riding in the south of Morocco

[popi]

Hi all K1300/K1600 riders.
I expect to ride early may in the south of Morocco with temperature like 42°C / 108°F.
Has anyone ever driven in such temperatures and was the cooling correct or did the engine heat up too much ?
Thanks for your reply.

 

[nicholsonj2252]

Back in 2014 I rode a K1600GT in 45 degree temperatures in Spain without any issue . Just check before you go that the radiator is clear and the fins not clogged up , I recommend you do this at least annually anyway

 

[Decompressing]

went down to the Pyrenees couple of years ago with my K1600 when they had that end of the world type heatwave. Was 40 degrees each day for 3 days and the bike coped with it fine, probably better than me in fact!.

I know it's mentioned all the time but keeping the front rad grill clean seems to be the thing. Whenever I washed it, I always put the hose for a minute or so on the radiator, no big deal and that always seemed to do the trick. I never had to take the plastic covers off, just hosing it every was was enough. Its amazing how much mud and gravel flows out the underside of the plastic guard after a days riding in the muck.

 

[theop]

Mine ran at 6/7 bars of temp pre fan at 38C in France 3 years ago. Not an issue, but above normal, i recommend buying an oil temp screw cover from a known German aftermarket specialist to monitor that, as its more important. K1600s oil can run up to 120-125c which is on the high side.
Not the best choice pf bike for Africa in my opinion. Banana republics can give rise to many other issues aside from temp and the k16 is amcompex machine for a hammer and a spanner. You d be better off to get yourself a £3.50 Transalp or Dauville on carbs from yesteryear, do the trip and flog it on ebay for the same amount after. Or go to France/Switzerland/Germany/Norway/Spain instead, i.e. not a banana land.

 

[Mad Hatter]

I’m off to southern Morocco in November, might be cooler then. Planning to go on my R80GS Basic with an oil cooler fitted. Should be OK, they rode them in the Paris-Dakar rally back in the day and were probably going a wee bit faster than me

 

[ThreeDawg]

Mine ran at 6/7 bars of temp pre fan at 38C in France 3 years ago. Not an issue, but above normal, i recommend buying an oil temp screw cover from a known German aftermarket specialist to monitor that, as its more important. K1600s oil can run up to 120-125c which is on the high side.
Not the best choice pf bike for Africa in my opinion. Banana republics can give rise to many other issues aside from temp and the k16 is amcompex machine for a hammer and a spanner. You d be better off to get yourself a £3.50 Transalp or Dauville on carbs from yesteryear, do the trip and flog it on ebay for the same amount after. Or go to France/Switzerland/Germany/Norway/Spain instead, i.e. not a banana land.

I'd be willing to bet that BMW test their bikes in hot places, because people who live in Australia and Arizona buy them. Maybe even a few do in "banana land"

 

[Cortina]

I think it's a well known fact that K1600 cooling systems are "marginal". If everything is cleaned and unclogged , you'll be fine - depending on the age of the bike -you MAY be able to actually watch your water temp .... you may get a surprise. There are different levels set for fan cutting in / off, and warning lights -amber then red. These numbers are probably higher than you expect. "Our" record was in the middle of Istanbul rush hour , slow moving traffic for several hours , ambient 39C - bike eventually shut down by owner, and it got to about 116 or 117C water temp (and the rad was clear !!) .