This problem plagues all years of BRP's. It's almost a guarantee you will see it, my '00 took 2 years, but it finally did it. The unit distorts and the guide pin comes from it's holder, jamming everything open. It's another issue that is not a drastic problem, but more of an inconvenience.

The fix here is an easy one. A lot of the guys just remove it, but Honda put it there, so there's a reason. You don't want the bike running too cool, as that will accelerate cylinder wear. The better fix is to throw in a Napa thermostat #115, MotoRad for a Suzuki Swift, or Carquest #31978. These are meant for small GM cars. It's an almost drop in fix. All you need to do is drill a small hole in the outer ring of the 'stat to allow fluid to flow when it is closed. This is a must do to prevent hot spots in the engine.

More cooling info can be found at The FAQ Page.