Nah not really, but we were gone for 4 wks. and rode everywhere out west it seems.
Hi-light was road racing on PCH#1 and 101 with my old riden partner from Calif. whew!
I have a question about oil temp- my buddy and I have almost identical bikes- same year and we both have oil coolers and temp guages. His runs 10 degrees cooler all the time.
we switch the guages and mine is then 3-5 degrees hotter than his 09 RK.
switch the guages back and his is 10 degrees cooler. so a diff in the guages and the only other diff is he uses the synthetic blend oil.
My hot reading on the trip was 268 degrees.
Does syn. oil supposed to make a temp. difference?

 

Yes, the oil selection is likely the difference between the two bikes. You should see at least 10° difference in peak oil temperatures using synthetic oil, probably more. In today's market I can see no reason to run fossil oil in the engine, and cost isn't even a good excuse to use the cheaper fossil oils. Since synthetic oxidizes much more slowly you can easily run synthetic 5k between changes, but I wouldn't push fossil oil past about 3k. Do the math and you don't save with the cheaper oil. Besides, even if you change at the same interval you're looking at only about maybe $5-20 additional cost per oil change depending on what you buy. All major brands of oil are excellent and you can't justify exorbitant prices for oil, and MC-specific types are a rip-off. I don't use it in my bike, but Mobil 1 15w50 costs $22/5-qt. jug at Wal-Mart and has been given a seal of approval in three oil tests I've seen in MC mags. It's an excellent choice, IMO, especially for the price.

Your peak of 268° is very hot and I would want to get that down to 230° max, and even that only in heavy traffic in hot weather. Do you run that hot while moving or just in stop-and-go traffic?

 

fyi...the owner's manual says that 230 degrees is normal oil temp.

 

with the oil cooler I ran 230 to 245 and the 268 was a 94 degree day in the midwest and running 78mph constant for 180 miles. It is time for another change- might try the syn next time..

 

where i've rode

 

chart.png08-24-2010 12:01 PM

chart.png08-24-2010 12:01 PM

chart.png08-24-2010 12:01 PMin.il.ia.mn.wi.sd.nd.mt.id.wa.bc.or.ca.nv.ut.az. nm.co.ok.tx.ks. mo.=22 this trip.
already did: ky.oh.pa.tn.nc.sc.fl.mi.wv.va.
I will never catch you, that is impressive.
don't wanna ride NE.

 

Nice map, but you're missing some hella-good riding in CO-ID-OR-WA! LOTS of good riding!

Now get out there and fill up that map!

 

Texas is a red state, not a blue state