I know this has been talked about quite a bit. On my 2022 GTL I noticed the temp was up to about 215 riding up Iron Mountain Road in the Black Hills, on its initial 600 mile break in miles. Last week I rode from South Dakota to Austin, TX. I noticed the engine temp goes up any time I stop in hot weather. On the way home temps were as high as 107 but usually were 102 to 105 on my first day riding back North. When I made a stop for road construction the gauge went up to 220. My dealer and I have talked about the Iron Mt. Road heating, and he said even though they realize it can run warm, they have not had serious problems with it. I've read some of the possible solutions. If you think of the way the engine and exhaust sits, if there's no air rushing by the engine, the 6 exhaust headers are probably transferring a lot of heat to the engine. So here's a question: Could the standard radiator be switched out to one that had multiple rows of coolant tubes? And even simpler, is there any way to install a simple heat shield between the exhaust and the engine, in the front of the engine, without restricting air flow?
On my second day, it was overcast and there was some rain. She ran a constant 185 degrees, which leads me to believe that must be the "desired" operating temperature. When I was running down the road in the 102-105-107 temps, it ran at about 195. So even when riding down the road in 100 plus degree temps, it appears the cooling system on my bike is unable to get to the 185 degree temp. It seems like it requires air rushing past the engine & radiator to cool properly. But in real life, we all get stuck at a traffic light, or road construction delays. I can discuss with my dealer, but when I saw the temp gauge get to 220, I had to wonder just how high it might go before the cooling system would just boil over. I ended up shutting the engine down a few times thinking a stopped engine at least wouldn't be adding more heat. I will be checking the radiator to make sure it isn't clogged with dirt and debris, but for all the things I love about the bike, I sure wish it had a better cooling system.
Not to be all negative, I talked to a few other riders who came from Nevada and they rode through some 120 degree temps with air cooled engines. I would like to think that the BMW cooling system is still superior to air cooling, even if there are some times when it seems to run a bit warm.
I'd be interested in what ya'll think of an improved radiator, better fans, possibly a fan blowing heat off the exhaust headers away from the engine, or possible oil cooling.
On my second day, it was overcast and there was some rain. She ran a constant 185 degrees, which leads me to believe that must be the "desired" operating temperature. When I was running down the road in the 102-105-107 temps, it ran at about 195. So even when riding down the road in 100 plus degree temps, it appears the cooling system on my bike is unable to get to the 185 degree temp. It seems like it requires air rushing past the engine & radiator to cool properly. But in real life, we all get stuck at a traffic light, or road construction delays. I can discuss with my dealer, but when I saw the temp gauge get to 220, I had to wonder just how high it might go before the cooling system would just boil over. I ended up shutting the engine down a few times thinking a stopped engine at least wouldn't be adding more heat. I will be checking the radiator to make sure it isn't clogged with dirt and debris, but for all the things I love about the bike, I sure wish it had a better cooling system.
Not to be all negative, I talked to a few other riders who came from Nevada and they rode through some 120 degree temps with air cooled engines. I would like to think that the BMW cooling system is still superior to air cooling, even if there are some times when it seems to run a bit warm.
I'd be interested in what ya'll think of an improved radiator, better fans, possibly a fan blowing heat off the exhaust headers away from the engine, or possible oil cooling.