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[Two Wheels]

Gents:

I have always been a proponent (sp?) of long warm up times, I've had many bikes, many years, like so many of us no issues (but first Harley).  I was told with the Harley technology long warm up 3-4 minutes really isnt' necessary.   Just fire up and go, maybe wait 30 seconds, sort of thing.  For you long time riders, do these engines need long warm up times ?   Or start her up and by the time your gear is on she's ready ... ?    Not earth shattering but just curious ... ?

Thanks again as always!    This is really one of the best forums I have been on.   learning a ton ...!

[DICKW]

Not wanting to step on any toes

This warm up your talking about?? I believe it's all for lubricating purposes only. Yes I fire up and wait a minute or two because I think it's the right thing to do. Even if someone told me to fire and go I wouldn't.

I do not go 100mph from jump I take it easy for a few miles until it feels right, then ride it like I stole it.

[sportygordy]

Get on it, start her up, make sure she is running good, put her in gear and drive off, taking her easy for this 10 miles or so. Don't rev her hard until the motor is warmed up well. I live fairly close to a highway on ramp and know of a few neighbors that get on their bikes start em put em gear hit the highway 2 blocks away and hit their rev limiter in every gear.. I cringe knowing knowing they are doing major damage on that poor cold motor. Just take it easy on a cold motor  Get about 10 miles on and when you feel the heat between your legs, your are good to goooooooo. 

[hard10]

I remember reading an article about a guy who had 500,000 miles on his Harley. He said one of the keys to longevity was he always warmed the bike up before riding it.

[miker]

Always...

[DCFIREMANN]

The warm up is not for lubrication purposes it is so THE ENGINE WILL GROW. The engine will grow somewhere up to 25 thou. If you start the motor and just get on it you risk blowing rocker box, head or even base gaskets. Do yourself a favor let it idle till your rocker boxes are warm to the touch.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[sadunbar]

The warm up is not for lubrication purposes it is so THE ENGINE WILL GROW. The engine will grow somewhere up to 25 thou. If you start the motor and just get on it you risk blowing rocker box, head or even base gaskets. Do yourself a favor let it idle till your rocker boxes are warm to the touch.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

And this only takes a few minutes...good advice...

[DICKW]

The warm up is not for lubrication purposes it is so THE ENGINE WILL GROW. The engine will grow somewhere up to 25 thou. If you start the motor and just get on it you risk blowing rocker box, head or even base gaskets. Do yourself a favor let it idle till your rocker boxes are warm to the touch.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

I knew someones toes were gonna get hurt.

I still stand by my statement minus that ok?

[Boatman]

Get on it, start her up, make sure she is running good, put her in gear and drive off, taking her easy for this 10 miles or so. Don't rev her hard until the motor is warmed up well.  

I do as Gordy does.  Wait at most-less than a minute.  Warm up with the bike.  I respect everyone's opinions and may wait longer as suggested.

[Gecko]

On my FI bike a minute or less, just ride it easy for a few miles.  On my carb bike I wait a little longer so it idles okay without the enricher.  But rideability is the only reason there.  The clamping forces on the cylinder don't reach their maximum until it expands, but unless you are putting a lot of pressure in them (i.e. large throttle opening) I don't think it will hurt anything.

[Boatman]

I will say that the bikes warming up in Maggie Valley 07 (Rocky Waters motel) did shake the windows pretty good and sounded great!     

[DCFIREMANN]

I knew someones toes were gonna get hurt.
I still stand by my statement minus that ok?

You didn't hurt my toes I promise. What I put in print is gospel for any aluminum HD motor. You can do anything you want. This will just ease some of the crying when your motor start to leak. Once the motor expands I say let it rip. For all of your FI motors it will run in the enriched mode till cylinder head temp hit some where in the 230 degree range. I can tell you I watched Ole Punkin on the dyno when the cylinder temps hit 275 she ran like a raped ape.

So I really don't care why you do it, JUST DO IT!!!!!

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[grc]

Actually, it's about lubrication and letting all those aluminum parts expand and reach their "happy place".  These air cooled engines are set up with large cold clearances and low clamp loads on things like head bolts because of the large amount of expansion they see from cold to fully hot.  It is best to let the bike run until the rocker boxes are warm to the touch (about the amount of time it takes me to put on my jacket, helmet, and gloves).  And then it is wise to drive conservatively until the engine and oil temps stabilize.  I don't use a temp gauge, I gauge it by the oil pressure.  When the oil is below normal operating temp the pressure runs higher.  When the idle oil pressure drops to the normal 10 psi, I figure it's up to temp.

Another point, long warmups at idle are not needed and may in fact be counterproductive.  The engine will warm up quicker and more evenly if it's under load.  This is true no matter what kind of engine you're talking about.  Long warmups at idle basically waste a lot of fuel, some of which is probably washing down the cylinder walls if you have a manual enricher system.

Jerry

[DICKW]

Sometimes I don't get as technical as I should I guess......

I actually agree with most, except get up and romp on it from the get go.

General Engineering practices will tell you not to do this.
The explanation of expansion made sense to me and I completely agree with that.

Most engines run there best when at operating temperatures, so do what you want as I will.

I run mine for a few minutes and take it easy until it's at operating temperature.

Then I run the hell out of it

[DCFIREMANN]

Actually, it's about lubrication and letting all those aluminum parts expand and reach their "happy place".  These air cooled engines are set up with large cold clearances and low clamp loads on things like head bolts because of the large amount of expansion they see from cold to fully hot.  It is best to let the bike run until the rocker boxes are warm to the touch (about the amount of time it takes me to put on my jacket, helmet, and gloves).  And then it is wise to drive conservatively until the engine and oil temps stabilize.  I don't use a temp gauge, I gauge it by the oil pressure.  When the oil is below normal operating temp the pressure runs higher.  When the idle oil pressure drops to the normal 10 psi, I figure it's up to temp.
Another point, long warmups at idle are not needed and may in fact be counterproductive.  The engine will warm up quicker and more evenly if it's under load.  This is true no matter what kind of engine you're talking about.  Long warmups at idle basically waste a lot of fuel, some of which is probably washing down the cylinder walls if you have a manual enricher system.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry

Be Safe

THE DAWG