Warming up the Harley
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Warming up the Harley
I typically fire it up with the choke out, let her idle while I put on the gloves, then ease it out of the neighborhood. I have ran it after sitting idling for 5 minutes and even letting it run about 10 before easing. Doesn't change the way it feels one bit. Still have to get2 miles or so down the road before I can start pushing that choke in. I can finally put it all the way in when I hit 65mph on the interstate stretch. All gravy from there.
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
Likes: 16
From: Virginia
RE: Warming up the Harley
I agree with starting it and riding it almost immediately but easy.
The only time I let it warm up for a minute or 2 is when I had a carb on the bike just so it wouldn't cough and die on me when pulling out in an intersection or something. With the fuel injection on my current bike I don't have to worry about that crap anymore.
The only time I let it warm up for a minute or 2 is when I had a carb on the bike just so it wouldn't cough and die on me when pulling out in an intersection or something. With the fuel injection on my current bike I don't have to worry about that crap anymore.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Warming up the Harley
I usually start mine up in the garage, then put the gloves and helmet on, back the bike outa the garage, get off and close the garage door, take a glove off, find my smokes and light one up, plug myself in (cold weather), ride the bike up the steep hill to the driveway, stop and remember I left something in the house, put er in nuetral and put the kickstand down, walk down the hill 100 feet or so to the house and grap the cell or whatever else I left in the house, go back up the hill and get on the bike, take off a glove and get another cigarette, light it and plug myself back in (cold weather), put er in gear and ride to the main gravel road, then pretty much idle the few thousand feet to the hardtop road.
I guess I do take at least 5 minutes warming it up.
In the Summer it's probably more like 4 minutes.
I have read a number of articles that say to put like 12 miles miles or so on the bike before getting down on it hard, but don't think I can wait that long.
I dont think it does any engine good to run it hard, without at least allowing the oil to circulate and warm up a little.
DougJ
I guess I do take at least 5 minutes warming it up.
In the Summer it's probably more like 4 minutes.
I have read a number of articles that say to put like 12 miles miles or so on the bike before getting down on it hard, but don't think I can wait that long.
I dont think it does any engine good to run it hard, without at least allowing the oil to circulate and warm up a little.
DougJ
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 499
From: Alberta
RE: Warming up the Harley
One of the reasons to warm up good before twisting the wick is to let all that metal between the cases and valve covers expand to operating temp. Blew a gasket on my 100hp Sporty getting it on with a motor that wasn't up to full operating temp. Waaaaaay up north here, it's normal to let a motor warm up a bit, especially since we pull directly out onto the highway; then I'll go at least 10-15 miles before I even think of opening up the throttle on my 103. Mine will idle at about 1500 with the enrichner pulled out a bit after starting, or I'll use the throttle screw to set it. I don't find the starting routine in any way annoying; just part of the ritual.....like pushing in the comp releases, or warming up your partner before you both enjoy the ride.
[IMG]local://upfiles/32069/6A3F13FFB1F044E08BA0B934A44B1EF7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/32069/6A3F13FFB1F044E08BA0B934A44B1EF7.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
From:
RE: Warming up the Harley
ORIGINAL: ezriderpgh
Hmmm seeing how they go from 0-240 degrees in about 1 minute I would say 1 minute is plenty long enough.
Hmmm seeing how they go from 0-240 degrees in about 1 minute I would say 1 minute is plenty long enough.
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 54
From: GA
RE: Warming up the Harley
My process: Crank it up, get suited up or whatever and take off easy. I would say I let it warm up about 2-3 minutes or so before riding.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
RE: Warming up the Harley
When I'm leaving for work in the morning (at o'dark thirty), I fire up in the garage with the door shut, not that it really matters, but it holds the echo down to less than a block...it's about a two minute warm up by the time I get my gear on and roll down the driveway. When I leave from work, I let her idle for about 2 or 3 minutes then take off.
