Warming your bike up?

[misterO]

Modern engine management systems and fuel injection may give the impression that a sensible warm up period is no longer necessary, but- when all the tiny moving bits-and-pieces are built to such tight tolerances and the cold dino-juice is thick like treacle, I am more than happy to let it purr for a minute or two before engaging a forward gear.

[AD345]

Turn it on

Put it in gear

go

(ensure kickstand is up before step 1)

[Tigadee]

i have owned plenty of bikes and none have craped out becouse they wernt warmed up lol

But...but... Don't that mean you've never had them long enough to find out if what you were doing would make them crap out? And the next owner is the one to find out...

[**R1**]

But...but... Don't that mean you've never had them long enough to find out if what you were doing would make them crap out? And the next owner is the one to find out...

Maybe, but still dosent effect me any lol 5 minutes warming up is 5mins less gas and 5 mins less riding......

if stuff breaks id rather just fix it and get on riding rather than contemplating for hours as to what one of the million and 1 things that could have causd it to crap out in the 1st place was!!

[Jay GTI]

Trying to put a sensible perspective on this (sorry, must apologise, sensible discussions and KB… what ever next?), it isn’t like not warming the bike up for 5 minutes, or conversely warming the bike up for 5 minutes if you buy into the advice I was given, will cause catastrophic engine failure and bits of pistons to embed themselves in your nads… just that over the serviceable life of the engine, doing/not doing one or the other will increase wear and tear.

Much like the also often discussed method of running a fresh engine in, either gently for the first XXkm, or give it shit from the get go, it’s a case of doing what is best for the long-term performance and reliability of said engine, not what will prevent the con-rods from snapping before you get to the end of your driveway.

[oneofsix]

Trying to put a sensible perspective on this (sorry, must apologise, sensible discussions and KB… what ever next?), it isn’t like not warming the bike up for 5 minutes, or conversely warming the bike up for 5 minutes if you buy into the advice I was given, will cause catastrophic engine failure and bits of pistons to embed themselves in your nads… just that over the serviceable life of the engine, doing/not doing one or the other will increase wear and tear.

Much like the also often discussed method of running a fresh engine in, either gently for the first XXkm, or give it shit from the get go, it’s a case of doing what is best for the long-term performance and reliability of said engine, not what will prevent the con-rods from snapping before you get to the end of your driveway.

To return to normal transmission for KB. Thrash it as the bike wont be yours for that long anyhow. Let the next guy worry about or the insurance company and the insurance company wont care anyhow.

Actually I agree with Jay and do always allow the oil to circulate before heading off, usually whilst putting gloves on, and then take it easy initially.

[Tigadee]

...do always allow the oil to circulate before heading off, usually whilst putting gloves on,...

That I always do...

...and then take it easy initially.

THAT I find harder to do as the days go by...

[george formby]

I follow the general consensus with the TDM, start, lid etc go. But the wee 2 t seems to prefer a bit longer & a few light blips of the throttle to run clean from the get go. Otherwise it sounds like it's gargling wire wool & jelly when you pull away.

[Maki]

My bike has electronically controlled fuel injection and I warm the thing up by riding it, never ever by having it sit still and waste fuel. I keep it below 10.000 rpm or so until the the temperature is up to 65C or thereabouts.

[Reckless]

I'm the same! start up, Helmet glubs then off slowly!

I figure waste of time havin a warm engine, cold tyres, cold sintered brake pads and a cold brain

Might as well let them all warm up gently together

[Mom]

Engineering must have moved on since the days when it sounded like a good idea to wait a few minutes while oil got between the metal parts reducing metal to metal contact, and ensuring all the parts warmed up to design operating temperature prior to loading up....my German van has just clicked over 250 000 kms so I might carry on, despite what Fritz says

Yepper, I am of the warm up variety of riders. Probably because most of my rides have been of a different era That, and because the bikes I have ridden of that era would not actually run untill they were warm I still warm Millie up. Not as long granted, but until I can turn her choke down to non stall, without nursing the throttle.

Keep in mind in the old days when the oils were a straight 40 or possibly a 30W40 these oils were very thick when cold and the only way to thin them so that they could circulate properly was to thin then down with some heat.

I have a wee sports car that keeps the revs below 6000 rpm automatically until the motor comes up to temp (75 C) and only then can it be revved to 8500.

I start my car and DRIVE, albeit slow for the first km or so, then out on the open. Have never considered anything else Cars are not as sensitive as my Millie

[hellokitty]

I warm my bike a little while I fiddle with the mirrors and do the little adjustments to gear, then I pootle off like a Nana. Takes ME a good 5 minutes to warn up and by then my bike and I are ready for action!
Don't have a choke..... my old GN had one, but the last 4 bikes haven't had one.

[Nastrond]

It gets started, helmet and gloves go on, then im away..

Just keep moderate rev's until at operating temperature.

[Icemaestro]

hmm what about the old hydraulic cam chain tensioners? as someone who has just had his one go on his cbr600f (1994 era), I believe the oil pressure is what keeps the tension on the cam chain....so warming up is a good idea....?

[ducatilover]

hmm what about the old hydraulic cam chain tensioners? as someone who has just had his one go on his cbr600f (1994 era), I believe the oil pressure is what keeps the tension on the cam chain....so warming up is a good idea....?

You'll have more than enough pressure when the engine starts