Anti freeze question

[Billk]

If the bike never heats up enough for the thermostat to open up does that mean that the water in the radiator never fresh up or mixes with rest of the antifreeze in the system.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Only if you never ride it more than 3 miles or let it idle more than 3-4 minutes. 

Why do you ask?

[Laitch]

If the bike never heats up enough for the thermostat to open up does that mean that the water in the radiator never fresh up or mixes with rest of the antifreeze in the system.

If the thermostat doesn't open in the approximate intervals that Mighty Gryphon described (depending on the ambient air temperature), it means the coolant temperature will rise because coolant (customarily antifreeze mixed to create a suspension in distilled water) isn't circulating through the radiator. It means the fan will be running frequently or continuously in mild or hot weather attempting to keep the engine from overheating, and it also means that the thermostat is likely to be faulty and stuck in its closed position.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

If coolant isn't being circulated through the radiator it will quickly reach the temperature where the Jetronic unit will shut the engine down.

Why do you ask?

[Kaos]

If the bike never heats up enough for the thermostat to open up does that mean that the water in the radiator never fresh up or mixes with rest of the antifreeze in the system.

To directly answer the statement. Yes the coolant will remain mostly stagnant in the radiator.
But to add to the question, why do you ask

[Laitch]

Why?

[Billk]

I’m wondering if I should run the motorcycle or idle it long enough to cause the thermostat to open and get fresher coolant into the radiator.

[Kaos]

Only if you're storing the bike longer than 3 years.
Coolant takes about (depending on what you've used) 3 years to degrade. But then its not only coolant you should worry about.
3 years is the worst possible average if you've used weird combinations of proper coolant fluids. When you went full chemist on your coolant you're basically on your own.

Hope this helps.
still i wonder why you're specifically asking about coolant.

Tell me Why

[Kaos]

Tell me Why

Aint nothing 'bout a heart ache,

[Kaos]

Tell me Why

Aint nothing but a mistake

[frankenduck]

Only if you're storing the bike longer than 3 years.
Coolant takes about (depending on what you've used) 3 years to degrade. But then its not only coolant you should worry about.
3 years is the worst possible average if you've used weird combinations of proper coolant fluids. When you went full chemist on your coolant you're basically on your own.

Hope this helps.
still i wonder why you're specifically asking about coolant.

Tell me Why

That's old school thinkin'.  Many coolants last longer than that. Prestone MAX lasts 15 years.

[Kaos]

Thats new school thinking!
We dont know if OP is a chemist, rocket scientist or likes his coolant to last 15 years, maybe he's one of those lemon juice distilled water kinda coolant users.
Hence i stated the worst possible degrading time based on actual coolant fluids mixtures. We're flying in the dark here.

[Laitch]

Only if you're storing the bike longer than 3 years.
Coolant takes about (depending on what you've used) 3 years to degrade.

That's old school thinkin'.  Many coolants last longer than that. Prestone MAX lasts 15 years.

Prestone MAX only lasts 15 years under Normal driving conditions, or so it claims on its website. Long-term storage is not a driving condition at all. Long-term idleness causes chemical breakdown in fluids from lack of efficient fluid circulation in both machinery and people.

[Kaos]

and people.

Dont store idle people without changing/draining their fluids!

[Laitch]

Dont store idle people without changing/draining their fluids!

That's what keeps manufacturers and employees of intubation and catheter equipment thriving.