Read story first poll - Stopping your bike..

**ZeroIndex** · 29th June 2006, 12:41

Originally Posted by pritch008

That poll doesn't look very ummm scientific? :-)

it's not supposed to be scientific.. it's supposed to prove that even though I've only been riding for 3 months, and this guy has had his licence for 32 years, that I'm RIGHT!!!!!

**PaddyFZ1** · 29th June 2006, 12:48

When i was reading about the Postie Challenge in Aus, they said they had to let the bikes cool down before they switched them off. There was so much heat created that they warp the heads. This is in temps around the high 20s, and being thrashed all day. Will see if i can find the thread with the link.

Edit:This was taken from the rider responsibilities section from the postie challenge web site
We have also found that bikes that have run at high speeds (70km/hr) that are then turned off for a break or refuelling can be so hot that the engine can warp while it is cooling. We therefore recommend that upon stopping, you let the engine idle for 3-5 minutes to let it cool slowly.

**dawnrazor** · 29th June 2006, 13:07

cool down period, nonsense---now a warm up period is far more interesting, esp. for you 2 strokers out there.

Seriously though how long do you let your bike warm up for in the mornings, I wait for the temp guage to read 21 degrees, figurering that that is long enough for the oil to be nicely slathered over the shine bits and prevent any engine nasties. It used to take as long as it did to have a smoke, but now I've given up that vice, I look like a tit standing beside a running bike as I wait for it to get toasty, while I freeze my ass off.

What do other folks do?

**Ixion** · 29th June 2006, 13:30

Never heard of a cool down period on a bike. And I've been riding for 40 years , which is more than his 32. And , as said, air cooled motor (no fan) is prolly going to heat up not cool down. Might make some sense on a bike with a radiator fan. But not much.

Having said that, after a long run I do usually leave the bike to idle for a minute or so, while I run a quick eye over it, just to check for any leaks that may have developed,new noises, bits fallen off, etc (Alright I admit it, I grew up with Meridan Triumphs - y'can tell can't y'). But that's a different matter.

**Two Smoker** · 29th June 2006, 13:51

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

cool down period, nonsense---now a warm up period is far more interesting, esp. for you 2 strokers out there.

Seriously though how long do you let your bike warm up for in the mornings, I wait for the temp guage to read 21 degrees, figurering that that is long enough for the oil to be nicely slathered over the shine bits and prevent any engine nasties. It used to take as long as it did to have a smoke, but now I've given up that vice, I look like a tit standing beside a running bike as I wait for it to get toasty, while I freeze my ass off.

What do other folks do?

No full throttling until at least 75 degrees.. and on the race bike, 80 degrees...

**Hitcher** · 29th June 2006, 13:54

"Cool-down" period? How are you supposed to buy petrol?

**SimJen** · 29th June 2006, 14:25

Don't bother yourself with old farts like this guy. Just tell him he's full of shit and that the whole world thinks otherwise.
He's the sort of guy that won't believe you, no matter how much evidence you produce.....some people are just stuck in a sort of twilight zone where all logic is backward.
Best thing for you to do is stick sugar in his petrol

**Squeak the Rat** · 29th June 2006, 15:12

Like running the bike in, I have put my trust in the notion that the bike manufacturer knows what is best for my bike, or at least that they won't keep something from me with the consequences of it harming sickle.

I believe the manual doesn't tell me to warm my bike down (though I will check). Do I believe Kawasaki or your mate? Hmmmmm

**ManDownUnder** · 29th June 2006, 15:25

If an engine has been worked hard I believe it can help to cool it down, but for me that involves throttling off while still riding along - allow the air to cool the engine (via a radiator or directly on the fins if air cooled).,

To leave an air cooled bike stationary and running is only adding heat energy to the motor and no/minimal (if windy) air is passing over the fins to cool it.

Tell whoever to stop caning it a couple of blocks before the destination then turn it off when he gets there. Much more effective.

That all being said - 99/100 times (actually 999/1000) I don't bother cooling by bike down anyway. The latent heat in the block and surrounding hardware isn't enough to cause a concern.

If it was a jet engine - that's possibly a different story

**ManDownUnder** · 29th June 2006, 15:25

Originally Posted by Hitcher

"Cool-down" period? How are you supposed to buy petrol?

...by parting with $1.70 a litre... why - how do you do it?

**Colapop** · 29th June 2006, 15:31

It's air cooled. It's designed to have air flowing over the fins around the engine (you can call them 'hot bits' while explaing this to the genius) how does the heat get dissapted if the bike is stationary?

I work with a few guys like that - they're called Smackheads, coz the only way they'll understand is, if you smack them in the head.

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 29th June 2006, 15:41

The guys full of $hit, aircooled bikes don't cool down when running and stationary, I mean just ask him to think about what he said and if he's got 1/2 a brain he'll realize just how dumb he sounds

**SimJen** · 29th June 2006, 15:42

Warming up is different, I always let mine warmup a bit each morning before I ride. A leftover from my Two Stroke NSR days, where you don't want to cold seize a cylinder.
If i've been going hard for the last few km's before home (as I usually do) then I usually let it idle just a little bit longer before I shut off, Not 5 minutes though....more like 30 seconds.

**ZeroIndex** · 29th June 2006, 15:42

Originally Posted by Colapop

It's air cooled. It's designed to have air flowing over the fins around the engine (you can call them 'hot bits' while explaing this to the genius) how does the heat get dissapted if the bike is stationary?

I work with a few guys like that - they're called Smackheads, coz the only way they'll understand is, if you smack them in the head.

exactly.. but the tone of his voice when telling me 'otherwise', was if i took someones brand new Gixxer or R1, and was trying some offroad stuff on it.. it was like DON'T DO THAT.. YOU'RE GONNA *&%$ it UP