Ducati Monster Forum

I saw that my 696 got up to 4 bars, and my data analyer showed the peak temperature to be 306F. Is this normal? I realize it is an air cooled engine, but I just want to confirm that it is running at over 300 degrees!

Don't know how the temp gauge stuff works on the 696, but 300°F is definitely running WAY hot.

I suspect this may end up in the Tech section.

The temperature bar graph seems to correspond with the value in the data analyzer. It peaked at 152C, and the owner's manual shows that 4 bars = 136C-160C

In cold weather (< 50F) I'm always on 2 bars. Anything above 50F combined with spirited riding and I'm usually at 3 bars. If it's an 80F > day I'll peak into 4 bars sitting at a light or cruising in traffic.

Read the manual. 4 bars is fine, I believe 5 or 6 is danger zone.

How new is the bike?

When my S2R was new, it was staying around 300 during the summer.  Now it rarely gets over 260-270.

Pages 23-25 in manual.

-1 Bar - if the temperature is between -40 °C and +80 °C, the display shows “STATUS 2”;
-2 Bar - if the temperature is between +81 °C and +110 °C, the display shows “STATUS 3”;
-3 Bar - if the temperature is between +111 °C and +135 °C, the display shows “STATUS 4”;
-4 Bar - if the temperature is between +136 °C and +160 °C, the display shows “STATUS 5”;
-5 Bar -  if the temperature is between +161 °C and +175 °C, the display shows “STATUS 6”;
-6 Bar -  if the temperature is between +176 °C and +190 °C, the display shows “STATUS 7”;
-7 Bar -  if the temperature is between +191 °C and +200 °C, the display shows “STATUS 8”;
-8 Bar -  if the temperature is ≥ 201 °C the display shows “STATUS 9” with the series of dashes flashing;

I'd start to worry at 6 or 7 bars.

I bought it new, and it only has about 34 miles. Yesterday was about 80F ambient, so it looks like 4 bars is OK. That is pretty taxing on the engine oil. Makes me wonder if Rotella T6 5W-40 synthetic would be up for the job (it still has the factory fill right now).

I use off the shelf Mobil 1 MX4T 10-40.

The max temp you can be in the 4 bar range is 320F and the low end is 276F. 10-40 Seems to work well enough.

I would not even worry about it until you have finished the break-in period.  Read your manual?

Tolerances are closer which means less shedding and more friction.  It's nothing. 

I just bought a 696 a couple of months ago. I think its pretty normal to get to 4 bars in slow speed (under 50 mph) rides. Essentially you will only be in 3rd/ 4th gear max, and the stop and go adds to it. If I'm on the highway, it gets to 3 bars.. Like the others said, I wouldn't worry until it gets to 6 bars or over.

Have 500 miles now. Hope it starts to run cooler, coz my legs and crotch are burning  [drink]

Hot crotch is a normal effect on a Ducati

I regularly go into 5 bars riding around town in stop and go traffic.  I was a little worried when I first got my bike too.  Now I know it's fine.  My buddy's 1100 stays a bar cooler than mine though.  Now the main thing that bothers me is the blow torch effect under my leg.  Hopefully, I will be reducing that my ceramic coating my pipes when I get the chance.

The temperature sensor is in the cylinder casting, so you are reading a combination of cylinder temperature and oil temperature.  As  sgollapalle said, worry at 6 bars.  Even then just worry.  Panic at 8!

During break in on my 696 last year in the summer heat I saw 6 bars a couple of times, but it hasn't gotten that high since break in. The hottest I have seen it since was 5 bars, and that was last week after I had ridden 60 miles of very curvy roads with lots of on and off the throttle sections, and it only ot to 5 when i got stick at a light, immediately went to 4 once cruising again. don't worry about it, or consider an oil cooler if it bothers you.

We're 400 miles or so into the break-in on a new M696 and are seeing 4 bars pretty regularly.

talking of burning crotch... Has anyone had their pipes heat wrapped? How much does it help?
I had a friend suggest it so the purple pipes don't spoil the looks of the bike.. God did he know of the other problems than the purpleing...
When I look at the pipes, they go down under the engine, mate with the 2nd pipe behind the engine and come out from the side of the seat. If I did want to wrap them, would it be a DIY project or am I better of taking it to a shop to do it?