What is causing my 97 Valkyrie motorcycle engine to overheat?

[camper]

The idle on my 97 Valkyrie is set at about 600 when it is first turned on, but as I drive it and it warms up and I come to a stop, the idle raises (up to up to 2500+ within about 45 minutes) and the bike gets extremely hot.  What can cause the idle to go crazy like this, and why might it be overheating?
I checked the antifreeze and it is full, and the reservoir is at the proper level.
Can the radiator get clogged up and not circulate? Do I need to flush it?
Can the throttle cable not return all the way when the engine gets hot causing the idle to go up to 3000?
Can a air leak in the intake manifolds or a vacuum hose cause this?
Any ideas out there? 
Thanks

[Chrisj CMA]

turn down the idle once shes warmed up to 900-1000.  Stone cold it should need the choke for a little to hold it up to 900

[Gryphon Rider]

Does it only overheat when you are stopped and idling, or is it when you are riding?  What happens that you think it's overheating (e.g. engine temp light, fan on, feels hot, boiling over, pants catch on fire when touching valve cover)?  Do you use the enricher (a.k.a. choke) pushed all the way (past the initial point of resistance) when cold starting?  Have you adjusted the idle speed to 900-1000 RPM when warm enough to not need the enricher (running more than 2-3 minutes)?

[Patrick]

2500 idle speed ??!! How does the throttle seem to work ?? Is there enough free-play ?? Will the throttle return smoothly on its own ??  How can it be ridden like that ??  As the others said, set the idle speed while the engine is warm.. Why do you think its overheating ?? Is it boiling ?? Is the fan turning on ?? Are any lights flashing ?? These monsters do throw a lot of heat..

[Hoser]

It should not overheat while standing still if the electric fan comes on.  If it does not come on, that is the problem.  Idle knob adjuster is on the right side just foreward of the middle carb.  Check the electric fan if it don't come on when sitting still.  Hoser

[Daniel Meyer]

Vacuum leak and maybe fuel starvation. Check out your petcock.

[mojo]

Good ideas posted already.. Try eliminating by steps..
1. Snych the carbs and check throttle cables.  Easy to do see Shop Talk.
2. Check to see if the elec fan is coming on.  Could be a sending unit.
3. Vac lines will give you a fit (Per Mr. Meyer) Make sure the plugs on the back of intakes 1,2,4,5 are still there. Check the lines on 3 and 6.  3 goes to the smog pump (P.A.I.R.) and they can crack easily as 6 goes to the petcock.  Assuming the bike's not de-smog.  If it is, check out the de-smog job.
4. Flush the radiatior and fill it (see Shop Talk)

Remember, that cooling fluid will boil over like a car if you have a stuck stat or fan not working. Valkyrie gets hot, can be a number of things like air/fuel etc.  I had bad sending units in goldwings before and easy to get to the plug, cut the wires, twist together and leave fan on until get home and new part.  A "road repair" for emergency.  Best info for Valk IMO is here..   
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/

[mojo]

When bike is cold, crack oil drain plug and see if water/coolant drops come out first before oil. That might be something I've seen once on a Valk.  Not fun .. Cracked head or head gasket.

Very unlikely.  Best of luck to you..

mojo

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

The idle on my 97 Valkyrie is set at about 600 when it is first turned on, but as I drive it and it warms up and I come to a stop, the idle raises (up to up to 2500+ within about 45 minutes) and the bike gets extremely hot.  What can cause the idle to go crazy like this, and why might it be overheating?
I checked the antifreeze and it is full, and the reservoir is at the proper level.
Can the radiator get clogged up and not circulate? Do I need to flush it?
Can the throttle cable not return all the way when the engine gets hot causing the idle to go up to 3000?
Can a air leak in the intake manifolds or a vacuum hose cause this?
Any ideas out there? 
Thanks

I agree with whats been said. Set the idle speed with the engine fully warmed up at 900 - 1000 rpm. Make sure your choke is off when you are riding. Pull the covers above the carbs off to see the choke linkage if you need to. There is one cover on each side held on by chrome Philips head machine screws. I left my choke on in the dark once will riding to work and it ran very strangely as it warmed up.

[wdvalk]

sending unit on bottom left of the radiator,pull the plug off and ground it with the key on,fan should come on,if it does not come on its the fan,plug it back in,if the fan does not come on before it overheats its the sending unit,