100 degree heat with an air cooled engine

[vegasdriver_imp]

Took the cb out today. ran a few errands. I knew it was hot but I saw several digital thermometers reading 100 degrees. The bike did great. I did not act up or show anything different than usual. I did get hot myself, at lights. Did not notice any more heat coming off motor, than usual. These things are great. I wish everything else were built as well as these bikes.

 

[gmike_imp]

Yep, I just returned from a 2.4K trip down to El Cajon, CA. Plenty of 100F temps. I got hot. Bike was flawless. Honda got this one (and others) right.

 

[Ulvetanna_imp]

if temperatures are below 100 fahrenheit on any summer ride for me i figure it is a cold snap

cb1100 runs beautifully under all conditions so far

 

[the Ferret]

100 here too today. CB performed flawlessly. Better than me in fact, I developed a slow leak out of every pore

 

[dsinned_imp]

You guys are more adventurous than me . . . I would never ride under such scorching hot conditions. It's just too darn uncomfortable with a helmet on. An OAT of 80F is my limit and even then it is a bit too warm for me.

Btw, I encourage the use of a EOC temperature monitor. I posted about this device in detail in a previous thread. Such a device is quite small and inconspicuous, and very easy to install. It is made by Trail Tech ($43). I am using two of these devices on both of my air cooled bikes, (CB1100 and a Triumph Bonneville). They work very well, informing me of my EOC at all times, (where 250F plus is not uncommon with minimal air flow thru the cooler), as well as the indicated OAT before starting the engine prior the next ride.

 

[Lord Popgun]

dsinned, That EOT monitor comes in 10mm and 7mm. I think your link was for the 10. Thats the one we need?

 

[Rocky_imp]

100 degrees???
Wow, that's more than hot and never gets that hot up here.
I don't even bother to ride if it's in the mid 80's which is not that often.
Here on the Atlantic coast we have cooler ocean breezes to keep us cool, but venture 20 miles inland and it can be very hot.
Like dsinned, even 80 is too hot for me

 

[dsinned_imp]

Popgun, I believe Trail Tech offers three different sensor sizes. I think the the middle size should work best, but to be sure, get the smallest. Where talking about the "size" of a copper bar - attached to a thermalcouple and cable back to the display unit - that wedges in between the fins on the cooler. The "size" is referring to the width of the bar, not the thickness or length, You want the size to be a tight fit, but not so tight that it overly stretches apart the fins inside the cooler. It might even be a good idea to order all three sizes so you can find the ideal size to use. 10mm may be a bit too large for our oil cooler fins.

The sensor comes with tube of silicon rubber compound to fill in the space around the copper bar wedged in between the fins and helps the sensor stay in place as well as insulating it from the "cooling effect" of residual air flow in that location of the cooler.

Instead of pressing the copper bar in between fins, I devised a way to anchor it down "ON TOP" of the flat surface of the cooler. However, it is important even more so to "shield" the sensor in that location from the air stream. Regardless of where you mount it, you want it to be in direct contact with a high temperature surface area of the oil cooler, and which ever way you go, to be well insulated from outside air as much as possible.

If you get this device, please post your observations to the forum. I'm sure some others here will be interested. Thanks!

 

[Ulvetanna_imp]

You guys are more adventurous than me . . . I would never ride under such scorching hot conditions. It's just too darn uncomfortable with a helmet on. An OAT of 80F is my limit and even then it is a bit too warm for me.

Btw, I encourage the use of a EOC temperature monitor. I posted about this device in detail in a previous thread. Such a device is quite small and inconspicuous, and very easy to install. It is made by Trail Tech ($43). I am using two of these devices on both of my air cooled bikes, (CB1100 and a Triumph Bonneville). They work very well, informing me of my EOC at all times, (where 250F plus is not uncommon with minimal air flow thru the cooler), as well as the indicated OAT before starting the engine prior the next ride.

i would not be able to ride much if that was my limitation lol

 

[kmoney_imp]

Hard to find temperatures like that around here, but when I do (interior of BC, Eastern Washington, etc...) the CB performs perfectly. I've never actually managed to trip the over-temp light on the thing.

 

[dsinned_imp]

If you ever do, WATCH OUT, according to what I've read the O/T light turns on at 340F!!! I have no way to know if that's true, or exactly what is the basis for it (e.g. oil sump temp?), but if the oil ever gets that high, it may well have reached its "boiling point"!

 

[Lord Popgun]

Dsinned, I cut some plastic tabs from the top of a cottage cheese container. One to 10mm and one to 7mm, The oil rails of the cooler are 10mm apart and a very small amout of that is taken up by the fins as it loops up and down between them.

The 7mm fit right in and the 10 went in snugly. I think the 10mm probe would work, but, my plastic test tab, well, could give a little.

I just looked on their Trail Tech's site and they have an 8mm probe that they say fits most Honda radiator's. It would fit ours.

I just might order one with the 8mm probe. The probes by themselves are $31.95 so I'm not ordering more than one! The gauge can be had in black or silver.

 

[dsinned_imp]

I ordered a black one to match my black CB1100, and then wound up putting it on my Bonneville instead.

What I am using on my CB is Trail Tech's more expensive "TTV" temperature meter ($89). I have it tie wrapped to the center section of my handlebars. See picture below. I got this from one of Trail Tech universal fan kits. It was an older meter - with the voltage display capability - so I called TT Tech Support and they sent me the latest revision. I was going to use it to control my EOC fan turn On/Off setpoints, but it seems to be inadequate for that purpose when using high current fans. Nevertheless, I'm still using it for both EOC temp and battery voltage readings (the latter required a connection to the battery, however). The TTV also supports back lighting the display, so I though it would be worth the extra dough, especially for night riding.

TT's TTO meter is the one that costs $43, but it can only read out temperatures. It has its own internal long life lithium battery, so no connection to the bike's battery is necessary. Also, the TTO is the only meter than can be surface mounted with a sticky backing material. Unfortunately, the TTV is designed for much less desirable panel mounting in framework provided in their fan kit.

Here's the "TTV" on my CB1100:

 

[the Ferret]

You guys are more adventurous than me . . . I would never ride under such scorching hot conditions. It's just too darn uncomfortable with a helmet on. An OAT of 80F is my limit and even then it is a bit too warm for me.

Btw, I encourage the use of a EOC temperature monitor. I posted about this device in detail in a previous thread. Such a device is quite small and inconspicuous, and very easy to install. It is made by Trail Tech ($43). I am using two of these devices on both of my air cooled bikes, (CB1100 and a Triumph Bonneville). They work very well, informing me of my EOC at all times, (where 250F plus is not uncommon with minimal air flow thru the cooler), as well as the indicated OAT before starting the engine prior the next ride.

i would not be able to ride much if that was my limitation lol

i would not be able to ride much if that was my limitation lol
Yea me either. My riding temp range (so far) has been -9 to + 113 and every degree in between. :biker:

 

[Ulvetanna_imp]

You guys are more adventurous than me . . . I would never ride under such scorching hot conditions. It's just too darn uncomfortable with a helmet on. An OAT of 80F is my limit and even then it is a bit too warm for me.

Btw, I encourage the use of a EOC temperature monitor. I posted about this device in detail in a previous thread. Such a device is quite small and inconspicuous, and very easy to install. It is made by Trail Tech ($43). I am using two of these devices on both of my air cooled bikes, (CB1100 and a Triumph Bonneville). They work very well, informing me of my EOC at all times, (where 250F plus is not uncommon with minimal air flow thru the cooler), as well as the indicated OAT before starting the engine prior the next ride.

i would not be able to ride much if that was my limitation lol

i would not be able to ride much if that was my limitation lol
Yea me either. My riding temp range (so far) has been -9 to + 113 and every degree in between. :biker:

i would not be able to ride much if that was my limitation lol
Yea me either. My riding temp range (so far) has been -9 to + 113 and every degree in between. :biker: so you are indeed the adventurous type lol

i do not say i am the most adventurous rider in the world but i rode a 1983 xl600r honda from ketchikan alaska to los angeles one summer

plenty of rain and cold

we used to do a death valley ride in the middle of winter to tonopah nevada

guys had to thaw their bikes out to get them started in the morning

you add wind chill to that and it gets real cold

 

[the Ferret]

Ulve that sounds like an awesome adventure.

Extremes on a motorcycle are never fun. Being freezing cold, or sweating like a pig, being soaked to the skin, tush aching after an entire day in the saddle.... but that's part of the game if you choose to ride unsheltered with no provisions to keep you warm, cool dry or comfortable.

Then again, if it were easy and comfy, everyone would be riding them.

 

[flynrider]

Back on the old Nighthawk forum we used to have the BBQ'd Biker contest every summer. You'd take a pic of your bike next to an outdoor thermometer sign. Highest temp won. I used to win that competition a lot!

 

[the Ferret]

we've never had that high of a temp in Cinti that I recall, but I took this while out riding 2 years ago and I bet you don't get any of these either lol

 

[4 Paws_imp]

Both you guys are nuts!

 

[clearviewx]

Back on the old Nighthawk forum we used to have the BBQ'd Biker contest every summer. You'd take a pic of your bike next to an outdoor thermometer sign. Highest temp won. I used to win that competition a lot!

That's like opening the oven door and riding....:-/