how many bars?

[spydaman60]

:dontknow:i have a spyder rss 2012, 2 months old and nearly 3600 miles on it. it's been "steamin" in the northeast for the last week or so and i have put about 1300 miles on it this week ,as we were on vacation in upstate ny. i've noticed that at 85 degrees to 95 degrees, the bike is showing 5 to 6 bars most of the time. 6 at town cruisin speed and 5, sometimes 4 if on the highway cranking a little bit. is that normal, or is it running too hot? one guy told me last night that his 2008 runs at 3 most of the time and 4 around town.:dontknow:

 

[Dudley]

From many postings I have read, the bars vary a lot. In the "warm" temperatures of our desert setting in Very Southern California, our 2010 SM5 doesn't go over 5 bars, even at 112 degrees. If your fan works as it should I wouldn't worry about the bars too much unless you lose cooling fluid, which is highly unlikely. Ride and enjoy...worry less.

 

[Recluze]

3,4,5,6 bars are all normal for my RS. At 7 it goes into mode. I quit worrying about it. I have all of the avaialble aftermarket cooling stuff, and I took the right hand plate off and while all of this logically should help, the machine dose not know this and runs at 3,4,5,6 bars. The only time it went into limp mode was because of a bad fan relay.

Lamonster has a thread on here where he shows the actually temp for each bar. Basically one bar is 110 degrees and then you add 20 degrees for each additional bar: one bar =110; 2 bar = 130; 3 bar =150 4 bar = 170 5 bar=190.

I hope this helps.

 

[daveinva]

5 bars has always been standard on my RS. I'd see 6 very rarely if stuck in traffic in hot weather. Once I installed some Spyderpops gear, I'll stay around 5, but I'll see 4 bars if it's under 85ish and I'm on the highway flowing air.

I think Lamont did the testing once-- 5 bars ain't that hot, it's just psychology at play. I wouldn't worry unless you're at 6 or 7 routinely-- then I'd consider installing the Spyderpops gear, and maybe adding/flushing your coolant too.

 

[Tazzel]

I also have a 2012 RS SE5 and my temp bars stay at 5 even in 103 outside temps and stop and go traffic. This was after I installed the Spyderpops stuff.

 

[billybovine]

Tape

Put some masking tape over the gauge, twist the grip and go. :yikes:

If it goes into limp mode you have a problem that needs to fixed, but I would bet you will never have a problem.

 

[Crisis]

Install SpyderPops Mods and you will have a steady 5 bars in hot weather and traffic.

 

[spydaman60]

spyderpops

5 bars has always been standard on my RS. I'd see 6 very rarely if stuck in traffic in hot weather. Once I installed some Spyderpops gear, I'll stay around 5, but I'll see 4 bars if it's under 85ish and I'm on the highway flowing air.

I think Lamont did the testing once-- 5 bars ain't that hot, it's just psychology at play. I wouldn't worry unless you're at 6 or 7 routinely-- then I'd consider installing the Spyderpops gear, and maybe adding/flushing your coolant too.

just ordered the spyderpops gear! if that drops it a bar or two, i'll be happy! :thumbup:

 

[mastertek2000]

i run 5/4 all the time i would check your coolant just to make sure it's full

 

[Campverdefela]

5 and 6 bars and more are normal for me here in Az. It's never overheated, no limp mode yet, fan comes on at 6 bars for me. If your fans working and it's not going into limp mode because of overheating then don't worry.

 

[NancysToy]

It is perfectly normal. Don't worry unless the fan fails to come on at 6 bars, or it overheats into limp mode.

 

[bluestratos]

I was getting near the top at 80 degrees when riding in town and was worried so I added a full bottle of "wetter water" and it dropped my bars by 1. I did a test before and after, 70 degree, highway speed of 50. Before 5 bars, after 4 and I have never seen higher than 5 bars since I did it and I was in 100 degree heat in Reno a few weeks back. I am a born skeptic but this stuff does what it claims. I believe it breaks down surface tension so more water comes into contact with the rad tubes which pulls heat away faster.

 

[cmar157]

You really got me excited with the title of this thread I thought we were going bar hopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cheers:

 

[donec]

I was getting near the top at 80 degrees when riding in town and was worried so I added a full bottle of "wetter water" and it dropped my bars by 1. I did a test before and after, 70 degree, highway speed of 50. Before 5 bars, after 4 and I have never seen higher than 5 bars since I did it and I was in 100 degree heat in Reno a few weeks back. I am a born skeptic but this stuff does what it claims. I believe it breaks down surface tension so more water comes into contact with the rad tubes which pulls heat away faster.

What size bottle?

 

[spydaman60]

ya!

You really got me excited with the title of this thread I thought we were going bar hopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cheers:

it's the way i pick my drinkin buddies, and you just won. :joke:meet you half way. you pick the bar!

 

[MikeinGA]

:dontknow:i have a spyder rss 2012, 2 months old and nearly 3600 miles on it. it's been "steamin" in the northeast for the last week or so and i have put about 1300 miles on it this week ,as we were on vacation in upstate ny. i've noticed that at 85 degrees to 95 degrees, the bike is showing 5 to 6 bars most of the time. 6 at town cruisin speed and 5, sometimes 4 if on the highway cranking a little bit. is that normal, or is it running too hot? one guy told me last night that his 2008 runs at 3 most of the time and 4 around town.:dontknow:

I have a Spyder RS-S 2011, mine runs in 85 to 90 degree weather 4 to 5 bars now. Before 5 bars all the time. I added 4 oz. of Water Wetter (I get at my local auto parts stors) to the coolent and run high test gas 93 octane.


Mike

 

[Jeriatric]

What size bottle?

Small cooling systems should use 1oz (3 to 4 capfuls) per quart


http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=74&pcid=10

 

[Smokinspyder]

My bars have been anywhere from 3 to 6 bars even yesterday in 105 degree chicago heat i was at lke 4 to 5 and when I sat at a light it went up a little to 6 . I agree put tape over the gauge and ride till you go limp and dont sweat the " heat" after my coolant problem I FREAKED out every like 5 minutes .

 

[BeRight]

manual fan switch

not recommending this to anyone. In 2009, on my 2008 I installed an manual fused relay direct switch to the fan. At 3 bars I turn it on - rarely see 4 bars. To me cooler means longer engine life.

Just my $.02 cents. Warning: if the fan is on and your dealer hooks it up to BUDS you will get a Check engine light.

 

[Jeriatric]

not recommending this to anyone. In 2009, on my 2008 I installed an manual fused relay direct switch to the fan. At 3 bars I turn it on - rarely see 4 bars. To me cooler means longer engine life.

Just my $.02 cents. Warning: if the fan is on and your dealer hooks it up to BUDS you will get a Check engine light.

BRP is strapped. Emission requirements force them to run the engine hot.

Question or two.

The thermostat starts flowing water at 167 degrees and the fan relay kicks on at 216 degrees.

Any idea what the actual water temp is at three bars when using the manual switch?

Did you ever look into replacing the relay with one set to kick the fan on at a lower temp? Just wondering if they are available.