I know this has been covered before ( a few times maybe) but what the heck.. Using an infrared thermometer pointed at the bottom aluminum hose connection outlets of the thermostat this is what I found: 1. 135 f - gauge needle first starts to move 2. 175 f - gauge needle left of the beginning edge of upper slope 3. 200 f- just right of the of beginning of the upper slope 4. 205 f - slightly to the left of the middle 5. 210 f - dead middle 6. 221 f - 3/4 of the way up, not easy to get to but if the weather is warm (like today 79 and humid) and you just come off the freeway, it'll get there before the fan has time too cool it back down to about half way. the picture shows what read to be 205 f.... just an fyi, your bike may differ, this is an 86 engine with 86 cooling system in an 84 bike.
That is good info. I've been looking for this for a while. I've run Royal Purple royal flush through my 85 vf500f and the filled with water an Purple Ice. According to your scale my temp gauge never goes above 200*(3) even in the hotel weather ( above 90*F) Steve