Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 14, 2015 11:48:54 GMT -5
Seems like after 8 years riding scooters, I'm always learning something new...
All the cars, trucks, motorcycles and scooters I've had for the last 55 years have run their BEST when air was cool, and maybe a little damp... Denser air in the old combustion chamber, etc. That goes double for old-school carbureted engines, but to an extent, even with more modern, computer-controlled, fuel-injected mills.
So... this week it's been 105 to 108 (THAT is HOT even around here...). On the road, in the sun, it's been around 115. I was amazed to find old "Minnie Mouse" running friskier than usual. A little quicker acceleration, and a couple mph faster on the highway... The very phenomenon I'd expect with the temperature being in the fifties, and damp. Go figger!
I know liquid-cooled bikes tend to put out a little more power than similar displacement air-cooled versions, and are designed to run hotter, but the old 250's liking of WAY over 100 degree temps surprised me. I closely watch the temp-gauge (especially when it's over 
) as the manual even cautions to stop the engine at long red-lights or railroad-crossings, etc. if the engine will be idled for more than 3 minutes in very hot weather. That technique works great... In stop n' go traffic, at a long light, sometimes the temp gauge begins to climb fast. If I shut down the engine, the electric fan cools the radiator fast, and apparently the cooling effect goes clear through the short hoses and into the engine block. A minute later, re-start and engine is cooled right down.
Chalk up one for the instructions... LOL!
The "Darth Vader" single-cluster gauge uses bar-graphs for rpm, fuel and water-temp and the temp usually shows between 2 and 3 bars in below 
-degree temps. In this VERY hot weather, it runs between 3 and 4 of 5 bars. When the temp-gauge reaches 4 bars, the performance actually slightly improves. These scooters are full of surprises!
Any other riders out there who've experienced similar traits with their water-cooled scoots?
Leo (hoping for a little cooler weather) in Texas
