circa1968

After changing coolant and thermostat, my 2007 RSV is still running hot. 15 minutes into a ride and its uncomfortable. The bike otherwise seems to run fine and has plenty of power. I rode back to the house and with the bike idling, checked the temp in various spots using an IR thermo and the one glaring reading was the exhaust header of cylinder #1 was reading ~400degF, where the other three where in the 175-200degF range. I pretty quickly get out in front of my skis as a moto mechanic, so hoping someone here might give some advice on where/what to look for that would be causing such a temperature differential on that one exhaust. Once the bike cools down, I will pull the spark plug to see if there are any clues there. What should I be looking for? Running too rich? Coolant not reaching that cylinder for some reason? I've had this bike for about a month now and have not been able to ride it for more than 30 minutes at a time (due to the heat coming off it) and I'm longing to get out for an all day cruise on it. Thank you!

Did you ever get a resolution on the heat issue? I'm dealing with the same thing on an '07 and currently awaiting for a thermostat to arrive. Hoping that is the issue as changing the coolant helped only a little.

Seems that turning the petcock to off after riding has solved the gas smell problem. Unfortunately, the coolant change did not fix the problem of running hot. Just order a new thermostat & radiator cap. Praying that solves the problem. Rode yesterday, it was in the mid-70's & it was better but it was also 20 degrees cooler than the last two rides.

Just a quick update on the heat issue. I'm hopeful I may have found the issue, but won't know until I get a ride in a few days from now. I drained the coolant and it appears the PO used straight, undiluted antifreeze. In looking at his maintenance log, it looks like he may have done this fairly recently, mileage wise - within the last 1,000 miles. It was clean, but a very dark green and thick, almost like a light syrup consistency. I first refilled with just water and then redrained, getting more green coolant out with that. I then refilled with straight distilled water and ran the bike for about 10 minutes at an idle with an occasional sustained rev of the engine, letting it get plenty warm and some circulation. More of the green goo drained out. After the engine cooled, I drained again and refilled with a proper 50/50 ethylene glycol mix. I will give an update after I get it out for a good run. The bike seems to be running fine otherwise. I'm not a mechanic, but based on this antifreeze issue and a few other questionable things I'm seeing in the PO's work, I've decided its going to be best to take it to a good Yamaha shop and have them give it the once over.

No drips on the floor. Also plan to check around the filter & pump area based on a few other threads I've been reading. Hoping its something relatively easy and can avoid a trip to the shop, but with the cooling issue that may be in order anyways.

Thanks, will take a look at the carbs ASAP. So I've been reading some of the center stand posts and didn't realize it was not stock. My '99 had one and I bought it brand new from a dealer. I'm wondering if Yamaha included it very briefly on the '99 or if the dealer added it on.

After selling my '99 to take an 18 year worldwind tour through parenting, I'm back in the saddle! Recently picked up a 2007 w/ 21k miles and loving it. I've noticed a couple things about the bike and don't recall having these issues on my '99 but 18 years is a long time.... Q #1 : Is it normal to have a faint whiff of gasoline near the bike in the garage? I can't pinpoint where on the bike its coming from but just noticed at times its stronger than other times. Anything to worry about? #2 : She runs hot! Like uncomfortably hot to the point I have to stop & get off the bike. No dummy light and I previously tested the fan w/ 12v, it works, and let it idle to the point it comes on, so I know that works. Thermostat seems most likely candidate as today while I was riding, about an hour into the ride it suddenly and dramatically cooled down in the cockpit, like 20-30 degrees and was fine for the rest of the ride. Besides coolant level and thermostat, anything else I should be looking for? Also, anyone have a rough estimate for what a shop would charge to drain, flush, refill and swap the thermostat? $300 is kinda my pain point for do it myself vs. pay to have it done. #3 : Previous owner removed, but didn't keep the center stand. Thoughts on where to find one @ a reasonable cost? or has anyone used a rear swing-arm lift on the RSV? Thanks, been lurking here for a bit but just joined and excited to be back in the saddle!

Did you ever find a solution to this? I just purchased an '07 RSV and also have the same issue. I had a '99, many years ago (pre-kid) and never had this issue. I noticed today that after about an hour of almost unbearably hot riding, including one stop for me & the bike to cool off a bit, that the heat coming off the engine suddenly dropped, dramatically. Just an guestimate, but I'm thinking the temp in my cockpit dropped a good 20-30 degrees and it was comfortable. I'm going to drain, flush & replace coolant, but thinking it also sounds like a sticking thermostat based on how it suddenly dropped. I did previously check the fan by giving it 12v and it worked, then let it idle to the point it kicked on, so I feel confident the thermal sensor and fan are working. I hope I can fix this because no way I could do an all day ride on it with that kinda heat coming off it. Not to mention I doubt that's good for the long-term reliability of the engine. For background, its a 2007 w/ 22k miles on it, so it likely sat for extended periods of time during its prior ownership. Thoughts? Thanks!