Hoping I don't have a problem here.
I took off the radiator to ceramic coat the header. I've never had the radiator off before so I worked slow/carefully.
I never added a drop in the 2 years I've owned the bike since new. It came from the factory with the cold level right at the low level line and it stayed there for 6K miles.
Refilling, I followed the factory manual to the word. Topped off the radiator and filled the reservoir to the full line. I mixed at 50/50 and I literally measured the ratio to the ounce. Started the bike, radiator cap off, and watched for air bubbles to purge. Tapped the hoses like the manual says to loosen trapped air. It seemed to me all the air came out fairly quickly. One thing I'll mention, if it matters, after it looked like the bubbles stopped coming out, there would be this cycle...the coolant would rise to the top of the radiator and just as it overflowed ONE large air bubble would pop out. Then the level would drop back down and it would take a couple of minutes for the coolant to come up and overflow again. Again, that same single large bubble would pop out. I did this cycle approx' 4 times and it seemed to me the bubble wasn't air from inside but just air being trapped at the top of the neck as the level rose each time. IF I'M RIGHT ABOUT THAT, then all air was purged out.
I then topped off the radiator and installed the cap. Ran the bike until the fan started for a minute. Waited for complete cool down and filled the reservoir to just under the full level line. Inspected carefully for any leaks. All work was done with the bike on stands/level. Hoping I was done, I replaced the bodywork.
After 2 rides to work (40 miles total) I could see the level dropped to just above the lower line. Didn't let it bother me much after I checked the hoses, etc, for any signs of leaking. Now I come back from a 75 mile ride, cool down, and the level has dropped again to just under the low line when level. This time I checked each hose and the radiator body and cap and can see absolutely no sign of a leak. Not a drop on the floor either. I could possibly understand a leak could evaporate when hot but wouldn't there be at least SOME kind of sign somewhere??
Is the dropping level normal (for a short time) and I can expect it to stop soon? If there was some air still trapped could it be slowly getting out and that's why the level is dropping? Anyone else had something like this happen?
Sorry for the long post but I wanted to give all details. This is starting to bug me.
Any experience/help appreciated.

* Last updated by: KAK on 3/22/2010 @ 12:28 AM *

Fill your reservoir bottle to the midline.That's it.Your bike is okay.How is the temp on the display-showing normal for whatever riding conditions(sitting in traffic,going UP.Then dropping back when moving?)If it was not cooling correctly-you'd soon find out.Ride it-sounds okay to me.

i agree with blu.

Fill the resevoir when the bike is cold - line it off.

then check that line for a bit, each day/week or ?, before you startup the bike.

Maybe I got a fluke bike-I dunno-but I've never had to add any coolant or oil to "restore" previous levels ever.I did change my coolant here a while back.I DID NOT go through all the stuff the manual says to do.I drained it into a pan.Looked at the condition.It looked used,but okay.No weird metallic fluffs or anything showing any radiator deterioration.Opened up the line that goes into the pump,drained that line out.Buttoned it up(kept cap off for draining).Filled with 50/50 mix.Started bike(with cap off).Ran it just till it began to warm up(and coolant was flowing a bit)Watched for air bubbles.Looked good.Tapped and squeezed the lower rad hose lines.Checked the fluid again-it was beginning to overflow from the filler hole.Stopped the engine.Checked the level again-it was okay.Installed the cap CORRECTLY.Called it good.Filled my reservoir back to halfway.Been fine ever since.Normal temps,just like before.You should not be losing any coolant.That's what the reservoir's for.If it's a tad low in the rad,the reservoir will add some to it when it needs it.So that level might change at different conditions-but it will find it's level very quickly,once the system has equalized for your bike.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/22/2010 @ 1:50 AM *

That's what bugs me blue, my bike never needs a drop of oil or coolant since new in Dec.'07.
Also, there's no sign of the bike running hotter. LCD gauge seems to work as always. Same for how the fan cycles. Just wondering when the reservoir level is going to stop dropping.
Although I really thought I had the system bled of all air, there must have been some still in there and maybe it all isn't out yet. Only way the level can drop this soon is air in the system being replaced by coolant or a leak. Short of taking off the bodywork I can't inspect any better and don't see a thing.
I just wonder if it makes sense (is normal) that the air could take several days to work its way out? I've never owned a bike with water cooling so this is new to me.

* Last updated by: KAK on 3/22/2010 @ 6:34 PM *

Well KAK-from day one-it was setup from a shop or Kawi-so they did all the prep work-had everything worked out.It will stabilize-just give it a bit more time.Long as it's not going empty or something-and the temps are correct-it is fine.Just add some more if it looks dicey to ya.Then watch it.It could be more air in the line I suppose.I don't really know-mine worked just fine after I drained mine and refilled.And my reservoir is at the lower level mark all he time.It should be okay as long as you're not continuously having to refill over and over.The air will work out-maybe just open the top again and see where the fluid's at?(cold of course).Then start it again and see if you get any more air out the cap.Sounds okay to me though.Perhaps take er on a HIGH SPEED romp for a couple of minutes-open er up and get things really moving and heating up there.May be just what she needs?Get ya a flashlight and check around the outer area of the radiator-especially on the cap side.See if there's any residue runnin down anywhere.You can check it through the fairing openings,or pull your right side ram cover off-look right down in there at the cap area.Maybe something isn't okay?Remove any hoses?Might check the fittings again.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/23/2010 @ 12:31 AM *

Thanks for the help.
I looked at things pretty hard today and can't see any sign of a leak.
I added some coolant mix. Took 6 ounces to get the level right between the lower and upper lines (stone cold and level). I'd guess 2 more ounces would put it just under the upper line which is where it was after I followed the re-fill procedure in the manual. So it seems it's dropped about 8 ounces total. Don't know if trapped air can allow for that much but it's hard to believe if 8 ounces leaked out that I couldn't see signs of leaking somewhere.
Thanks again for the help.

You'd see it alright-on the floor or dripping underneath at the midpipe fairing opening.It sounds good to go.It's not still dropping is it?I measured what I drained from mine,and refilled with virtually the same amount of new.It lost a cup's worth when I restarted and it warmed up-overflowed out of the cap.I just shut it off at that point and capped it-and left the reservoir at the midlevel it as it was.No problems since.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/23/2010 @ 10:56 PM *

I just did mine the other day. If the recovery tank is being suck up back in the radiator, then the coolant should be fine, you missed a little on the hose squeezing getting it all settled to the top of the cap. I took a quick ride to circulate the water. That was a quick start if not a ride around the block and stopped before things got to hot to work on. I removed the cap, topped the rest off.

And just to make sure, I just went out to take a look at the water level [leaning on the side stand]. She is right up at the neck where I pulled the cap off. Did you fill the water level on the side stand or with a level bike? It may not make a difference, but I did not want to find out, I pull the bike upright.

Thanks for the replies.
Hub, I filled it with the bike on the stands/level. Last night when I added some, the bike had a piece of wood under the sidestand making it nearly upright. Just breath on it and it would fall over it was nearly straight.
I rode to work and checked the bike 9 hours later when going home and the level looked unchanged.
Right now, 6 hours later, the level is just a tad higher but the bike isn't stone cold yet. I'll take that as a good sign.
If this is just a case of trapped air, does that seem possible to take a week and over 100 miles for it to work its way out? No, I didn't actually squeeze the hoses, just tapped then as the manual recommends.

I'd consider it .......done.

If this is just a case of trapped air, does that seem possible to take a week and over 100 miles for it to work its way out? No, I didn't actually squeeze the hoses, just tapped then as the manual recommends.

It sounds close, yeah. It will purge out of the cap and when cooling off, will recover what is needed. Every [action/reaction] time the bike cycles hot, it sort of un-burps itself. Remember, old style cars were just the overflow hoses dumping to the ground. The simple idea installing a recovery tank, took care of the overheating problem of lost water down the open tube.

Bike rags had one of the first 600cc Hondas with a radiator. They came it to get it serviced. It came back overheating. You had to drain the radiator to get to the valves. We were thinking to squeeze the hoses to purge the air bubbles and gave that a try. It worked and been doing the hard collapse and a fast squeeze to move the bubbles out ever since.

Thanks for the replies.
I checked this morning and the level is where I wanted it to be. This has been on my mind the past week or so and I'll still keep an eye on it but it looks like it's fine.
Learning experience for sure. The bike is my baby.

I know the feeling!...EVERYTHING has GOT to be working right-or else!!!!!!!