Thermostat options

[Speedy88]

Hi all. Great site for info to avoid mistakes and trial & error.

I'm looking at thermostats for my 500 xcw to replace the stock unit for 2 reasons.

Primarily to be sure the engine gets up to full operating temp (with the smaller bypass opening) in the cold and deep powder.
I think with this, I wouldn't need to be messing with rad blockers etc. Going to run an engine blanket and if needed, a heat exchanger/coolant tank.

Secondly to have a spot to thread a trailtech temp sensor in where it will deliver an accurate coolant temp in the motor.

I'm seeing only 3 options. The watt-man thermo-bob. The selkirk thermostat and the C3. Is there anything else on the market?

They all look well made and I'm leaning toward the watt-man unit as it is least $. Any reason not to go cheap?

Another question: Which t-stat? the 180f or the 195f ?

 

[00Tundra]

Nothing wrong with the thermo-bob . Go with the 195 f

 

[teal_210]

I'm using the Selkirk one. It's a rebranded thermobob that they modify a bit to work a little better.

I run 180, I never let my bike go over 200.

 

[suva]

You'll still need radiator blockers when it's deep regardless what thermostat you wind up with. A few years ago my buddy and I had similarly set up YZ450s, I had a thermobob and he had no thermostat and our temps or need for blocking radiators were always very similar. It was only after I started running a heat exchanger that my temperatures were somewhat stable but they add a bunch of weight and jury rigging that you have to deal with too.

 

[dooman92]

Yeah, stilll need engine protection from snow and rad blockers. I've used both wattman and c3. Both worked. I'd go with the 195 stat. I run two ktm 500's currently. They run best at 195-200. The wattman is very well made but requires a little more space. C3 fits into the head and saves a bit of space. If the radiators stay cold the thermostat will not have any effect as the engine will run cold via convection in lower rad hoses.

 

[jrlastofthebreed]

The C3 one is nice as it has 3 ports for temp probes, heated bars etc if thats something you think you might want. Timbersled also makes their own as well