Winter warm up ?

[ironMan]

I usually ride until we get heavy snow and ice. I started the 04 RT this morning and let it warm up while I packed on the gear. Temps were in the mid 40’s. I was a couple of miles from home before the oil temp registered 1 bar. Should I wait longer or is it ok to ride (slow) while the bike is still warming up.

[Garth]

Best not to start the bike until your ready to ride off. Some have melted tupperware from extended warmups. After starting, wait just long enough for the engine to stabilize and take it easy on the RPM"s for a mile or so.

[Cliffy777]

I don't warm up my Rockster much at all. I ride all winter if there isn't ice and the temp is over 40, but I do not use long warm-ups ever. Start it, wait a few seconds (30?) and put her in gear and proceed.

[BubbaZanetti]

EL DOOK!!! you don't ride if its colder than 40???

[SheRidesABeemer]

Best not to start the bike until your ready to ride off. Some have melted tupperware from extended warmups. After starting, wait just long enough for the engine to stabilize and take it easy on the RPM"s for a mile or so.

Melted tupperware? You're exagerating, yes? :dunno

[Mika]

EL DOOK!!! you don't ride if its colder than 40???
Shhhh, He is trying to maintain an image of sanity and sagasity on this site :rofl

[Mr. Frank]

Melted tupperware? You're exagerating, yes? :dunno

No. Some bikes have caught fire when people got distracted for awhile in their house while the bike idled. I've heard that the lowers on the R1100RSL were discontinued for that reason.

I believe my bike had a warning sticker to that effect.

[BradfordBenn]

My bike has that warning. If the bike is not moving through the air, it is difficult for the system to cool. So guess what happens.... melted plastic.

[boofer]

No. Some bikes have caught fire when people got distracted for awhile in their house while the bike idled. I've heard that the lowers on the R1100RSL were discontinued for that reason.

I believe my bike had a warning sticker to that effect.


Mine is still red hot !! er, piedmont hot :laugh

[refinger]

This summer I saw a used R1100RT at a dealer with the lower fairing under each cylinder melted WAY down....VERY UGLY. Dealer said the guy started it and got distracted and left it idling....narrowly avoided catching on fire. This is a real hazard to avoid by riding gently away after the rpms have stabilized.

[The_Veg]

I agree about not needing to sit idling. That's one of the things the electronics do- they keep it running once it starts, and make adjustments for ambient temperature and changing internal temperature. Just ride the damn thing.

[deanzat]

I have mixed emotions on the warm up issue, because twice I started it and rode off, and then I stalled the bike on the uphill left turn from my street onto "the avenue." Scary.

Note I say that "I stalled the bike." I don't blame the bike, because it just needs more gas when it's cold, and I needed to learn that. Now I tend to ride around the block a couple of times before I head to the avenue. It's not particularly cold here, but my bike certainly runs cool. In the morning it takes about five minutes before I get one bar on the temp gauge.

And when the engine is cold, it runs poorly. If your ride starts with some fairly difficult situations, I'd go ahead and let it warm up for a few minutes. DZ

[YB in IN]

It's fricking 80 degrees here today, so needless to say I haven't had to worry about too many cold starts yet this year. I'm ready for more fitting rounder weather.

[BubbaZanetti]

It's fricking 80 degrees here today, so needless to say I haven't had to worry about too many cold starts yet this year. I'm ready for more fitting rounder weather.


and i'm looking at the first truly bike covered in frost morning this year on friday

[lorazepam]

and i'm looking at the first truly bike covered in frost morning this year on friday

Casa de Lorazepam has been frosty every morning this week.

[Cliffy777]

EL DOOK!!! you don't ride if its colder than 40???
It was a freakin' typo, okay??? I meant to type "if it is over 20". Dang eagle eyed Bubba.

[The_Veg]

95 And humid here today. Sweated under my full mesh. No cold start issues.

[BubbaZanetti]

It was a freakin' typo, okay??? I meant to type "if it is over 20". Dang eagle eyed Bubba.


phew, i'd worried you'd become a FOTF guy now that we've gone national, thanks for reassuring me!

[MarkF]

I've had problems getting the bike to idle on warm-up. I started using the throttle lock and it still seemed to run rough. Then the other day (the bike wasn't warm and the neither were the temps) I started the bike but forgot to turn on the "choke". Guess what! The bike idled wonderfully. I know I should just start it and ride off but from now on I'm gonna try and start it first BEFORE I put on the "choke".

[jimcameron]

.....not that I read it much, but.........I believe the manual says, "start engine, ride off" no warm up or idle mentioned. only cooling is provided by moving air, I would not nail it for several miles and after the "choke" is off.

[jacco]

phew, i'd worried you'd become a FOTF guy now that we've gone national, thanks for reassuring me!

Excuse my ignorance, but what's FOTF???

According to http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/FOTF:
FOTF Focus On The Family (Dr. James Dobson's organization)
FOTF Four on the Floor
FOTF Friend of the Family (band)

jacco

[BradfordBenn]

Excuse my ignorance, but what's FOTF???

According to http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/FOTF:
FOTF Focus On The Family (Dr. James Dobson's organization)
FOTF Four on the Floor
FOTF Friend of the Family (band)

jacco

Check out the Rounders Site Fringe of the Fringe.

[jacco]

Check out the Rounders Site Fringe of the Fringe.

Oops, I should have known that... :doh

Thanks,
jacco

[BradfordBenn]

Oops, I should have known that... :doh

Thanks,
jacco

MAn, so much for being a moderator over there....
:nyah

[matthew517]

I let mine idle until I have 1 bar if not 2. But I'm on the bike.

[BubbaZanetti]

i really don't see it mattering much if the temps are down in the 20s or 30s, ride away after putting your gloves on or let it sit there for 2 or 3 minutes, the bike isn't gonna care. if i ride away after only 30 seconds though, i tend to keep it under 4K for 3 or 4 miles, just to make sure...............

[knary]

i really don't see it mattering much if the temps are down in the 20s or 30s, ride away after putting your gloves on or let it sit there for 2 or 3 minutes, the bike isn't gonna care. if i ride away after only 30 seconds though, i tend to keep it under 4K for 3 or 4 miles, just to make sure...............

That's what I do. Start bike. Finish any fiddling with gear. Get on. Ride. Don't flog it until I see a couple bars on the temp gauge.

[cjack]

I've had problems getting the bike to idle on warm-up. I started using the throttle lock and it still seemed to run rough. Then the other day (the bike wasn't warm and the neither were the temps) I started the bike but forgot to turn on the "choke". Guess what! The bike idled wonderfully. I know I should just start it and ride off but from now on I'm gonna try and start it first BEFORE I put on the "choke".

I think that means that your throttle bodies are a bit out of sync just off idle. There are various theories as to where to sync them...2K, 3K or whatever RPM.

[cjack]

That's what I do. Start bike. Finish any fiddling with gear. Get on. Ride. Don't flog it until I see a couple bars on the temp gauge.

I get on the bike, start it up and ride away. I have known idlers to go back in the house for something and forget the time and come back to see their body work going up in smoke. Also, if you have ever seen the exhaust pipes go red/white enough to see through them, you would want air flowing on them.

[GregFeeler]

I get on the bike, start it up and ride away. I have known idlers to go back in the house for something and forget the time and come back to see their body work going up in smoke. Also, if you have ever seen the exhaust pipes go red/white enough to see through them, you would want air flowing on them.

Seems like this is a question that gets some airing from time to time. Let's start with asking what do you do when you are stopped in traffic for several minutes? Do you let you bike idle, or shut it off? Most folks I know let it idle, sometimes for a "long" time because, well, I think because we're somewhat conditioned to that behavor. But, how does the bike know the difference between idling at a stop light and idling first thing in the morning?

Personally, I take ambient temps into condition and let my bikes idle for "several minutes" adjusted to conditions. The only time I leave one running if it's a K-bike and the water cooling will cover my butt. Cold oil (even synthetic) and cold engine parts need some time to come up to tempreture and assume the correct position. ;) After that, I ride the bike moderatly until I'm sure I've let all the parts get a good heat soaking before I lay the whip to it.

I do know that oilheads with lower body work need to be careful because I've seen more than one at the local dealer that melted parts do to *excessive* idling.

[PacWestGS]

I'm with Greg; long enough to let the oil viscosity squeeze through those little places it needs to go. How long is that: Lift fast idle lever, start bike, put on jacket, helmet and gloves while standing there, one little black bar on the dash, down the ¼ mile long dirt driveway, turn left on country two-lane and half to two mile farther switch off fast idle lever depending on current ambient temperatures. Next stop five-miles turn right and keep the back tire from spinning.... :thumb

My garage is unheated so 30°F outside relates to about 35°F inside. SAE 15/50 Synthetic might be rated down to 14°F but it’s still pretty thick below 40°.

Buy a 'NAKED' bike and you don't have to worry about body parts.

[GregFeeler]

I'm with Greg; long enough to let the oil viscosity squeeze through those little places it needs to go. How long is that:....
My garage is unheated so 30°F outside relates to about 35°F inside. SAE 15/50 Synthetic might be rated down to 14°F but it’s still pretty thick below 40°.

Buy a 'NAKED' bike and you don't have to worry about body parts.

And don't forget, there are gears and gear oil that need to wake up, too. If you are in touch with your bike it will tell you when it's read to go.

[PacWestGS]

And don't forget, there are gears and gear oil that need to wake up, too. If you are in touch with your bike it will tell you when it's read to go.


And MORE importantly don't forget, there are tires to warm up and wake up the molecular structure of rubber and synthetic compounds, or they will surely let you know you are no longer in touch with your bike. :D :nod :cry

Check air pressure more often in colder weather too.

(Hijack = Has anybody had any experience with Nitrogen in MC tires, most new car ((Sport-car)) tires are being filled with N2O insted of compressed air?)

[jacco]

Cold oil (even synthetic) and cold engine parts need some time to come up to tempreture and assume the correct position. ;)

Isn't this another good reason to NOT let it idle until it warms up? Apart from the risk of meltdowns, the bike takes a lot longer to warm up while idling than when you start to (gently!) ride it.

:lurk

[cjack]

And MORE importantly don't forget, there are tires to warm up and wake up the molecular structure of rubber and synthetic compounds, or they will surely let you know you are no longer in touch with your bike. :D :nod :cry

Check air pressure more often in colder weather too.

(Hijack = Has anybody had any experience with Nitrogen in MC tires, most new car ((Sport-car)) tires are being filled with N2O insted of compressed air?)

N2O?

[PacWestGS]

N2O?

My bad, what ever the chem name for Nitrogen is (Edit: (N).

Found this since I asked.

http://www.nitrogendirect.com/TRIB%20NitrogenNewsRelease.pdf

The only draw back I can see is it does keep tire temps 'cooler' what ever that might mean in the real world. If it's good enough for Formula One and Lance Armstrong it should be good enough for MC tires, but I did not see any use listed by GP, SuperBike or others?

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

I start mine on choke/enrichment and let the revs go high as it does, then I turn off the choke and let it slow idle to come to temp gently. As soon as I can blip the throttle and it doesn't hunt then it is safe to drive...by the sounds of it we all have a method. Although I do seem to remember reading someplace about the recommendation for one bar of temp on oil before driving.

Incidentally if there is a cat converter on the bike then the tranny will not heat as quickly at extreme cold as it will with a cat in place.

[GregFeeler]

Isn't this another good reason to NOT let it idle until it warms up? Apart from the risk of meltdowns, the bike takes a lot longer to warm up while idling than when you start to (gently!) ride it.

:lurk

For the drivetrain especially that's true. My practice is to let it run from a minute to maybe three or four - enought to get things past that initial dead cold - and then ride moderatly for a good five miles or more. What burns me is to see guys get on a stone cold bike and then redline it out of the parking lot. NOT a good idea IMO.

[jacco]

For the drivetrain especially that's true. My practice is to let it run from a minute to maybe three or four - enought to get things past that initial dead cold - and then ride moderatly for a good five miles or more. What burns me is to see guys get on a stone cold bike and then redline it out of the parking lot. NOT a good idea IMO.

That's not what I meant of course :)
I baby the thing, upshifting below 3500 rpm, keeping it at 3000 rpm when at constant speed, and only using partial throttle for the first couple of miles... I do this all year long, but for a few extra miles in winter.

[JimVonBaden1]

Seems like this is a question that gets some airing from time to time. Let's start with asking what do you do when you are stopped in traffic for several minutes? Do you let you bike idle, or shut it off? Most folks I know let it idle, sometimes for a "long" time because, well, I think because we're somewhat conditioned to that behavor. But, how does the bike know the difference between idling at a stop light and idling first thing in the morning?

Personally, I take ambient temps into condition and let my bikes idle for "several minutes" adjusted to conditions. The only time I leave one running if it's a K-bike and the water cooling will cover my butt. Cold oil (even synthetic) and cold engine parts need some time to come up to tempreture and assume the correct position. ;) After that, I ride the bike moderatly until I'm sure I've let all the parts get a good heat soaking before I lay the whip to it.

I do know that oilheads with lower body work need to be careful because I've seen more than one at the local dealer that melted parts do to *excessive* idling.

On an RT if you leave it idling in heavy traffic on a hot day, you run some small risk. The real risk is not just idling, but running the bike on High idle that you usually do when first starting the bike in the morning. The high idle will cause the pipes to hit as high as 1700 degrees. The radiated heat from that can easily melt the tuperware.

RS, GS and Roadsters don't have this proble.

I just jump on, start the bike, put on my gloves and ride. You get full oil pressure and circulation within 30 seconds, probably much sooner.

Jim :brow

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

I don't have an RT yet (GSs don't have the tupperware issues...yet) although it sounds as though one of the RTP fan kits with a thermocouple and sheathed pipes are a must if you have a habit of wandering off whilst idling the machine or if traffic and warm weather is a concern.

[GregFeeler]

I don't have an RT yet (GSs don't have the tupperware issues...yet) although it sounds as though one of the RTP fan kits with a thermocouple and sheathed pipes are a must if you have a habit of wandering off whilst idling the machine or if traffic and warm weather is a concern.


Ooooor... you could just get a K-bike. :stick

[jacco]

The high idle will cause the pipes to hit as high as 1700 degrees.

Bring out the (strip) steak! Never thought of that, can leave my bbq @ home during the next camping trip...

[raub60]

I have a 05lt and I was riding yesterday. It was about 21 degrees when I started I let the bike warm up a little. The snow got me later in the evening. I admit, I was a little scared in the snow, kepted it slow and easy and it handled good. The heated seat kept my butt warm even though it was a little tensed up.
Happy riding.

[JimVonBaden1]

I don't have an RT yet (GSs don't have the tupperware issues...yet) although it sounds as though one of the RTP fan kits with a thermocouple and sheathed pipes are a must if you have a habit of wandering off whilst idling the machine or if traffic and warm weather is a concern.

That will keep the engine from over heating at regular idle and in traffic, but wont do a thing for the hot pipes, they get that hot in less than a minute at high idle. Long before the bike gets totally warmed up.

Jim :brow

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

No Jim but the sheathed pipes will. I think they refer to them as double wall header pipes, they resist blue-ing due to heat sink and this would seem as though it would also prevent as much heat...I cannot honestly say if it would sink enough though...another choice, ugly as it is...exhaust wrap?