View Poll Results: Do you let your bike warm up before leaving?
Yes always a minute or more.
47
58.02%
Never
5
6.17%
Sometimes but not for very long
29
35.80%
Voters: 81. You may not vote on this poll
Warmup?
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Belgium
At idle you don't have a lot of oil pressure. So supposedly it's better to just ride gently until warmed up, that way the oil is distributed faster throughout the engine. That was the explanation I got from the BMW dealer when I still had one of those. It also said so in the BMW owners' manual.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 19
From: Oz
At idle you don't have a lot of oil pressure. So supposedly it's better to just ride gently until warmed up, that way the oil is distributed faster throughout the engine. That was the explanation I got from the BMW dealer when I still had one of those. It also said so in the BMW owners' manual.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Perth, Western Australia
I'm with Rocker Dan. Always ran my WideGlide for a good 5 minutes (from stone cold) before leaving. In 5 years it did over 25,000 miles with only basic services and never missed a beat. No leaks, same battery. It was a carburetted model (TC88) but I do the same with my Rocker. I don't believe anyone who says that it can actually cause more harm than good. Might be different if it idled for 20 minutes and got ridden for 5 though.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: Delaware
I take it slow from my house to the highway. That is a little over a mile and then it is ready to go. When it is cold out I put my hand on the rocker boxes and go easy till I feel them getting warm and then I give her hell.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 665
Likes: 1
From: North Yorkshire
I believe this is what is called a 'can of worms' topic. There are tech head articles out there on the net, what I remember reading was that to ride the bike gently generated more BHP than at idle and so was more effective at warming the engine, also that the oil flowed more efficiently. I suspect that modern engines have such improved tolerances that as long as you don't stand your bike at idle for 15 mins or more or rev like a loon as you head off down the rode you will be fine.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Spring Lake N.C.
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