It went up to 270 degrees today...I rode it for about 40 minutes in 90 degree weather on the highway. Is this normal??
Yep. Read your manual. Above 338oF is overheated. No manual? Available here http://www.ducatiusa.com/services/maintenance/index.do (http://www.ducatiusa.com/services/maintenance/index.do)
Best way to lower the temperature is a Ducati Performance computer or equivalent Get your computer flashed. Slightly richer fueling will notably reduce those temperatures.
Pretty normal and not a problem, but watch out for slow traffic/city after hammering it. Temp can really rise without some decent airflow/MPH.
As Howie said, the DP ecu program and proper adjustment can help.
Good idea to run a quality FULL synthetic in 10W40 weight with these motors.
Adding an oil cooler (like the S2R 800, etc.) also helps, especially with the temp spikes when you come to a series of red lights or hit slow moving traffic.
I did all of the above and no longer need to worry about it. Head paint still melts and turns brown.
BK
I found on my M695 that a FatDuc O2 manipulator and full synth oil helped only a little bit with the temps. I think an oil cooler is the best bet. There's plenty of info here on piecing together e-bay parts for a full system.