How hot is too hot?

Discuss everything about Honda GoldWing. Feel free to ask any question related to GoldWing.

Moderators: CYBORG, Oldewing, robin1731, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
MikeNTexas
Titanium Member
Titanium Member
Posts: 407
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Slaton Tx (just o/s Lubbock)

How hot is too hot?

#1

Post by MikeNTexas »

I went for a ride on my ‘75 GL1000 in the 100 degree heat yesterday. The temp gauge slowly crept up to the top of the normal range on the gauge. Should I be concerned or is this normal for the Goldwings in this kind of heat?
1975 GL1000 Restored (sold)
1983 GL1100 Custom (sold)
1976 GL1000 Project (finished and sold)
Another1976 GL1000 Project (finished and sold)
User avatar
Rat
Photo Gallery Admin
Photo Gallery Admin
Posts: 15456
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:59 pm
My Album: https://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/rat/
RIP: cookie
Location: Toronto .... Canada

Re: How hot is too hot?

#2

Post by Rat »

That kind of heat is not normal ... the 'Wing will be fine ... the rider ... nsm ...

Gord :shock: anim-cheers1 :shock:
"I'd rather Ride than Shine"
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36850
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

Re: How hot is too hot?

#3

Post by Whiskerfish »

yea in extreme heat that is okay
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
User avatar
pidjones
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3237
Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 4:06 pm
Location: East TN

Re: How hot is too hot?

#4

Post by pidjones »

In the high 80s my '75 engine tops at about 230 F by my Chinabay digital thermometer. Don't know how accurate it is. Still below the boiling point in a pressurized system, though.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
User avatar
Mike-C
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2805
Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:26 pm
Location: North Lancaster, Ontario, Canada

Re: How hot is too hot?

#5

Post by Mike-C »

Gents, I would say that as long as it does not boil and the fan can keep it manageable you are okay.
Mike Coleman
'84 Wing-Lite (ex-Aspencade)
'84 (un-Terstate)
'84 Standard (as yet un-named)
'96 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 (The Vulcanator)
Mike Coleman
North Lancaster, Ontario
Canada
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24536
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: How hot is too hot?

#6

Post by CYBORG »

pidjones wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:38 pm In the high 80s my '75 engine tops at about 230 F by my Chinabay digital thermometer. Don't know how accurate it is. Still below the boiling point in a pressurized system, though.
on a hot day my oil temp on my 78 will hover around 230F. The water is around 190F. 230 seems a bit hot for the water. Fan should bring it back to 190-200
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
User avatar
5speed
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 5311
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:37 pm
Location: Nova Scotia Canada

Re: How hot is too hot?

#7

Post by 5speed »

what sane person would be outside when it's 100F? :shock: :mrgreen:
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
User avatar
pidjones
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3237
Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 4:06 pm
Location: East TN

Re: How hot is too hot?

#8

Post by pidjones »

CYBORG wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:07 pm
pidjones wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:38 pm In the high 80s my '75 engine tops at about 230 F by my Chinabay digital thermometer. Don't know how accurate it is. Still below the boiling point in a pressurized system, though.
on a hot day my oil temp on my 78 will hover around 230F. The water is around 190F. 230 seems a bit hot for the water. Fan should bring it back to 190-200
This is at ~55 mph (with hills). Much better than the fan for cooling, but putting a lot of heat in. At a stop it drops pretty quick when the fan comes on.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24536
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: How hot is too hot?

#9

Post by CYBORG »

Sounds normal
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
redglbx
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1116
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:39 am
Location: NW Indiana,

Re: How hot is too hot?

#10

Post by redglbx »

One thing too note is that the fan does indeed come on and too make sure that the fan runs freely ! My 76 was an overheating mess for a long time. A custom built 30% larger radiator, a new thermostat & hoses & Evans coolant all had no real effect on the overheating issue.

I found that my coolant fan really didn’t spin freely, it turned slowly. I replaced the oe 400cfm rated fan with a 9” aftermarket 1800cfm piece that has it’s own adjustable on/off switch points so I could turn it on sooner while shutting it off later. It helped a bunch but didn’t really fix things completely.

Randakk has said for years that setting the ignition timing statically will have the timing advanced about 10deg from stock setting, setting my timing dynamically using a degree wheel absolutely proved this. Now on a “stock” bike this may not matter but it will make it run hotter and a 100+ deg-f day will exaggerate that. So on my bike the fact that I’ve modded the heck out of it with cutting the heads .040in & advancing the cams +4 deg and running the a/f ratios much closer to the optimum 14.7 stoichmetric all had an effect on the temps because of many reasons mostly because of more h-power, more power equals more heat ! There’s ALWAYS a side effect!

So if it were me, I would verify that the fan does indeed work and turns freely so it’ll work at max speed, then I would dynamically set the timing using a timing wheel, it really did a lot to curtail my overheating issue, which is pretty much gone now, pretty much!

I would also suggest the Randakks degree wheel to set your timing, while it’s a pretty amateurish deal it makes setting things much easier. You can make your own as there are plenty of templates available on-line.

Finally, so long as the fan is working correctly and your timing is correct your wing could care less about the heat, the temp needle at the top of it’s range is about where the fan should come on, you’re probably more affected by the extreme heat than the bike, be careful !
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
MikeNTexas
Titanium Member
Titanium Member
Posts: 407
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Slaton Tx (just o/s Lubbock)

Re: How hot is too hot?

#11

Post by MikeNTexas »

5speed wrote: Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:37 am what sane person would be outside when it's 100F? :shock: :mrgreen:
I wouldn’t have been myself but had a benefit to go to for a friend that was run off the road on his MC. Guy took off and hasn’t been found yet. He ended up with five fractured vertebrae and a lacerated kidney but is expected to have a full recovery.
1975 GL1000 Restored (sold)
1983 GL1100 Custom (sold)
1976 GL1000 Project (finished and sold)
Another1976 GL1000 Project (finished and sold)
User avatar
5speed
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 5311
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:37 pm
Location: Nova Scotia Canada

Re: How hot is too hot?

#12

Post by 5speed »

MikeNTexas wrote: Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:12 am
5speed wrote: Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:37 am what sane person would be outside when it's 100F? :shock: :mrgreen:
I wouldn’t have been myself but had a benefit to go to for a friend that was run off the road on his MC. Guy took off and hasn’t been found yet. He ended up with five fractured vertebrae and a lacerated kidney but is expected to have a full recovery.
:( glad he will heal completely. hopefully they catch the scum bag
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
Post Reply

Return to “GoldWing Tech Discussions”