In my experience, when the t-stat begins to fail, my average mileage will begin to drop BEFORE I start seeing the bars transitioning from 3 to 2 or less when fully warmed up. I replaced my t-stat twice in my '04. I also witnessed a co-riders t-stat fail on his '03 during a 1,100 mile SS1000 ride from Seattle to WeSTOC in Minden, NV in 2004. My bike was 2 weeks old at the time. About 600 miles into the ride he started to notice his dash fluctuating between 2 and 3 bars. Mine was rock solid at 3 bars. As the ride progressed he was down to a steady 2 bars, then fluctuating between 2 and 1, then a steady 1. I don't remember if he ended up at no bars?? The temps dropped during the coarse of the ride and it rained pretty hard for the first 500 or 600 miles. But even as the weather warmed up and dried out his bars never returned. He had the t-stat change out in Minden before we rode home. He wasn't tracking his mileage at the time.
When my first t-stat failed I was already at the fluctuating between 3 and 2 bars point. When the 2nd failure occurred I noticed the drop in mileage before seeing any issues with the bars. I changed the t-stat and my mileage returned to normal.
When my first t-stat failed I was already at the fluctuating between 3 and 2 bars point. When the 2nd failure occurred I noticed the drop in mileage before seeing any issues with the bars. I changed the t-stat and my mileage returned to normal.