I read that you should warm up the engine before changing the Oil, Trans and gear fluid (I agree). My bike has been in winter storage since November in a heated shop. My question is, do I need to take it for a short ride to warm it up or can I just lift the rear wheel off the ground, start it and let it run a while to accomplish the same thing? Thanks for the input.

 

Personal preferences will be expressed in response to your question, so here's mine: I would take it on a ride long enough to warm it up before changing fluids.

 

10 or 15 min. ride, you can lift it up just run it like you ride it.

 

If you don't wont to ride it pull your drain plugs and then go back in an hour or two and all the oil will be drained. Some of the old timers don't want the dirty oil circulated through the engine before it is changed. When it sits it all is in the pan. I have done it both ways With equal success. Do what you decide and it will be good.

 

If the roads are clear - go for a quick ride to warm them up - next year you may want to do this before you put the bike away for the winter, your engine and drive train will be happy you did ....

 

small radiant heat coal fire under the bike to warm it it should work

sarcasm/funny/ J/K

 

Running the motor doesn't add anything anymore harmful in the motor, the filter should remove that. Warming up the oil gets anything that settles in suspension, and allows it to flow out when draining. Will you notice any difference? probably not, but why not use that as an excuse to get the bike out for a ride? Even a short ride is better then no ride.,,,

 

+1 on riding the bike to warm up the oil, thus getting the contaminants suspended in the oil and drained when you pull the plug.

 

Take it out for a 30 minuet ride, bring it back drain the oils. Put the plugs back in
and forget it till the next day, then pull the plugs drain what is left. Refill with oil, then put the plugs back in, and clean up that dang mess all over your floor because like a dummy, you forgot to put the plugs back in. Now next time leave the beer alone till after you get through . LOL this was meant as a joke but I really did pull something like this with a 72 F100 with a 302, back when i was 15 and boy was my dad pissed, about me wasting 2 or a few quarts of oil, and I wasn't drinking, I had other things on my mind at the time, and it wasn't drain plugs.

 

I like to ride 20-30 minutes min before I change oils.... gets engine to temp, oils warm, contaminates suspended, and burn off some condensation. I always change mine in the fall before we put up....that way I know I'm ready in the spring. I would leave it until you can ride it. but that is my opinion.