Minimum Ride Time / Start
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 2,205
My office is also 4 miles from my house, but I ride enough when I'm not going to work, or even around town during the work day sometimes, that I'm sure it does just fine.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 617
Likes: 196
From: Munchkinland
I might as well junk both of my bikes as I start them up nearly every other weekend just to get a chubby from the exhaust note and to cycle the battery on the tender. Let it run maybe 3-4 minutes and shut it off. I tend to change my oil in bikes and cars especially when new, may more frequent than manuals recommend. But then again I live in the SF Bay Area, CA so I don't get the temperature swings some of you experience.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,000
Likes: 11,441
Your bike do what you want with it.
But if you start it while store and it does not get and stay at 180 degrees oil temp for a fair amount of time it will not cook off the moisture. When you shut it down that steam will just settle back down in the oil and lubes..
You parked it let it be.
But if you start it while store and it does not get and stay at 180 degrees oil temp for a fair amount of time it will not cook off the moisture. When you shut it down that steam will just settle back down in the oil and lubes..
You parked it let it be.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,760
Likes: 22,959
From: North Carolina
Ever have your bike or car sit for a week or two. You start it up and see water drip from the exhaust. That is the condensation you do not want and you need to burn off.
All the fluids need to get up to full temp and everything be lubricated.
I have no problem with my bikes sitting for two to three weeks on the tender. I simply do NOT start them. They cannot warm up enough idling for 5 to 10 minutes.
Riding to the office or home for just 7 miles each is not a problem unless thats all you are doing. Every other day ride 20 miles and youll be good.
All the fluids need to get up to full temp and everything be lubricated.
I have no problem with my bikes sitting for two to three weeks on the tender. I simply do NOT start them. They cannot warm up enough idling for 5 to 10 minutes.
Riding to the office or home for just 7 miles each is not a problem unless thats all you are doing. Every other day ride 20 miles and youll be good.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,434
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
Every 5-7 days I ride 40-60 miles one way. My office is 6 miles away. But I mostly work from home now.
The issue with short trips is the condensation build up. A 20 mile ride will get the bike to temp and burn off that condensation.
Short trips are not good for any gas vehicle.
The issue with short trips is the condensation build up. A 20 mile ride will get the bike to temp and burn off that condensation.
Short trips are not good for any gas vehicle.
Could run dino oil, which may get warmer faster, and cheaper to replace. But you could argue the syn will be better for cold starts, which, I lean to this if 30s or 40s. If warmer cheap oil and change 1-2 months.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,434
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
But chances are your car is getting long rides, especially in winter. In summer I agree, then you need to take your car for a long drive. If my truck has been parked for awhile, I'll just go take it for drive nowhere.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 894
Likes: 537
From: Central NY
Once I put my bikes away for the winter(first week in November here, once they start salting the crap out of the roads). I don't do anything with them, I want to start them all winter long but I don't until the covers comes off in April and I start cleaning them and checking everything over again, whether they need it or not.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,078
Likes: 19,236
From: The Wasteland
Once I put my bikes away for the winter(first week in November here, once they start salting the crap out of the roads). I don't do anything with them, I want to start them all winter long but I don't until the covers comes off in April and I start cleaning them and checking everything over again, whether they need it or not.