Cooling system

[Asphaltmaniac]

After almost 12 years and 180000 miles I decided to replace all the soft parts around the engine. Coolant, fuel and air hoses and O rings and gaskets. And while I was at it how about a new water and fuel pump just for good measure.

I have two observations I think are important to mention. The old coolant hoses, actually were not too bad and might of gone a bunch of years before failing.
But the two drain hoses that run from the sides too the fount were very crispy! They made crunchy noises when snipping them with wire cutters. They are tucked up under the belly pan and real close too the exhaust manifolds, and until now I had never given them a moments thought. So if you have a high mileage bike I would seriously consider changing them out.
My next surprise was the radiators. You'd think that radiators that are parallel too the direction of travel would be sorta, somewhat, reasonably clean even after 180000 miles??
But I was flabbergasted at the amount of junk stuck in the fins. The circle defined by the fan was fairly bad, but out side of that extending out to the edges they were more and more packed.
Just a couple things to keep in mind.

[keithg64]

All good to know. On my 1500, when I wash the bike with water, either after riding in the rain or at the end of the season or a couple of times a year. I really drown my radiators with water and try and get all the gunk out that I can with the yard garden hose and never the car wash.

[Asphaltmaniac]

All good to know. On my 1500, when I wash the bike with water, either after riding in the rain or at the end of the season or a couple of times a year. I really drown my radiators with water and try and get all the gunk out that I can with the yard garden hose and never the car wash.

Depends how much radiator you can see on your 1500 through the side openings. The 1800 has fashionable openings while the radiators are square. Just trying to flush them from the outside wont work.