents, for whatever it's worth. Mostly worth a funny story.

Title: Re: Riding in the 100+ degrees
Post by Routy on 07/16/11 at 09:21:23

I won't believe any engine will seize a piston while idling in any weather.
But I was wrong one other time :o