During the summer here in Sacramento, it can get over 95 and many days over a 100. When I'm at a stoplight, in stopped traffic, etc. or basically anytime I'm stopped for more than a minute, I kill theengine to stop the temp guage from going up, up, up.

The thing is, I'l stop and start the engine15 to 20times a day using this technique.

Is there any problem with this? Am I prematurely wearing out the starter, etc. by doing this? I feel like I'm helping the engine in hot weather but wanted to find out if I'm unintentionally creating other problems.

My technique is to use the kill switch while keeping lights, etc. running. When it comes time to go, I flip the switch, hit the starter and go (I'm always in 1st gear when stopped).

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

 

I'm curious about this one too. I only do it about twice a day at stoplights that I know from past experience are going to take at least 90 seconds. 15-20 times per day sounds extreme to me. Unless someone here has a better perspective, I'd save it for those lights you are certain are going to take at least a minute.
And if you're concerned about the heat, consider installing a manual switch for your radiator fan. Then you can just flip the switch instead of waiting for the engine to get hot enough to turn it on.
I look forward to any other guidance on this one.
Peace!
-CCinC

 

id have to agree, your def gonna wear out the starter using it more, also you going to have a lot more dry starts as in a car im assuming... im kind of new to biking but i know in a car a lot of your wear come from start ups because the oil stops circulating and when you first start the motor it takes a second for the lubrication to kick in. Ive though the same thing though sitting at a light watching the gauge go up, i like the idea about the fan though

 

The auxiliary switch for the fan really works. I used to do this when I used a fan; wired up a toggle switch and it worked great. Highly recommended.

 

The only downside is that you've got to remember to turn it off when you get rolling again.

 

chris, as you know, the ninja500 i looked at today had a manual fan switch. I'm guessing thats a good thing...but why do you need to turn it off once you get going again? I dont get it....

 

Because it will burn up the fan motor if you ride for hours with it on.
And the constant draw could possibly cause other electrical system problems with the fuse, the regulator/rectifyer. The delicate balance was set up by KHI's engineers with the understanding that the fan would only be operating periodically when the engine was getting hot due to traffic, low air-flow situations.

Just speculating on this part, but the fan could even conceivably inhibit the airflow over the radiator if it is spinning slower than the normal airflow through the rad at 80mph. Could be wrong on that though.

-CCinC

 

I know what you mean, Sacramento can get awfully hot in the summers. Same here in New Jersey except it tends to be highly humid too. I do the same thing and was wondering the same thing, though I only tend to swithch it off when I know I'll be at a light that has a long time between changes, like the one outside where I work where you could get off the bike walk across the street, have a smoke and walk back and the light still wouldn't have changed. Anyway I don't wind up doing that 15-20 times a day but I do switch the engine off especially on hot days at a long light.A separate toggle switch for the fan sounds like it might be a good idea if youknow an electrician whizzes. I don't like to messwith theelectrical stuff on the bike since I don't know enough about it.

 

But if the fan start, it will not overheat than you don't need to stop the motor no? On a ninja 500R the fan supposed to start automatic when it receive a signal from the thermoswitch...if not you can replace that part or just disconnect it and install a manual switchthat you can flip on/off...

Anyway, I think the temperature gauge doesn't show the same between the east and the west coast...

 

stupid question. are the 500 air cooled? If not then I would think it should be fine. I live in the central valley of CA. It gets really hot here. The hotest I have rode it was 95-98 out side. My fan on my 04 636 would always come on and my temps wouldn't go any higher then 225. I did drain my coolent and replaced it with I.C.E. that stuff works pretty good. I would sugest at least adding some water wetter to your coolent.