Thermostat?!

[Noobi06]

I have two GasGas EC 125s. One of them has the stock Trailtech display, with a water sensor which I have attached a photo off. I am wondering if this is a thermostat that opens and closes, or if is just a tube with a sensor.
I found a thermometer on aliexpress for my other gasgas, but that is not a thermostat. Meaning if my other one has a thermostat, my second one without it will basically never get to operating temperature.
What is your input?

 

[cbutler]

Both of them are just for temp readings nothing to open and close.

 

[(F5)]

Small radiators on a dirtbike for packaging reasons. Just don't nail it from cold directly onto a motorway at 100kmph from cold and you will be OK.

 

[Noobi06]

Thanks for the answers guys! Will definitely buy one in that case.
On another note, what is the ideal operating temperature? Because my other gasser with the stock thermometer almost never goes over 40 degrees celcius. I mean it is kind of cold

 

[swazi_matt]

Thanks for the answers guys! Will definitely buy one in that case.
On another note, what is the ideal operating temperature? Because my other gasser with the stock thermometer almost never goes over 40 degrees celcius. I mean it is kind of cold

Most riders (ktm included) remove the thermostat - one more thing to go wrong and end a race. They often just add a temp switch and fan. Normal operating temp is between 90-110 deg C i think (i had one of those temp stickers on my radiator so not accurate) but depends on your radiator cap. the 1.2bar cap will boil over at 104 C and 1.4 bar at 109C but coolant is higher.

If your bike is running at 40C that is low and you must be riding very easy stuff or very cold weather in which case it may be better to add a thermostat. My experience has all been at the other end of the spectrum with preventing a bike from boiling over in the rocks

 

[(F5)]

Ideally a modern (if there is such a thing anymore) 2 stroke roadrace bike would run at a detonation killing 50*C .

Obviously this isn't the case here but I'd not want to go below that , but i think your gauge is probably fibbing to you.

We used to say 70*C in the old days of steel liners. But dirt bikes have tiny radiators so some of that is aspirational.
That said light load on the road when not hanging it but at a nice speed and only a 125cc engine to heat the water, you might be a lot cooler than a 250 stuck in deep mud at 6kmph with an impatient tired rider.

 

[farmerj]

If your bike is running too cold - a lot of folks will cover one (not both) of the radiators with a piece of cardboard or plastic. Lots of times you can slide this between the radiator and a guard.

Easily removable, and cheap way to solve a problem!

Jeff

 

[Noobi06]

Wow okey. I do not really know what to do to be honest.
I have the OEM GasGas thermometer connected to the vapor trailtech.
It reads from the water and says 40C, or lower.
I do not really know what to do. There are 2 plastic covers that you have on almost all bikes, though I have not put them on but I doubt it would make a difference.
I run it at idle for 5 minutes+ and I always start slow but it never goes to operating temperature.
Note that I am running roads, laying at 60kmh with around 15-25 degrees celcius weather.
What should I do?

 

[SS109]

Seems off to be running that cool. However, I would do like farmerj suggest and block one radiator, run it, and see where you end up temp wise.

 

[Noobi06]

I appreciate the answers guys! Will definitely try some things when the snow is gone, like blocking a radiator

 

[(F5)]

Snow?!

Steal the meat thermometer from the kitchen. When it is at its hottest check the water just be careful removing the cap, face away, use gloves. I mean it says it is cold but just be safe. Will give you a rough idea.
Or laser remote temp gauge if a mate has one.

 

[swazi_matt]

Snow?!

Steal the meat thermometer from the kitchen. When it is at its hottest check the water just be careful removing the cap, face away, use gloves. I mean it says it is cold but just be safe. Will give you a rough idea.
Or laser remote temp gauge if a mate has one.

or maybe just run it with the cap off from the start to be safe.

does your bike have the expansion bottle? does the volume in there increase when it heats up?

 

[Noobi06]

Haha to clarify, there is snow so I am not starting it now, but during summer when it was 30 degrees celcius, it was rare for it to exceed over 40C. I mean I could touch the cylinder and everything with my hand without problems.
I have the expansion bottle, but never have I seen coolant there.
I will try put a thermometer in the radiator, that is a good idea.
Should the water be around 100Fahrenheit, or should the cylinder be?

 

[(F5)]

Kelvin is the proper scientific scale for measuring temperature. Centigrade is the same thing just offset 273 degrees from the point where molecules stop moving so that 0*Centigrade lines up with water freezing (at sea level and not inside a pressurised system) and 100*C boils water.

Fahrenheit is an example of dogedly following a dumb system and never admitting defeat in logic's face because dammit. .

Anyhoo, now we've cleared that up, the touch test; 50*C is OK but you can't leave your hand there all day.
60*C you have to remove your hand. 70*C you swear and shake it.

 

[Noobi06]

Okey. At what temperature should i shut it off? I will see if I can get my hands on a thermostat. Whats the ideal temperature range and at what range is it a possibility that my engine seizes. I am running 0.05mm piston clearance on road and according to the nicasil company, the gasgas ec 125s have a history of seizing on roads, if they run too hot

 

[(F5)]

A good question as it really just shouldn't happen except in calamity.
My RZ350 shot up when I reused a metal gasket. blowing head gasket will be biggest concern.

My current big bore RZ is a little marginal and has few km on it yet, it should have a fan if I had to do traffic but it was built to aim away from the city. I did get caught in roadworks as we made our way up a steep pass. As it got into the 80s I was eyeing up a safe place to park as it was quickly running upwards, but we started moving again and it dropped back down smartish.

90 was my imposed limit of safety for no real scientific reason, but it isn't a loosey goosey air cooled nail of the 1970s.

 

[Noobi06]

Thats good to know! Thank you, and to everyone else who has shared their opinions!