Warming up

[HappyHighwayman]

I start it, put on my gloves, back out of driveway...30-60 seconds warmup.

 

[Junkie]

You should never use more than a bit of throttle and never rev the engine high until it's warm. To the moon? You redline a cold car of bike? Not a good idea.

How high do you think is reasonable? I regularly have my SV1000 up at 5k when it's at 110F (entering the Posey Tube). I get on the freeway at 150F, but don't tend to wind it out all the way.

 

[Honey Badger]

On cooler days I let it idle for a minimum until the temp gauge is indicating (it's digital) and then proceed slowly out to the streets - being that I live in town, I don't really have any need to get over 25 for about 5-10 minutes after I start riding. Typically closing the garage, putting on gloves, adjusting my gear during this time.

The track bike I start and let it idle while I put on my helmet and gloves, pull off tire warmers, get it off the stands, then pit speeds out to the hot pits.

Pretty much do the same type of thing with my car - let it sit and warm up for 30-60 seconds then putter out of the court and down the street.

 

[afm199]

How high do you think is reasonable? I regularly have my SV1000 up at 5k when it's at 110F (entering the Posey Tube). I get on the freeway at 150F, but don't tend to wind it out all the way.

I don't see anything wrong with 5k unless it's hard on the throttle.

 

[Kornholio]

Scarlett is cold-blooded...as are all modern Ducatis. The mapping is so lean that a cold start requires at least 20 seconds of idle before I can ride it. I push her our of the garage, fire her up, go back in the garage and grab my helmet and gloves, put them on, close the garage and ride away. Maybe 60-90 seconds tops. That's all she needs.

 

[ScottRNelson]

As long as you don't ride it hard until it's close to normal operating temps, you should be okay to ride right away without warming up. This applies to modern F.I. bikes. Older bikes with carbs are different.

Older bikes with carburetors ARE NOT different. If it will run without the choke, I ride away. On my XR650L, that's 30 seconds most days and maybe a whole minute if it's really cold. On the 1997 Ducati M900 Monster that I used to own, I would ride away with the "choke" (actually fuel enricher) on for a block or two until it was happy, but I didn't warm it up any longer than the fuel injected Ducatis that I owned later on.

I've owned a bunch of carbureted bikes and none of them needed extended warm up time before they could be ridden, although some needed the fuel enricher on for a short while before they would idle happily without it.

 

[luckyducks]

I think all of us should go dig out the owner's manuals for our particular bike and post a snap-shot of where it talks about engine warm-up.

I'll do it for my 950.

 

[Junkie]

I don't see anything wrong with 5k unless it's hard on the throttle.

The big Suzuki twins have clutch basket issues, so it's rough if i'm below 3700rpm or so (depending on throttle position). It isn't until I'm getting on the freeway that I'm likely to be hard on the gas, and even then I don't have to be.

 

[ZCrow]

I think all of us should go dig out the owner's manuals for our particular bike and post a snap-shot of where it talks about engine warm-up.

I'll do it for my 950.

Well if I do that I believe the GSXR manual requires a wheelie or burnout within the first mile to properly warm up.

 

[Junkie]

Older bikes with carburetors ARE NOT different. If it will run without the choke, I ride away. On my XR650L, that's 30 seconds most days and maybe a whole minute if it's really cold. On the 1997 Ducati M900 Monster that I used to own, I would ride away with the "choke" (actually fuel enricher) on for a block or two until it was happy, but I didn't warm it up any longer than the fuel injected Ducatis that I owned later on.

I've owned a bunch of carbureted bikes and none of them needed extended warm up time before they could be ridden, although some needed the fuel enricher on for a short while before they would idle happily without it.

I imagine my WR450 is probably a little rich down low, but it'll idle cold without choke. I'll ride off right away, but I take it easy on it for a while (although I imagine a small-ish engine like it has should warm up quickly).

 

[Kornholio]

I think all of us should go dig out the owner's manuals for our particular bike and post a snap-shot of where it talks about engine warm-up.

I'll do it for my 950.

Here it is for mine...

 

[Gary856]

On cool days the OIL temp on my air-cooled Multistrada can indicate “Lo” even after 10 minutes on the freeway. The bike runs fine but the “Lo” reading bugs me. (The oil temp starts to register at 104F; normal is around 160-180F.) Some owners would use a piece of aluminum foil to block off the front of the oil cooler on cold days.

It's also interesting that with GS boxers the manual tells you to ride off gently right after engine starts. I don't recall the exact wording but it seems to discourage warming up by idling.

I understand in a water-cooled bike oil temp lags water temp by a lot too, but none of my water-cooled bikes has oil temp display.

 

[stangmx13]

How high do you think is reasonable? I regularly have my SV1000 up at 5k when it's at 110F (entering the Posey Tube). I get on the freeway at 150F, but don't tend to wind it out all the way.

whats your redline? IMO, the lower the better for both RPM and load until everything is fully up to temp. my habits are exactly the same as yours so i think you are good.

i wonder how warm your oil is when water is 150F.

The track bike I start and let it idle while I put on my helmet and gloves, pull off tire warmers, get it off the stands, then pit speeds out to the hot pits.

is that before each session? what do u do in the morning before the first session?

u gotta remember, it takes a pretty long time to warm the entire engine. any chunk of metal that is thick, esp steel ones, take a while to heat completely through. the heat needs time to soak in. 5min aint going to do it.

 

[LectricBill]

One of the advantages of an electric bike: On and go.

 

[fast4d]

on my zrx with CV carbs I ride away within 30 seconds. disengage the choke about 1/4 mile out.

when I had an FCR in my 640 duke I never used the choke. just a quick twist and it will start and ride away

if you need more than a minute your fueling is incorrect or you have an antique

 

[Junkie]

whats your redline? IMO, the lower the better for both RPM and load until everything is fully up to temp. my habits are exactly the same as yours so i think you are good.

i wonder how warm your oil is when water is 150F.



is that before each session? what do u do in the morning before the first session?

u gotta remember, it takes a pretty long time to warm the entire engine. any chunk of metal that is thick, esp steel ones, take a while to heat completely through. the heat needs time to soak in. 5min aint going to do it.

Redline is 11k. I wouldn't be surprised if oil doesn't really get warmed up on my commute (15 miles total, Alameda to North Beach).

 

[Mr Pepsi]

Only takes about 1-2 minutes for the engine to warm up.

 

[stangmx13]

Redline is 11k. I wouldn't be surprised if oil doesn't really get warmed up on my commute (15 miles total, Alameda to North Beach).

i wouldnt be surprised if you were at a good operating temperature right when u got to work, hehe. feel your cases when you park it. im sure u can tell the difference between "just warm" and "ready to go".

 

[stangmx13]

Only takes about 1-2 minutes for the engine to warm up.

not in all situations. for putting around on the street, yes. for flogging it on the track, definitely not.

 

[crick]

i usually let it warm up while i get my gear on so i dont feel so bad when i flog it when i hop on.

most of the time tho its to give my seat warmer some time to get to nice butt warming temps.