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Engine Warmup Tactics

What's Your Warmup Technique?

  • Ride it flat out from start

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Start it, and ride gently until warm

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • Start and let idle until its ready for action

    Votes: 7 87.5%
  • Total voters
    8
S

steve

Joined May 2002
2K Posts | 140+
Snowy Mountains NSW Australia
I note that this is mentioned in a few threads recently and I thought a few more opinions might interesting.

I like to get it started and ride it gently as soon as it can be ridden. Extended idle time I believe promotes engine wear as no work is being done and it takes longer to warm up than riding gently. Lots of engine wear occurs on cold start due to non optimum internal clearances. The objective is to get it to operating temp as fast as possible with minimum wear.

Also I believe that extended running on the choke/enrichener can result in unburnt fuel washing oil from the bore.

I used to drive 1970s Mazda rotaries and they wore out very quickly if revved when not properly warm, but also would not warm up unless driven. Not a Berg, and an extreme example, but....

Steve
 
I agree with you. I start the bike, never letting it run on the choke for more than 15-20 seconds. Let it idle for about a minute and then ride very gently for 4-5 minutes. Then easy for the next 5-10 minutes.
It helps warm the rider up as well :wink:
 
Me too.

I sometimes have a little trouble keeping the throttle from snapping open for a quick wheelie tho :twisted:

You know; the "lets go" feeling as you set of on a ride; I can't help exceeding the 4000 rpm self imposed rev limit from time to time :roll:

I know she'll punish me with extra maintenace chores but I do it anyway........ :oops:
 
ah I like this one steve .

FWIW from someone who breaks stuff all the time but can't break berg mains:

check crank endfloat, if tight warm up slowly, check endfloat, slap crank to get endfloat back, ride hard check endfloat slap crank again while its hot. if I remember to do that last one I get a fresh start next time with proper endfloat.

since I broke my gearbox 3rd and 4th circlips and everything else was tip top, now I let the bike idle fast for a minute or so to get the oil thinned out nicely so teh clutch works properly on the first shifts.

2cnd and 3rd options at once?

I like the sound of 33000km on your 501 you must be doing it right :D
 
You dont have a choice if the race is a dead engine start from cold.(enduro)
I used to try and warm up the bike beforehand but then it could be in the waiting area (parc ferme) fo r an hour before the race and its cooled down again.
Clubs do vary, and most now allow you to fire up 60 seconds before the start , a bit like MX, which is better than cold.
If its a trail ride, i let the bike tickover for a couple of minutes (no choke) while i put my gear on, then ride.
 
I agree idling from cold for too long isnt ideal. Was told only certain bits warm up and others dont i.e gearbox. I generally wheel bike out turn petrol on. Lock garage and get kit on bar my gloves. I kick a few times with decomp pulled, open choke and start. Soon as its running i shut choke off and gently rev whilst getting gloves on (tricky whilst keeping it running) once gloves are on i set off and cruise at 30 for good few miles til rad feels hot then gradually increase throttle til i hit the back roads.
 
I start it up and ride and warm it up as I go. I've always done it this way with all my bikes.
I ride easy to moderately for a few minutes.

Pollo
 
Years ago the rule of thumb was that about 1/2 engine wear occurred on cold starts. For cars and road bikes it takes about 20km to get everything up to temperature. Apart from my old rotaries at <>150,000 km, I get 400,000 + out of my cars and utes before I turn them over and its not engine wear that drives this.

Good oil and an effective warmup regime go a long way to making things last.

I also seem to recall that the reason Berg didn't recommend extended idle was as much about getting the oil up to the valve gear as anything else.

And I hate cold engine (and cold body) race starts! I like to keep my end floating too, makes for being nice and relaxed :wink:

Steve
 
I have at times tried the Loz technique. I can't help it either. Within a few minutes im roosting up a dust storm or barreling through some trails. I'm not wide open just yet, but on it a bit.
Pollo
 
I warm my bikes up (off choke) for a minute or so until the rad temp gets hot to the touch, then ride moderately until the engine is fully warmed up.
 
storing the bike in a warm place would help too not called ICE BERG for no reason ..I idle mine for a couple minutes usually then hit the street (supermoto) ..its always hard to resist the twist of the wrist and that firtst little wheelie to start the day on my commutes..
Its by far the most fun bike i have ever owned and incredibly snappy ..
 
Depending on settings and temp, say +/- 10 seconds

Steve
 

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