NO COOLANT ALLOWED ON THE RACECOURSE AND WHY

The requirement of "water only" or "approved racing coolant only" is for everyone's safety. One of the quickest ways for a rider to fall is liquid on the track. This is why racing organizations require all racebikes to have a belly pan. No, you are not required to have a belly pan for a track days or school, just keep reading. Due to EPA laws, most new sport bikes have a closed system for oil which means your engine breather vents back into the air box thus oil overflow is virtually eliminated. So we have you safety wire the oil filter, oil fill cap and oil drain to make sure the oil stays inside where it belongs.

The coolant system can overflow. It is more fragile with a greater possibility that leaks will occur with the rubber hoses, clamps and radiators. You do not want this type of fluid on the track. It is extremely slippery and according to track managers, anti-freeze tends to be more permanent when it soaks into asphalt. It requires soap and water to remove it which means bringing out the water truck and brooms to wash the surface of the track. Oil spills will clean up in a matter of minutes using "dry-all" (kitty litter stuff). Anti-freeze requires 2-4 times longer to clean up. A good anti-freeze spill can shut the track down for a couple of hours. Not good.

So, water will evaporate and is asphalt friendly. Anti-freeze will not evaporate, it's extremely slippery and takes a long time to clean off the track surface.

CHANGING THE COOLANT

If you choose to use a racing approved coolant such as Evans Coolant (non-glycol based), follow the manufacturers recommendations for changing to their specific coolant. Be warned that these coolants do not like water and you must have 100% of all liquid from your bike's cooling system for them to work properly.

My recommendation is using water and Redline's Water Wetter. It's quick and easy. This swap takes a matter of minutes and you can go back to your standard coolant in a matter of minutes.

HOW TO FOR WATER:

Piece of cake. Just don't do it when the motor is hot. What you'll need: a bucket, a gallon of distilled water and a few ounces of Redline's Water Wetter.

Take off the bodywork. Locate the water pump on the side of the motor. Loosen the hose clamps and gently pry the rubber hoses off. Make sure you have your bucket sitting underneath to catch the fluid as it comes rushing out. Locate the reservior bottle for coolant and disconnect that hose to drain out extra coolant. Flush water through the reserve bottle. Put the hoses back on the water pump. Fill up the radiator then disconnect hoses and flush. Do this a couple of times til the water runs clear. After the water runs clear, reconnect hoses and clamps making sure everything is secure.

Next, begin filling the coolant system with distilled water and use the recommended amount of Water Wetter for the capacity of your system. If you don't know how many quarts your bike's cooling system holds and you're trying to figure out how much Water Wetter to use, call your local dealer to get the spec's for your particular bike. Also, re-fill the reservoir bottle with water. You can also add a capful of Water Wetter to this if you wish.

With the bike on the side stand, which should put the opening of your radiator at it's highest point, crank the bike and let the water circulate for a 2-4 minutes. Blip the throttle several times and you'll see the water level go down and air bubbles come up. Cut the bike off. Let it sit for a few minutes so any remaining air bubbles can get out and add water to top off the system. Replace the radiator cap. Put your bodywork back on. Your done.

COLD WEATHER AND WATER:

If the temperature is dipping down towards the 32 degree mark for just a few minutes at the peak of coolness on a fall or early spring morning, you're fine. Sustained cold temperatures at or below freezing will severly damage your engine and cooling system. Plan on draining your water and replacing the water with anti-freeze/coolant before winter sets in.

DISCLAIMER: We make no specific claim or warranty to the performance of your particular motorcycle. Always consult with certified mechanic before making changes to your machine.