Coolant dissapearing

[LTRider]

I have a 2001 Standard and I noticed that my reservoir is loosing some coolant. Nearly a quart in several hundred miles. I also checked the radiator and had to add some there as well. I can smell sometimes the coolant but I can not see any visible leaks. The top hose clamp shows tiny signs of dry coolant so perhaps that's my potential problem area. There are no visible leaks underneath the bike, however.
Question, when I remove the radiator bolt under the headlight, do I need to remove the radiator hose next in order to tilt the radiator? Should I drain the coolant first?
If you could share your success stories with removing the radiator and accessing the top hose clamp, I'd appreciate it!

[Steel cowboy]

If you still loosing antifreeze after checking the radiator hose, check your radiator cap too. Check your spark plugs out too. Antifreeze leaking into a cylinder due to a bad head gasket will clean out the carbon off the plug.

[John Schmidt]

Check the hose clamp where the upper hose clamps to the t-stat housing. It's been an issue on some bikes well into their life of service and hard to capture due to being buried in the midst of the engine comparment. Often loss happens while running which causes the fluid to dry quickly on a hot motor, but you can often smell the hot fluid. You should be able to reach that clamp without dismantling anything using a long 1/4" drive extension with the socket...forget which size socket.

[Skinhead]

I believe it is 8mm if it is the Honda OEM clamp.  OEM clamps are very narrow and offer little sealing surface area, I replaced mine with full size automotive clamps which are much wider.  I used to get leaks every season in cold weather.  No problems since changing clamps.

[LTRider]

To get to the hose clamp, do you recommend draining the coolant? How do you get the radiator to tilt forward?

[John Schmidt]

To get to the hose clamp, do you recommend draining the coolant? How do you get the radiator to tilt forward?

No draining needed and don't believe you have to tilt the radiator(don't quote me on the tilt...been a while). It's a bit tricky but a good flashlight, a long 1/4" extension and I believe it is an 8mm on the clamp as Skinhead mentioned. Like I said...it's been quite a while since I've done this but believe if you look in from the left side the clamp is visible. Hopefully someone will check me on this.

[Valker]

I thought it was a 6mm, but I've been wrong before.

[LTRider]

Pulled the spark plugs; they looked ok.
The hose clamp has a Phillip screwdriver-type of head. But there is no way reach from the left side as the opening is so small and the head is hiding.

[Savago]

It may be a good time to go ahead and install a coolant temperature gauge.

I've installed one in my I/S in 2016 and documented the process here:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90490.0.html

I decided to go double clamp (original + extra), where the new clamp is stainless steel and wider.