[highplains240]

i don't know if there's much anyone can tell me more than just start digging in, but i'm curious if anyone has had any coolant leak problems with their rc's plumbing or radiators? today the bike just starting smoking a little (antifreeze burning) and i noticed i had a little spray up around my stearing head. I inspected further and noticed a small collection at the bottom of the fairings.
Is this a common problem? the bike is fairly young, and the operating temperatures seemed a little high for how cold it was, but not dangerously high like in the summer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

and the wierd noise, well, the other day when i was cold starting the bike (with full choke) i would get a couple of loud barks, usually taking a couple of tries before the bike wants to run on its own. but this time, about the third crank i got this loud noise, but didn't sound exhaust like, it sounded mechanical almost like a loud ping. the bike started afterwards and everything seems normal. Any ideas? could this be related to the coolant leak?

(2003 rc, jardine cf slips, 2200 miles)


thanks everyone for your time and help!

[gt702]

There seems to be a trend with the RC's that the hose clamps weren't as tight as they could be. So a good winter maintenance will be to take off all the bodywork and make sure the hose clamps are snug (be careful not to over tighten and over stress the screw clamps). Be sure to get into the hoses between the V, that is where mine have a slight leak (only enough to smell most of the time). Should then be good to go.

Not sure on the pop unless you got a little excess fuel pop through an open intake or maybe a little mechanical rap if it kicked hard. I haven't had that happen to me (that I remember or took notice of) but I could see where you could get something unexpected. I'd pay attention to see if it happens again to get a better idea of what it is. If not, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

The RC is a great bike and pretty darn robust. Have fun.

[highplains240]

thanks a lot

after further inspection, it seems that both inside hose clamps on the radiators are leaking. pretty strange considering that i would think it would be a slow process, or at least slow enough to notice. but it is young.

the rc is definitely a beast. i'm trying so hard to get sick of it but can't

[patrickrc51]

My bike does the loud clack from the crank case when I start it from time to time. I removed the choke so it does it a bit more now but it is a cylinder not firing. Normal on high compression large pistons engines like the RC.