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[Fireguy]

Has anyone removed and cleaned O2 sensors? Just wondering if it would make a difference with gas milage and performance?

[Twolanerider]

Not really a gain to be had.  Given the heats the sensor is exposed to no organics would be there.  The only thing that could build up there is carbon; and baked on carbon isn't soluble in solvents.

The part of the sensor you see isn't the sending unit anyway.  The actual sending unit isn't exposed and is covered by a protective cylinder (this is what you see).  So the only thing you could potentially clean (steel brush?) is the outer cover rather than the sensor itself.

Suppose you could heat it with a torch then dip it in water to break up the carbon if one were really intent on cleaning something.  But even though the sensors are designed for high heat you can still get them too hot so it wouldn't be my choice to give this a try.  Short answer is not much to be achieved here.

[Cat Eye]

I was wondering how you can tell if your O2 sensor has gone bad?

I unplugged mine and thought the "engine" light would come on....but it didn't

[Ed Ramberger - One_Screamin_Eagle]

I was wondering how you can tell if your O2 sensor has gone bad?

I unplugged mine and thought the "engine" light would come on....but it didn't

That's because the ECM is programmed to look at the O2 signal under load for a specific amount of time and then if the signal is not correct, it will then throw a code/turn on the light.  I believe it's something like 50-60kPa for a minute (close enough to make the point).

This prevents CELs from exactly what you are doing - causing an erratic reading at idle.  On non-heated O2 sensor bikes, it's possible for the O2 sensor to cool off and stop sending a correct signal at idle (especially on the rear of 2008 and earlier Touring bikes with big mufflers on OE headpipes).