*Yesterday I bought a 2008 ZX 14. *While riding it today, I noticed that the temp gauge stayed near the top the whole time. *It never got hot enough to show me the warning light or high temp warning. *I was feeling a lot of heat on my legs though. *What range should the temperature gauge be in for cruising around at 45 miles an hour in 75° weather? *I'm just wondering if this bike is running hotter than it should or if this is normal. Any help is appreciated.

I can't answer whether the temperature is normal but I have read several forums on the internet where people would comment on the hot nature of the ZX14. In fact, one poster stated nearly identically what you have said. Their gauge would nearly peg after only a few minutes of operation and it'd stay there. They also never got a warning message of overtemp.

Keep us posted.

As I understand it this is the reason many people switch to the ZX-10 front fender.

Double check fluid levels and is the fan functional? I have had my 08 get warm but never too hot. My 2012 has two fans that are smaller than the one fan on the 08 and the 2012 also denotes the temp with actual numbers so you don't have to guess just what the temp is. If I lived any where warmer than the southern Oregon coast I might order another fan for the right side of the 08. I lived in Arizona for 22 years. I have seen it 129 at Lake Havasu. I could see a number of bikes having some issues there. Chase down EZ185, he lives there and would know how to handle any heat problems because he has a ZX-14 and other bikes. I am sure he has worked with overheating. I am thinking that you are not having any real heat problem. Couple bars from the top should be OK on the road and it will climb at a stop. I have never seen my 08 peg and show any lights.

* Last updated by: 21744 on 3/18/2012 @ 6:16 PM *

Stay on the top all time? I don't think that's normal.

Alien your down in Naples right? If so I’m in Cape Coral just north of you and can help you check over your bike if you want but sound like you need to change your coolant or it has some air in the system! You just got your ZX-14 this year right?

*Yesterday I bought a 2008 ZX 14. *While riding it today, I noticed that the temp gauge stayed near the top the whole time. *It never got hot enough to show me the warning light or high temp warning. *I was feeling a lot of heat on my legs though. *What range should the temperature gauge be in for cruising around at 45 miles an hour in 75° weather?

I wouldn't get too worried just yet. A new '08 ZX-14 with stock pipes should run at 5 bars in 75 F weather at lower speeds. 3 cats, big motor, tight motor, high ambient temp. I would expect it to drop to 4 bars maybe 3 if you get up to 65-70 mph for 25 30 minutes. One of the things this bike is known for is a LOT of heat. You will feel it on your legs. Normal.

My new 08 ran at 5 bars in the hot weather. That is with just one bar left open at the top, bar 1 has the [C] on it, 3 bars is dead center and that is normal operating temp for a broke in bike in 70 F air. 6 bars is all the way to the top. Never saw that with the engine running.

Pretty sure I saw 6 bars and the high temp icon flash on the multifunc meter after shutdown. The engine gets even hotter with the fluid not circulating.

ZX-10 fender might help some. Not going to help with aeros but if you are not going over 160 mph prolly not too big a deal. I don't recommend the coolant additives that keep your engine temp down. Too hard to monitor the strength, non antifreeze protective and now Hub is saying he heard that they might damage temperature sensors?? Some like their water wetter or that other stuff....engine Ice. I never tried it. Go to a full system exhaust and that will drop your temps one bar much of the time.

This time of year in 20-50 F weather, I run at 2 bars. Summer, 75-80 F 3 bars, 4 if I am going slow. 90-100 I might still see 4 bars at highway speed. I don't think I have seen 5 bars since going to a full system.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/11/2012 @ 10:01 AM *