warm up before riding
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 50
From: A barrier island in NJ
RE: warm up before riding
In that kind of weather I pull my choke out 75%, start it up, \\;\\\\\\;and drive right off. \\;\\\\\\; Within one mile I push the choke all the way in and all is good. \\;\\\\\\; Five minutes to warm up in 60* temperatures is a waste of time and fuel, IMO.
Novice
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
RE: warm up before riding
I've got a 98 Xl1200C. \\; In the mornings I've been pulling the choke anywhere from 50 to 100%. \\; It needs to idle for a minute before it even gets in gear. \\; Not too long though. \\; Ride for a little, then turn off the choke.
I've been switching the fuel control to off when I'm not on it for a few hours. \\; When I get back on, in the middle of the day, I turn the fuel control to on and find it needs a little choke to start. \\; Do you think this is because the bike is cool or because I turned the fuel control off?
I've been switching the fuel control to off when I'm not on it for a few hours. \\; When I get back on, in the middle of the day, I turn the fuel control to on and find it needs a little choke to start. \\; Do you think this is because the bike is cool or because I turned the fuel control off?
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: NE FL
RE: warm up before riding
I fire mine up, roll it out of the corner of the garage to the drive way, throw my gear on and once the garage door is completly closed, I ride off. \\; Probably a total of 2 minutes max. \\; I still warm it up, but agree with Thumper, just letting a bike idle for 5 minutes is a long time and burns some expensive gas.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Plattsburgh, NY
RE: warm up before riding
I do the same as rdss. \\; Start it up, roll it out, put on my helmet, shut the garage door and take off. \\; I just take it easy for the first mile or so before I really rip on it \\;
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina (God's country)
RE: warm up before riding
thanks guys..I was worried more about the oil reaching the important parts before rolling off. I hear all the time about driving a car off without letting it warm up properly and \\;I know this is not a car but this \\;is my first bike since the late 70's and don't want to damage anything.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
RE: warm up before riding
If you're letting your car warm up for 5 minutes, you're unnecessarily wasting fuel there too. Only reason to let a car warm up that long is to get the cabin warm.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
RE: warm up before riding
i start my bike, roll it out of the garage, put my helmet, glasses, and gloves on, close the garage door and take off. \\; Probably 1 to 2 mins max.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: NE FL
RE: warm up before riding
ORIGINAL: DannyZ71
If you're letting your car warm up for 5 minutes, you're unnecessarily wasting fuel there too. Only reason to let a car warm up that long is to get the cabin warm.
If you're letting your car warm up for 5 minutes, you're unnecessarily wasting fuel there too. Only reason to let a car warm up that long is to get the cabin warm.
I agree with that also, I live up in Maine and that is the only reason I warm my vehicle up for more than a minute. \\; I usually just get in my car fire it up and once the rpm starts to drop down to normal, I drive off. \\; With it 80 degrees outside now, it may take 30 seconds to a minute.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 832
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
RE: warm up before riding
It was about 46 degrees when I left this morning. I got the bike out of the garage, started it up (choke all the way out), walked down the driveway and opened up the gate, walked back, put on helmet and gloves, put choke in to about 50%, then rode about 6/10 mile before turning the choke off at the first stop sign. No problems at all, except cold fingers on the 36 mile commute.