So this question is pretty much just to ease my mind. I few weeks ago I went to dinner with some friends rode the bike there. I was there for a good hour or 2, it wasn't the warmest weather outside but it wasn't freezing cold. So while we were finishing up eating I got a call from a friend who go into a wreck a few miles up the road. I hurried outside started the bike and put on my helmet and stuff but didn't let the bike warm up like I usually do. I rode it hard trying to get there, you guys think I did any damage not letting it warm up longer than a few minutes after eating? Is a '16 883

 

Didn`t the grown ups always tell you, if you ride too soon after eating you will get a cramp?

It`s fine.

 

These bikes are designed so close that the aluminum piston grows with the cylinder, the problem would be cold oil. However, even there, there is a release valve. In my opinion, I only give mine a couple minutes and while I do that, I hold in clutch so the plates can start slipping and I get whole lot less clunk. Then I drive keeping rpm below 3000 for a few blocks. Back when I worked, I was one block from Interstate. Cold nights in the middle 30F caught me warming it up. I have 50k and it still runs like new.

 

Cool, thanks fellas

 

By the time you started it...and put your helmet on....it should be fine. Full oil pressure only takes a few seconds.

Especially true if you use synthetic oil. In my opinion

 

Josh, you've done more damage raising the subject again! The internet is awash with threads about this, much of it OTT. Having owned my '90 Glide from new I've never babied it and besides, what's one quick burn amongst friends? Ride on.....

 

It's common mechanical sense that you don't push the envelop with cold engines of any type be it car, truck or motorcycle. It's very important to get a bike up to normal operating temperature before riding it like you stole it. If you think pulling out of the drive on a cold morning and red lining it is ok . You're wrong. Did you hurt your bike? Nobody knows. On my Sporty i would leave the house and hit the highway without beating on it until it was warm. I doubt you hurt it but i wouldn't make a habit of cold racing the motor imo.

 

If im in a rush or running late for work on cold days I just keep the RPMs as low as possible without stalling or clunking along.

 

If you rode your bike to dinner, and only stayed an hour or so, the internals of the engine were likely still warm. Nothing to worry about.

Normally, I would not stress a cold engine, but yours is not exactly "cold" from your description.

John

 

How's your friend?