Post by wayne on May 7, 2020 21:50:13 GMT -5
Thank you to member TIMPA136 for input and assistance in preparing this post.
Faults with the temp gauge itself are not uncommon. Search the board, there are a few threads detailing testing and repairs. The following assumes you've got a working temp gauge.
COOLANT LEVEL: look down the radiator pipe under the tank flap, near the bottom there's a small metal tab. That's roughly where your coolant level should settle. This bike was filled with coolant 3 months prior and has done a half dozen short rides:
FAN: Fan activation has a high temperature threshold leading owners to think the fan doesn't work (the temp needle needs to be nearly to the right white line. This is normal).
Don't test your fan by letting the bike heat up enough to engage it . It's not good for the machine especially during a static test. Suzuki warned against running hot even in traffic at stops etc. For static testing of the bike, get a cheap household fan and get airflow through the radiator and around the bike.
To test the fan, disconnect the two wires that plug into the gooseneck housing on the top right side of the engine casings (where the top radiator hose connects). Run a short between the two plugs with the ignition on. If the fan is good, it'll run.
TEMPERATURES:
From the respective Owner's Manuals, M and A model:
Real life performance: The following were taken from a good running, normally maintained bike. It's been consistent over 20 years. The gauge indications are mirrored by other RE5's and observations concur with those of other long term owners.
This bike has the full fairing but I don't believe it affects radiator temps (another bike used for comparison is unfaired). Does affect rider temps though!
Don't bother about the temp sensor numbers you can see in the pics, the bike has not reached the first mark on the gauge. Pics are just to illustrate where the temps were taken from:
From dead cold, no throttle above idle, no breeze:
Ambient 16C/61F, time to first mark on the temp gauge 6 minutes:
Temp at radiator upper tank left and right 22C/72F, 45C/113F.
Typical operating temp (see photo below) reached after 12 minutes:
Temp at radiator upper tank left and right 77C/171F, 76C/169F
Just for info, after 15 mins of idling, the temp gauge needle was still just left of centre with radiator temps at 83C/181F, 85C/185F.
Returning from a 25 mile ride which involved short urban at 30 mph, country roads at 50 mph and short expressway at 70 mph, needle as shown in pic below and:
Temp at radiator upper tank both left and right 78C/172F.
The following picture illustrates a typical temp gauge needle position. Between sustained 30, 40, 50 and 70 mph riding, it doesn't move much. A few mm to the right or left. Sustained speeds of 90 mph actually cause the gauge to drop lower. In stop start traffic on a 40C/104F day, it goes a little past the half way line.
For reference, prior to the restoration, temp indications would move to the far right on a hot day/heavy traffic and the fan would come on. Since the restoration, it rarely gets past half way regardless of conditions.
Faults with the temp gauge itself are not uncommon. Search the board, there are a few threads detailing testing and repairs. The following assumes you've got a working temp gauge.
COOLANT LEVEL: look down the radiator pipe under the tank flap, near the bottom there's a small metal tab. That's roughly where your coolant level should settle. This bike was filled with coolant 3 months prior and has done a half dozen short rides:
FAN: Fan activation has a high temperature threshold leading owners to think the fan doesn't work (the temp needle needs to be nearly to the right white line. This is normal).
Don't test your fan by letting the bike heat up enough to engage it . It's not good for the machine especially during a static test. Suzuki warned against running hot even in traffic at stops etc. For static testing of the bike, get a cheap household fan and get airflow through the radiator and around the bike.
To test the fan, disconnect the two wires that plug into the gooseneck housing on the top right side of the engine casings (where the top radiator hose connects). Run a short between the two plugs with the ignition on. If the fan is good, it'll run.
TEMPERATURES:
From the respective Owner's Manuals, M and A model:
Real life performance: The following were taken from a good running, normally maintained bike. It's been consistent over 20 years. The gauge indications are mirrored by other RE5's and observations concur with those of other long term owners.
This bike has the full fairing but I don't believe it affects radiator temps (another bike used for comparison is unfaired). Does affect rider temps though!
Don't bother about the temp sensor numbers you can see in the pics, the bike has not reached the first mark on the gauge. Pics are just to illustrate where the temps were taken from:
From dead cold, no throttle above idle, no breeze:
Ambient 16C/61F, time to first mark on the temp gauge 6 minutes:
Temp at radiator upper tank left and right 22C/72F, 45C/113F.
Typical operating temp (see photo below) reached after 12 minutes:
Temp at radiator upper tank left and right 77C/171F, 76C/169F
Just for info, after 15 mins of idling, the temp gauge needle was still just left of centre with radiator temps at 83C/181F, 85C/185F.
Returning from a 25 mile ride which involved short urban at 30 mph, country roads at 50 mph and short expressway at 70 mph, needle as shown in pic below and:
Temp at radiator upper tank both left and right 78C/172F.
The following picture illustrates a typical temp gauge needle position. Between sustained 30, 40, 50 and 70 mph riding, it doesn't move much. A few mm to the right or left. Sustained speeds of 90 mph actually cause the gauge to drop lower. In stop start traffic on a 40C/104F day, it goes a little past the half way line.
For reference, prior to the restoration, temp indications would move to the far right on a hot day/heavy traffic and the fan would come on. Since the restoration, it rarely gets past half way regardless of conditions.