Intermittent overheating SV650S K5

Has anyone experienced an intermittent overheating problem like this? -

A small puff of smoke/steam and a burning smell (possibly electrical) from the front end followed by an constant rise in temperature, but after stopping for 5 minutes and turning off the ignition everything returns to normal.

Just spent 5 great days around Normandy and this first occurred on the run up to Dunkirque on the way back, I got the smell at the toll booth so I stopped to see if anything was on the exhaust or blocking the radiator, I didn't find anything so I carried on but was on alert and stopped when I saw the temp guage rise steadily to 101 degrees, I checked all accessible electrical connections and the fan was free to turn, as I couldn't find anything I decided to nurse the bike to a suitable stopping place and was amazed to see the temp steady out between 83 and 89 degrees as normal, the bike was fine for the rest of the trip in France.
The second time the problem occurred was leaving the ferry terminal in Dover, just as I rode through customs I got the burning smell and again the temp guage started its steady climb, because of traffic conditions I had to run out to the A20 before I could stop and the temp guage was up to 94 degrees, my friend said he knew I was going to have to stop because he saw the puff of smoke/steam, I gave the bike 5 mins and looked around, I still couldn't see anything obvious and when I restarted everything was fine. I then rode the 300 miles back home through some of the foulest weather imaginable and apart from loosing the front cylinder for a short period in the heaviest rain on the M1 (I knew I should have extended the front mudguard but thats another of those jobs I just havn't got round to) the bike performed great.

I suspect the thermostat is at fault as it was possible to hold the hose to the radiator when the temp read 94 degrees but can't tie it in to the smell, is the thermostat electronically controlled on the SV if it is then I'm looking for a failing connection. Any help would be appreciated and I will update this thread with anything I find in case others experience it.

(total trip distance was 1452 miles and I want to go back again today, love my SV)

I too get the icky smell and have seen 103 on the dial, and also have a K5.

I just thought it was normal though and carried on The 100 or so temp only seems to be when stuck in the most god awful jam for too long, lots of stop start etc, the fan comes on and holds it to about 95 until I can set off and get some air moving through, at which point mid 80s is the norm.

I've put the icky smell down to road crap heating up and cooking - ie. all that spray that cakes the front cylinder, well it's not exactly mountain spring water, more industrial effluent, raw sewage, slurry from tractors, tar and diesel, all mixed with a bit of acid rain - when that starts steaming it really smells a bit bad.

The smoke etc, I'm not sure, but the fan not working, then...

Originally Posted by hutchy

I suspect the thermostat is at fault as it was possible to hold the hose to the radiator when the temp read 94 degrees but can't tie it in to the smell, is the thermostat electronically controlled on the SV if it is then I'm looking for a failing connection. Any help would be appreciated and I will update this thread with anything I find in case others experience it.

You're dead right, chances are the thermostat is goosed. Get a DMM on the connections to the thermostat to measure the resistance.

On my bike, the fan doesn't bother to kick in at around 105C. You should be showing 0ohms when the bike is that hot (or as close as damn it).