Motorcycle Repair: honda v65 magna, 1985, honda v65 magna, jumper wire

Question
Chris,
I have a V65 magna, 1985. It has a digital temperature display and is liguid cooled. The digital display shows that that the bike is over heating. I assume this because the display begins to flash and the temperature is maxed out. My question is this. My fan does not kick on prior to this point to cool the engine. It runs breifly and then stops with not change in the temperature display . I made a jumper wire and jumped the plug for the therom switch. When the fan runs constantly the bike does not over heat. I replaced the thermo switch after speaking with the service department at a honda shop. It now comes on  sooner but it still shows the teperature as overheating. Could this be a inaccurate temperature. I am concerned that the bike is too hot. It has not boiled over but I know this is not a normal running temperature.
Thanks,
Joe Simpson  

Answer
Hi Joe.

You could have an innaccurate sensor or another type of problem with the cooling system.  Look for shorts in that circuit as well.  Is the water pump still working as advertised?  How about the thermostat?  have you checked to see if it is opening when it should?  Maybe the coolant mixture is wrong.

Start with those and let me know what you find.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON