OP
@rickster333 avatar
UTC

Hooked
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
 
Hooked
@rickster333 avatar
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
UTC quote
I'm planning a ride of about 60 miles tomorrow. It's going to be mid nineties.

When is it too hot for an air cooled engine? I have had zero problems so far this summer, but I do worry about the heat. I don't want to damage anything, and I don't want to walk home.

Would it be wise to remove the pet carrier for better circulation, or would it make things worse?

I'm interested in your responses. Thanks.
@jkj-fz6 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
BV400, Primavera 150, Yamaha Zuma 125
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Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
 
Ossessionato
@jkj-fz6 avatar
BV400, Primavera 150, Yamaha Zuma 125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4425
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
UTC quote
I think it depends on whether you can keep moving, or get stuck in slow traffic. I've had trouble on hot days. A new fuel pump fixed it with one scooter, a valve adjustment helped the other. For a sixty mile ride in 90 degree weather, I'd take the air conditioned car!
@mjrally avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
73 & 74 Rally, 76 ET3, 80 P200, 61 Ser 2, 65 Silver Special,, 2015 HD Road Glide Special
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
@mjrally avatar
73 & 74 Rally, 76 ET3, 80 P200, 61 Ser 2, 65 Silver Special,, 2015 HD Road Glide Special
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5258
Location: Oceanside, CA
UTC quote
I'd say you'll be fine. I've ridden 110+ on both carbureted 2 and 4 strokes and I made it. The high oil temps worried me more than anything as the scoots wernt happy at idle.

Coming back, I just broke the trip up into little sections as it made me hydrate more and gave the scoots a chance to cool down.
OP
@rickster333 avatar
UTC

Hooked
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
 
Hooked
@rickster333 avatar
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
UTC quote
JKJ-FZ6 wrote:
For a sixty mile ride in 90 degree weather, I'd take the air conditioned car!
Lol! That's funny. Oddly enough, I'm one of the crazies that likes hot weather.
UTC

Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
 
Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
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Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
UTC quote
In the region around Pontedera (Tuscany), the temperature regularly exceeds more than 40 degrees Celsius (=104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer...
@jimjar avatar
UTC

Hooked
2012 LX150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 292
Location: Austin Texas USA
 
Hooked
@jimjar avatar
2012 LX150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 292
Location: Austin Texas USA
UTC quote
I'm sure there is a practical limit, but I think we humans will give up before our bikes will. Here in Texas I don't worry about it at 105F, people in Phoenix routinely ride at 110F-plus. We'll likely hear from somebody that's ridden in more extreme heat with no ill effects.
@steelbytes avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2019 GTS300 HPE SuperTech 66,000km
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Posts: 6802
Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@steelbytes avatar
2019 GTS300 HPE SuperTech 66,000km
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6802
Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
UTC quote
JKJ-FZ6 wrote:
I think it depends on whether you can keep moving, or get stuck in slow traffic.
^^ this
OP
@rickster333 avatar
UTC

Hooked
2001 ET4 "Mona"
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Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
 
Hooked
@rickster333 avatar
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
UTC quote
Thank you, everyone! I appreciate your answers.
@vintage_red_matthew avatar
UTC

MV Santa
GTS250, 1975 VBC, 1980 P200E cutdown
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Posts: 4867
Location: Sedgwick, Kansas
 
MV Santa
@vintage_red_matthew avatar
GTS250, 1975 VBC, 1980 P200E cutdown
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4867
Location: Sedgwick, Kansas
UTC quote
I remember seeing a film produced by Volkswagen, I'm guessing in the 50s or 60s when all of their cars were air cooled.

They gathered about a dozen water cooled cars of various makes and on a hot day set out from a mountain valley to a high mountain pass and the Volkswagens were the only ones that made it to the top without overheating.
OP
@rickster333 avatar
UTC

Hooked
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
 
Hooked
@rickster333 avatar
2001 ET4 "Mona"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 236
Location: South Jersey
UTC quote
So, I took my ride and it was glorious! Thanks for your answers and assuaging my fears.

Mona ran great. Today is my 2 year anniversary of owning her. The ride today included some of the best discoveries that I've made of the bayshore area over the past 2 years...but not all by any means. The colors were spectacular and I hadn't even dropped a tab of acid. <G>

The heat was never an issue as it's all rural and I kept moving. Great fun!
@californiacruising avatar
UTC

Addicted
2015 Sprint 150, 2018 GTS 300
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Posts: 894
Location: SoCal
 
Addicted
@californiacruising avatar
2015 Sprint 150, 2018 GTS 300
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Posts: 894
Location: SoCal
UTC quote
SteelBytes wrote:
^^ this
Urban legend has it that back in the day the California motor cops use to burn up their air cooled Kawasaki KZs when doing low speed parade or crowd control duties
@znomit avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
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Location: Hermit Kingdom
 
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@znomit avatar
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
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Posts: 10794
Location: Hermit Kingdom
UTC quote
These are forced air cooled with the fan running all the time. You don't need to be moving for cooling.
@caschnd1 avatar
UTC

Grumpy Biker
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
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Posts: 5573
Location: Sparks, Nevada, USA
 
Grumpy Biker
@caschnd1 avatar
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5573
Location: Sparks, Nevada, USA
UTC quote
MJRally wrote:
I'd say you'll be fine. I've ridden 110+ on both carbureted 2 and 4 strokes and I made it. The high oil temps worried me more than anything as the scoots wernt happy at idle.

...
Same here. After living in Arizona for 36 years (only owned a PTWs for over 15 years), I've seen days as hot as 122F. I changed my oil religiously. Only once did I get really concerned. It was 117F and I got caught on the freeway with traffic barely moving and the nearest exit 3 miles away. I was on my 1949 Harley-Davidson and the value of the motor alone was over $10,000. After a short while I could feel the motor starting to tighten up. I reached down and enriched the mixture as much as I could without fouling the plugs. Then I started lane splitting (illegal in Arizona) and got myself out of that mess.

That was one extreme case in 36 years of hot summers. Other than that one time, I never worried much about stop and go commuting.
@vintagescooterdude avatar
UTC

Hooked
2006 GT200 2009 Genuine Stella
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Posts: 279
Location: Chandler, AZ
 
Hooked
@vintagescooterdude avatar
2006 GT200 2009 Genuine Stella
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Posts: 279
Location: Chandler, AZ
UTC quote
I don't think you have anything to worry about. I've owned three air cooled VWs. I live near Phoenix, AZ. I had to jet them a bit rich to help keep them cool, but they ran fine. I've used all kinds of air cooled 2 stroke landscape equipment out in 115F temps, and it just kept going. I don't ride or work in such intense heat anymore, not because the engines can't handle it, but because I can't.
@bluside avatar
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2020 GTS 300, 2011 LX150ie
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@bluside avatar
2020 GTS 300, 2011 LX150ie
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UTC quote
JKJ-FZ6 wrote:
For a sixty mile ride in 90 degree weather, I'd take the air conditioned car!
I'm in this camp living in Florida. The heat and humidity takes a lot of the fun out of it, (especially when you have to wear more than shorts, t shirts and sandals.)

I'm old. I've been riding a long time in all kinds of extremes. Nothing to prove anymore. My Miata, even with the top up and AC on comes in very handy.
@jakem avatar
UTC

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Vespa Sprint Sport S 125cc
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Posts: 736
Location: Brighton, England
 
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@jakem avatar
Vespa Sprint Sport S 125cc
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UTC quote
Vespas are designed and built in a country that commonly sees 40c+ summers (104f). I recently rode for 3 days in 37c (99f) and the Vespa was flawless (125cc Sprint).

As far as I'm aware, there's an engine driven fan - so even sat in traffic, there's still airflow to the engine.

Just make sure the oil level is correct.
@25bikez avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2009 Genuine Stella 2T
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Location: Texas
 
Molto Verboso
@25bikez avatar
2009 Genuine Stella 2T
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Posts: 1207
Location: Texas
UTC quote
bluside wrote:
I'm in this camp living in Florida. The heat and humidity takes a lot of the fun out of it, (especially when you have to wear more than shorts, t shirts and sandals.)

I'm old. I've been riding a long time in all kinds of extremes. Nothing to prove anymore. My Miata, even with the top up and AC on comes in very handy.
Yep.

When is it too hot for an air cooled engine? When I won't go for a ride.
@steelbytes avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2019 GTS300 HPE SuperTech 66,000km
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Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
 
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@steelbytes avatar
2019 GTS300 HPE SuperTech 66,000km
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6802
Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
UTC quote
znomit wrote:
These are forced air cooled with the fan running all the time. You don't need to be moving for cooling.
with my gts I added a manual fan control for when the bike is heat soaked at the end of a long hot day and I'm struggling through traffic as I cross the city. This is because the ecu only turns on the fan when the bike is way above normal temp. Probably a bit unnecessary but gives peace of mind
@motovista avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GT 200
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Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
 
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@motovista avatar
GT 200
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Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
UTC quote
A sign that an air cooled engine is overheating, is that they start to knock, usually while going up a hill.
UTC

Banned
Primavera 150
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Posts: 124
Location: Southwestern Virginia
 
Banned
Primavera 150
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Location: Southwestern Virginia
UTC quote
I've thought about this too when riding in the summer. I think if you stay moving, you have nothing to worry about. You'll probably overheat before the engine will!
@jakem avatar
UTC

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Vespa Sprint Sport S 125cc
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Addicted
@jakem avatar
Vespa Sprint Sport S 125cc
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Posts: 736
Location: Brighton, England
UTC quote
Has anyone on here actually had a modern air cooled engine overheat?
@jbacklund avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2020 GTS300 HPE/2022 Triumph Rocket 3R/1981 Honda CB900C/2019 Triumph Speedmaster
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Location: Black Hills South Dakota USA
 
Molto Verboso
@jbacklund avatar
2020 GTS300 HPE/2022 Triumph Rocket 3R/1981 Honda CB900C/2019 Triumph Speedmaster
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1890
Location: Black Hills South Dakota USA
UTC quote
Every year during the Sturgis Rally, which is held in August, arguably the warmest month of the year in these parts, thousands of air-cooled Harleys clog up the town's main street and trundle stoplight-to-stoplight in a sluggish procession of 'duck walking' riders.

I often wonder how their bike's engines can survive this kind of torture, but I must admit that, considering the crazy numbers here for the rally, I don't see nearly as many broken down air-cooled bikes as one might expect.
@buggsy avatar
UTC

Addicted
GTV / GTS, 1961 Lambretta LI Series 3
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Posts: 537
Location: Somewhere on the Island of Great Britain, East Coast, Last time I looked.
 
Addicted
@buggsy avatar
GTV / GTS, 1961 Lambretta LI Series 3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 537
Location: Somewhere on the Island of Great Britain, East Coast, Last time I looked.
UTC quote
Wish I could give you some advice on this subject, If it gets above 24c here where I live its hot Whew emoticon but short lived, we get plenty of rain and could tell you its not advisable to ride a scooter with an umbrella up ROFL emoticon
@juan_orhea avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
S150 '09, Beo 500ie '08
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Posts: 1370
Location: Bermuda
 
Molto Verboso
@juan_orhea avatar
S150 '09, Beo 500ie '08
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Posts: 1370
Location: Bermuda
UTC quote
Air-cooled four-stroke small engine longevity - even in Chinese engines - is really quite impressive as long as the engine is kept oiled. You simply don't hear about many failing prematurely across lawn mowers, snow throwers, generators, Tao Taos, or Vespas. And when they do fail, I can't think of an example in which high ambient temperature was really a contributing factor.
UTC

Banned
Primavera 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 124
Location: Southwestern Virginia
 
Banned
Primavera 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 124
Location: Southwestern Virginia
UTC quote
Juan_ORhea wrote:
Air-cooled four-stroke small engine longevity - even in Chinese engines - is really quite impressive as long as the engine is kept oiled. You simply don't hear about many failing prematurely across lawn mowers, snow throwers, generators, Tao Taos, or Vespas. And when they do fail, I can't think of an example in which high ambient temperature was really a contributing factor.
Agreed. Not quite a scooter, but how many VW flat four engines were abused to extremes and kept on ticking for many thousands of miles? Looser tolerances, I suppose, allow for wide temperature swings.
@waspmike avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
LXV 150 3v ie. Midnight Blue (Sold) Now Honda Zoomer X
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4130
Location: Kingdom of Lanna
 
Ossessionato
@waspmike avatar
LXV 150 3v ie. Midnight Blue (Sold) Now Honda Zoomer X
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Posts: 4130
Location: Kingdom of Lanna
UTC quote
znomit wrote:
These are forced air cooled with the fan running all the time. You don't need to be moving for cooling.
What he said plus the idle speed on fan cooled engines is usually slightly higher to keep the fan working.

I frequently ride at 30C plus. Keep varying the speed.
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