ok, well let me start by saying this isnt the first time ive ridden in the rain, i pretty much ride year around, and have been doing so for a couple of years... well on the way home on thursday, it was raining, and the bike was totally normal the entire way home.. i get about 2 miles from my place, and im stopped in traffic ona one lane road... i start getting steam coming up from the radiator/ header area, and i figure no biggie... water on the header/ radiator... it happens all the time.. well im stopped for a couple of minutes, and the temp was about 186 when i stopped, because there was traffic and it wasnt moving very fast at all... so im sitting there, and the temperature starts to go DOWN! it went all the way down, to about 162... and it never gets that cold.. especially since IM NOT MOVING! more steam starts to come up... and then traffic moves, and i start to ride... as im riding the temperature goes back up to normal, about 177 ish.. and it cool the whole way home..

so my question is, this happen to anybody else who rides in the rain?? is ita electrical glitch, or could i have possible cracked my radiator.. and help or similar expiriences greatly appreciated.. thx /26

 

If you cracked the radiator, you'd be losing fluid, and your engine cooling capability would decrease. Your engine temps would thus increase.

What was the ambient temp?

Most likely, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

it wasnt to warm out.. or that cold either.. i think it was about 60-65 degrees outside.... i think this might have happened once last winter too... but my memory sux, so i dont remember if it did or not. lol

 

thats normal temp as long as it doesnt go over 240 you should be ok, theres nothing to worry about most likely cold water hits the radiador and it cools the bike down...

 

its ok even when your temp drops to lower than normal, while not moving??

 

seeme like some of that water hitting your radiator could have could things off a bit. I wouldn't sweat it, your temps could be jumping up twenty degrees.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4LugR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its ok even when your temp drops to lower than normal, while not moving??</TD></TR></TABLE>
Its not too low, its not "ideal" for making power, but I think your temps came up a bit as you rode away.

 

My R1 does it a little bit to. Raining or not. I've seen temps as low as 153 while its 60-70 out while riding around 40-60. It usually operates around 170s-180s though.

 

hmm.. well i guess it does happen.. so ill wait til it stops raining and take it for another ride, and c if everything looks cool... ima check my coolant wen i get home from work today too... just to make sure i didnt geta freak radiator crack.lol thx tho guys

 

Most manuals and I think even the MSF and state DMV handbook say that riding in the rain will make this happen. Think of it like an intercooler sprayer. Sudden cold will dissipate the heat in the radiator faster.

 

fer shure dude. i just rode around again for the first time since this happened, in the rain again, and it acted totally normal this time. temp stayed ok, and ran at about a constant 166 - 168 ish. thanks for the help guys

 

never ride in the rain. sorry. no help.