what temp is normal

[tgkfx400]

hi guys i was riding this evening and while stoped at a stop light i noticed my temp gauge was sitting at 221 now this is a 07 zx6r the air temp was somewhere in the mid 80s. now once i started riding it started going down pretty quick. normally its around 180 is this an alright temp? once i got home it was a little to dark to check the coolant but i will do that first thing in the morning. i havent noticed it leaking anything. just for the piece of my i would like to get some imput from some of you out there. thanks

[ervins]

That is about right...Last week we had a hot spell and I was over 200...170+ cruising.

[Got2Go]

Normal.
Dont sweat it.
After about 212 the fan should kick in, but 221 is nothing to worry about.
Unless it keep climbing and doesn't cool back down

[eidian]

No owner's manual, huh? Try to get one, you'll be suprised by the simple but important things you learn from it; I open mine up once in a while just to remind myself of stuff.

Most of the current bikes are the same so per my Z1 Owner's Manual:

If the coolant temperature rises to above 239*f and below 248*f, the numerical value of the current temperature starts flashing. This warns the operator that the coolant temperature is high.

If the coolant temperature rises to above 248*f, "HI" is displayed and starts flashing. This warns the operator that the coolant temperature is too high; stop the engine and check the coolant level in the reserve tank after the engine cools down.

Couple pieces of info: Lots of us riders will start riding the bike once the temperature is displayed (104*f). And it is very important to check the coolant level when it's cool...the coolant is expanded when it's hot so it will look like there's more in the system then there really is.

[tgkfx400]

ok great thanks alot. i thought it was ok but just wanted to ask since that was the highest that it has ever been. i appreciate the info.

[07Ninja250]

I don't know if a zx6r is as easily affected by coolant level, but here's a recent experience I had with my 250:

I had the valve adjustment done at 500 miles. It's been pretty hot around here and I've noticed that pre-adjustment, sitting at stoplights the temp needle would push slightly past the middle of the scale and I could feel the fan kick on. Once moving again, it'd cool back down to the lower half of the scale.

Apparently they drained some coolant do to the valve adjustment. A coolant refill is listed on the work order. On my way home that night, the needle swung way over, nearly touching the red at every stoplight and rested around the middle when cruising. Noticably hotter than normal under any circumstance.

I let the bike sit for a few hours after arriving home and removed the radiator cap. I couldn't see coolant. I had to add about 2 cups of coolant to fill it to the top. It wasn't empty, but apparently is very sensitive to not being completely filled. The needle hasn't passed the halfway mark since then.

Give the radiator a look when the bike's completely cool and fill it to the top...it might make a difference.

[eidian]

The 250R and the 500R are a little different then the rest of the Streetbikes. How's the weather been in Plano (I used to work for a company that sold to JCPenney so I got to visit your city)? The reason why I ask is because both of the small Ninjas are more susceptible to run hot in warmer temps because of their smaller radiators. My 500R used to run with the needle a little above halfway in 80*+ temps and above 90*+ would run three-quarters of the way up and at around 100* it was just short of the red. Just be prepared for that when it heats up in your fair state--I have no doubt that recent situation was due to the coolant being low though.

Another thing to be ready for is that the fan on the 250 and 500 will not turn on until the bike is close to reaching the red. The reason for this is that the fan isn't meant to keep the temperature gauge "in the middle"--it's there to prevent the bike from over heating. So if your needle is 3/4's of the way up and the fan isn't on, don't worry because it's normal. There were a few days in the past two summers where we had 100*+ temps and the coolant was actually boiling in the overflow tank after I turned the bike off!

Originally Posted by 07Ninja250

I don't know if a zx6r is as easily affected by coolant level, but here's a recent experience I had with my 250:

I had the valve adjustment done at 500 miles. It's been pretty hot around here and I've noticed that pre-adjustment, sitting at stoplights the temp needle would push slightly past the middle of the scale and I could feel the fan kick on. Once moving again, it'd cool back down to the lower half of the scale.

Apparently they drained some coolant do to the valve adjustment. A coolant refill is listed on the work order. On my way home that night, the needle swung way over, nearly touching the red at every stoplight and rested around the middle when cruising. Noticably hotter than normal under any circumstance.

I let the bike sit for a few hours after arriving home and removed the radiator cap. I couldn't see coolant. I had to add about 2 cups of coolant to fill it to the top. It wasn't empty, but apparently is very sensitive to not being completely filled. The needle hasn't passed the halfway mark since then.

Give the radiator a look when the bike's completely cool and fill it to the top...it might make a difference.