Air temp. gauge function?

My 2000, the readout for air temp. works fine when the bike is off and cool but when running I get high readings...Like 81f yesterday running along the highway in about 50f outside air temp.   Is this the way these do, or do I have a fault I need to mess with?  The function for coolant temp. works properly and the dash readout, that seems to function correctly, too.
  Thanks, Don Hanson

Has the sensor been moved? It should protrude from the right inner trim piece. If not I would suspect a faulty sensor.

-Jake

Sounds like you need a new sensor.

You can take your sensor out, set it in water of a certain temperature, and then record the resistance to test it.

Thanks, now that I know the outside air function actually IS supposed to work well, I shall begin to mess with mine to fix it.  Being a recent new VFR guy, I ask about this kind of stuff (after searching and finding no answers) before I go trying to fix something that might well be a known-shortcoming to The Beasties...
  BTW, I just did my first longer mile ride yesterday, around 450 miles, and enjoyed it without issues.   Not something I could say about that distance on any of my former sport bikes.

It's possible that the little plastic mount has broken/come loose, and the sensor has fallen down inside the cowl near the radiator.

I think that the sensor is a thermistor (resistance varies with temperature).  I would suspect a bad electrical connection either within the sensor itself or at the connection to the bike's wiring or panel.

I took what is left of my bodywork apart today to repair and repaint.  I found the assembly that holds the temp sensor, the inner cowl that is supposed to connect to the lower outer fairing, that was hanging kinda loose inside.  So I surmise that air was coming through the radiator and getting to the sensor, causing the high reading.  

   My fairing is a mess, but I will try to save it rather than shell out money I don't really have for another...I have some smaller turn signal running lights to install, so filling the Dumbo Ear holes is my first task, then fabricate a couple of pieces that are now occupied by some type of super thick black gooey tape and covered with hideous decals on one of the lowers... I am going with a Honda Color, a metalic dark grey that was stock on the Honda Hawks.   I got the decals from Malta...took a long time.  I'm using a urethane two part system from PPG...pricey stuff but it does hold up well.

   I think the plastic is the only part of most Hondas I have owned that leaves me wanting it better.   My Honda Hawk's seat cowl was a piece of crap, too, in the way it was connected and such.   I think I have about 15 defective fasteners now so far on the VFR fairing, but I did buy a 'fastener replacement kit' already...it looks pretty cheezy, too...Oh well