Temp gauge reading? Need some education!

[BlackLabel82]

Seeing how I have never owned a motorcycle before with a temp gauge, I am not 100% sure at what the common reading should be. My CB1000 is staying between the middle and top of the guage @ an idle. When I get going it works its way back down to about the center again. Is this normal behavior? I would think that it is, but just checking with the experts adds some comfort to my conclusion. The fan kicks on as it gets between the middle line and the red zone....thanks for any info, and jokes are more than welcome in regards to my ignorance..lol

[page62]

Modern automobiles has a computer controlled temp gauge. It goes to the middle...and stays there. In actual fact the car's temperature varies quite a bit, but the automakers don't want people to worry as long as the temperature is within a nominal range. So the needle don't move much.

Your gauge is giving you an accurate reading, showing the temperature fluctuations that really occur. And yes, expect a temperature rise at idle. As long as the fan is kicking in and controlling the temperature properly, you're OK.
 

[BlackLabel82]

Thats kinda what I figured...just like with any car I've owned...I've just heard that alot of sportbikes will run near or at redline before the fans kick on - and it is normal...lol, it would scare the hell out me, but I guess if you know your stuff then you're not gonna worry. Thanks for the info.