Killing my engine with kindness?

[Lou Girardin]

You aren't hurting it, MikeL. as long as you don't lug it at low revs or constantly ride at the redline and maintain it properly it'll last damn near forever.
I'm willing to bet that most of the hotshots on their sportbikes don't spend much time in the last 1500 revs of their rev counter either.
Even datalogging of MotoGP bikes show that they're seldom at full throttle/max revs.

[2_SL0]

Problems arise from idling around all day long, you dont do that so I wouldnt stress about it. A big issue can be related to temperature, make sure the engine is getting up to temperature. (Ensure its NOT running cold) It certainly does not hurt to open them up every so often, and can help clean out any carbon buildup. But fuels and oils have improved. I imagine you ride your bike how the manufacturer designed it to be ridden.

[MikeL]

The XJR doesn't get used for commuting so prolonged idling, short runs and low temperatures are not going to be relevant.
The problem is that in order to get anywhere near the redline I would have to be doing highly illegal speeds in any gear except perhaps first.
Anyway it appears from your answers that the whole thing is a bit of a myth, so I'll just continue as before.

[Pixie]

Valve clap??? Is that an STD?

I think he means vulva

[MikeL]

I think he means vulva

We knew that. We just thought that it would be in better taste to ignore it...

[SARGE]

Do people living in Auckland find their sports bikes running rough after a weeks commute?

i come down the NW CarPark every morning.. the old 1200 really clogs up after a few days of this .. saturday morning i blow it out though and she runs sweet after that ( carbs have been worked though and it tends to load it up at low rpm's)

im considering getting a GN250 for commuting on

[MikeL]

i come down the NW CarPark every morning.. the old 1200 really clogs up after a few days of this .. saturday morning i blow it out though and she runs sweet after that ( carbs have been worked though and it tends to load it up at low rpm's)

im considering getting a GN250 for commuting on

That's one of the reasons I kept my Honda 400 when I bought the bigger bike. The Honda doesn't mind the commuting - I can get up some decent revs in the lower gears without breaking the speed limit.

[enigma51]

I think old fart hit the nail its not a sports bike it used for touring so its not made to be trashed so it should be fine

[inlinefour]

they need to be thrashed and it does not take long to start doing the same to other bikes. I reckon a motor needs a good thrashing every so often

[froggyfrenchman]

as best i can tell its quite good togive her a good thrashing every now and then, burn off that nasty carbon build up

[GB500nz]

Understressing the engine will just make it last longer, but cold idling (as mentioned above) will kill it. When everything's cold and the engine's idling, stuff condenses on the rings and grooves and gradually forms a hard glue that locks the rings in place. As soon as the oil's circulating you should go, but at low speed and moderate revs, with the choke off. This warms the engine faster and more evenly. Keep it below 4000 until it warms.
Terry