What Max Temp Reading have you seen for ambient air on your Spyder?

[Grandpot]

Yesterday I was on a ride and it was really hot out, not sure how hot. There was also stop and go traffic. The temperature gauge on the dash display never went over 102-F. It sure seemed like it should have. Then I started thinking, I have never seen it go above 102-F.

Now, is that the maximum the system will indicate? Has anyone seen their temperature gauge go over 102-F?

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the incoming air, not the coolant temperature.

 

[Jeriatric]

Have seen 121°

If I remember correctly, it is at or near that temp that it auto shuts down, too.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I’ve seen 128° on mine. Jer, on the 998 at 122-123° you will likely get Limp Mode and P0127 and P0217 codes, which go away when you get some air moving again.

 

[SuperG]

Yesterday I was on a ride and it was really hot out, not sure how hot. There was also stop and go traffic. The temperature gauge on the dash display never went over 102-F. It sure seemed like it should have. Then I started thinking, I have never seen it go above 102-F.

Now, is that the maximum the system will indicate? Has anyone seen their temperature gauge go over 102-F?

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the incoming air, not the coolant temperature.

What it feels like depends on the humidity. Out my way where it's arid, 102 feels just like 102...

 

[Frost]

My bike was showing 107 the other day just around town and the bike didn't seem to have any issue.

 

[canamjhb]

The thermometer will go well past 102F. The reading on my bike historically reads high by 7 degrees. When I ride in 110F temperature it will read 117F..... Jim

 

[Grandpot]

Thanks for the replies. Just curious.

 

[Jeriatric]

Understanding how and why something does what it does is not a reason to fret. Many of us would rather know how things operate and why things happen, so if they do, we're not left baffled.

As SpyderAnn noted. The 998's at around 122/123° go into limp mode. Limp mode - shut down - pick your poison. In fact, if you turn it off at that temp, it will not allow a restart until the temperature falls below 122/123°.

 

[ARtraveler]

From our experience when driving in high 90's in Maui HI.

Coming back from the Hana Highway, we got stuck in a traffic jam due to an accident. We idled for a short time and the bike went into "limp mode." I drove it to the side of the road and shut it off. A half hour later, when traffic started to flow again...the Spyder started right up and there was no more limp mode.

I am suspecting that the shut down was a result of the Spyder overheating.

 

[Grandpot]

I can understand shutting down due to the engine (coolant) overheating, but shutting down due to the incoming air temperature seems a bit odd. Just saying.

 

[Jeriatric]

I can understand shutting down due to the engine (coolant) overheating, but shutting down due to the incoming air temperature seems a bit odd. Just saying.

It has to do with proper fuel/air mix. Once the ambient temp reaches a certain level, the Spyder looses its ability to richen the fuel mixture, which helps cool the engine. Too lean a fuel mix can damage engine parts, so it goes into limp mode.

 

[ARtraveler]

Some additional details on Maui. The Hana Highway was 50 miles of first gear operation each way. Speeds mostly 20 mph and lots of stops at the one lane bridges. By the time we came off the 100 miles in first gear, I am suspecting we had heated up the engine pretty good.

The waiting in line with the engine running, IMO, was the straw that broke the camels back.

The Spyder we rented was in bad shape to start (lack of proper maint.). Just oil changes, IMO.

:dontknow:

 

[Jeriatric]

Some additional details on Maui. The Hana Highway was 50 miles of first gear operation each way. Speeds mostly 20 mph and lots of stops at the one lane bridges. By the time we came off the 100 miles in first gear, I am suspecting we had heated up the engine pretty good.

The waiting in line with the engine running, IMO, was the straw that broke the camels back.

The Spyder we rented was in bad shape to start (lack of proper maint.). Just oil changes, IMO.

:dontknow:

Were they SE or SM's?

 

[ARtraveler]

Were they SE or SM's?

The one we rented was an SM. It was blue (so I am thinking 2010).

The year of our ride was 2013.

 

[Jeriatric]

The one we rented was an SM. It was blue (so I am thinking 2010).

Kinda thought it was SM. The SE at that speed for that long could have been.......well, you know.

 

[Easy Rider]

I am suspecting that the shut down was a result of the Spyder overheating.

Why do you have to "suspect" ?
Didn't you take note of the engine temp gauge ??

 

[canamjhb]

Well, now I am a bit confused and a little concerned. I don't regularly ride my Spyder when it gets to 110F or higher. But I have. And when the ambient temperature gets that high, the temperature on the tarmac usually gets more than 10 degrees higher than that. Except for the one time I had water pump failure, my bike temperature gauge has never crept higher than halfway. The engine runs just fine when it's hot out. I don't recall seeing anything in the manual about not riding when the outside temperature is high. I always thought that as long as the engine doesn't overheat, all is well. What am I missing.....? Jim

 

[ARtraveler]

The reports of limp mode in heat are few and far between. I am thinking the "exception" rather than the rule. I suspect other things as well on my Hana ride. The Spyder clearly had not been serviced according to specs. Six years ago, I am not remembering all the details. Fans came on, and the temp gauge was higher than normal. Beyond that....when it cooled down, no further issues, and we made it back okay.

I would not worry about specific temps as being no ride zones. As long as you have air circulation and operating cooling fans...you should be good to go.

 

[Jeriatric]

Well, now I am a bit confused and a little concerned. I don't regularly ride my Spyder when it gets to 110F or higher. But I have. And when the ambient temperature gets that high, the temperature on the tarmac usually gets more than 10 degrees higher than that. Except for the one time I had water pump failure, my bike temperature gauge has never crept higher than halfway. The engine runs just fine when it's hot out. I don't recall seeing anything in the manual about not riding when the outside temperature is high. I always thought that as long as the engine doesn't overheat, all is well. What am I missing.....? Jim

I have checked ground level temps with IR when ambient temps were around 110. Concrete is around 150 degrees and asphalt hits high 160's into 170's. The ambient temp sensor is there to monitor and signal the fuel controller in conjunction with other inputs such as altitude. With those inputs the amount of fuel introduced to the cylinders becomes richer or leaner. There is nothing in the manual about riding in high temps. A lot of this was learned way back when Spyder V twins were the only game in town.

 

[Jeriatric]

The reports of limp mode in heat are few and far between. I am thinking the "exception" rather than the rule. I suspect other things as well on my Hana ride. The Spyder clearly had not been serviced according to specs. Six years ago, I am not remembering all the details. Fans came on, and the temp gauge was higher than normal. Beyond that....when it cooled down, no further issues, and we made it back okay.

I would not worry about specific temps as being no ride zones. As long as you have air circulation and operating cooling fans...you should be good to go.

:agree: