95 and up weather + heavy bumper to bumper

I went for a decent ride today and on my way home I got stuck in awful bumper to bumper for about 45 minutes to an hour in blasting heat. I started to notice that my thermostat was giving a HOT ready. I'm talking spicy hot. At that point I had the bike hesitate and even die once as I started to accelerate. The fans work, the oil is new, the coolant is topped off. Is this just the product of impossible heat and way too much idling?


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Yes, but there are some things you could do to improve it, if it is REALLY an issue. How many times a year do you end up in that situation?

 

In the summer, maybe 2-3 times (I have to drive through some of the highest populated and high traffic areas in NYC).


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stub-

i actually favor my air cooled Duc over the VFR in the heat of the summer...the Belt Pkwy near Kennedy airport infamous for stop and go jams. My 5th gen cooling system and fan fully operational but wafts the hot air, becomes unbearable in that uncontrollable traffic situation.

Come cool weather, the VFR is tapped more often, of course.

 

I got stuck in bumper to bumper leaving NYC going into the Holland Tunnel. You couldnt split lanes on any of that chit, any way when I got into the tunnel my temperature light came on, it was on the entire time I was in the tunnel, as soon as I got out it went off. This was a in-line 4 that was liquid cooled. I live in South FL, its hot here, if the is an accident or stupid traffic, I dont stop, I keep the bike moving no matter what, once you get through the incident the air will cool things off, that is unless a state trooper cases you, then all bets are off. ound:

 

Obviously that IS the general idea, however...not every traffic snarl situation allows one to "keep the bike moving no matter what". Much easier said than done...if not impossible in certain urban road scenarios.

 

Yea the area around the Holland tunnel is horrendous. 4 lanes merging into 1 with little to no room to split. Time to find a new route since I make the trip once every week or two...


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So, how many degrees is "hot". The VFR has a pretty nice system to keep itself within operating ranges.

 

So 95 "normal" weather but at that location with ambient heat, etc. about 105

And when I say stop and go I mean inch along 3 feet, look for a lane to split but everyone is 2 feet apart width-wise.


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i was in that stop n go traffic last week. My Temp on the 5th gen went up to 230F that was the hottest its ever been. I might try out that engine ice.

 

I bought Water Wetter because I've had my bike go over 242° here in traffic in hot weather. I just need to get everything drained and flushed, then put it in. I'm just going to go with distilled water and WW, as this bike seems to run a lot hotter than my 05 did. I spoke with their tech guy about adding coolant with it and they only recommend adding coolant to cars because there is sometimes a chance of the A/C system can freeze up water.