Warming up engine

[shane]

Hi,

When I bought the Sprint my dealer told me that I should leave the bike to idle until the engine temp had reached 3 bars.

I have done this dutifully, but I am wondering why I am supposed to do this and if it is really necessary.

Anyone know?

thanks,
shane

[SR1]

Your dealer likely knows as much as we do. I wait till I "think" the oil has gotten everywhere in the engine....then I'm off.

[Trip]

Sounds right. I usually only wait one or two. Probably for alot of reasons... that won't matter because the bike probably won't be around for as many miles as it would take to see problems from not warming it up exactly right. I just don't hammer the throttle until I have five bars up. I just cruise slowly out of the neighborhood in the morning. By the time I hit the first highway it's ready to go.

[miker]

No Sprint here, but your dealer is nuts.

Start bike, put on helmet, jacket, gloves then ride off, gently at first and wait until the bike is at normal temp before cracking the throttle hard.

I have 97,000kms using this method on my S3 and almost the same on my 1982 Harley with never a problem.

Mick

[steventhechef]

I'm with miker,

By the time I start the bike (I can hear the TORs from here) I get my helmet and gloves on and zip my jacket up the temps normally about 65C.

I take off easily and don't gun it until it's 82C (normal operating temp). Works for me too..

[DaveM]

I am also with Miker,
your dealer is a nuts x 2.

Kick it in the guts let it idle while donning your skid lid gloves and zip up your leathers and bug out.

Go gently with the noise control handle until she is showing normal operating temp then do what you like.


Davem

[Stlakid]

I can't believe it, something we ALL seem to agree on! I start mine up and let it idle until my limited amount of gear is on. As long as mine doesn't say 'Low' in the temperature gauge, I'm off. Gently until the temperature is at normal levels then I just ride normally. I may wait a bit longer before any top end charges just to be sure the oil in the transmission has caught up to the engine temperature. But your dealers advise certainly won't hurt anything!

[iceman]

same here.It idles for about a minute while I get the gloves on and helmet tightened up.Then I take it easy for a couple of km so neighbours are happy,engine and tires are warm then its time to let it loose.

It works for me :-D

Don probably has an opinion on it - but I have read somewhere that just letting it warm up with no load doesnt do it any good.The main thing is not to hammer it when cold.

Grant

[Stlakid]

I think I read the opinion you speak of Iceman. Their opinion was it's just a waste of fuel if like everyone here you baby it anyway until everything is up to temperature. They just said the fuel you use warming it up could also get you down the road a piece without doing any damage.

[ruscook]

Yeah I'm with Miker on this as well. It usually take till 1 bar to warm the Sprint and get the gear on then I'm off....


Russ