Hi, can anybody recommend a radiator for my 'streetfighter' other than a standard one, which doesn't quite look right without the fairing. Can I fit a cb1000 type or something similar?
As long as you can route the in/out hoses, any radiator (in theory) will work. Just make sure the cooling capacity is similar to the stock one. You don't want it too small or too large as it will throw off the cooling scheme.
It can be an issue. If you have too large a radiator and it never gets up to temp the thermostat will never open. This is especially an issue if you live somewhere the air temp can get low. I had this exact issue when I built my Monaro.
If your thermostat never opens then it would not matter what size of rad you use, If you have issues with not getting up to temp it is either a thermostat issue, or the bypass is to large
You're missing the point. The system is designed with a certain expectation of coolant temperature from the radiator. If the radiator is so large as to never get the coolant to the temperature the system is designed to operate at, then you will have issues.
when i did my mechanics course we were taught engines have a thermostat so until the engine is up to temp coolant does not flow round the rad, when the engine is above about 70 deg thermostat opes an allows coolant to flow, if the engine cools the thermostat shuts and stops coolant flowing to the rad,but you also have a bypass system which allows a small amount of coolant to bypass the stat.
Absolutely true, but my point is that if the capacity of the radiator never allows the coolant to get to temp, the thermostat will never open and the engine will never get up to optimal operating temperature, habitually running in a "cold" state, which is not good for engines made to the tolerances that a motorcycle engine is. Thermodynamics come into play when these engines are designed and straying too far from those parameters is not good.
no coolant will flow round the rad until the engine is up to temp, The stat is fitted to the engine so when you start the engine no coolant flows in to the rad as the stat is closed. this is why you will notice your engine warms up quite quick. at about 70c the stat slowly starts to open allowing a small amount of coolant to flow, as the temp rises the stat opens more, this is why when you look at your temp gauge as you are riding it will stay at about 80c this is due to the stat regulating the flow to keep the engine at optimum temp.the size of your rad has no impact on this. If your engine is running cool you have an issue with the stat.
