Getting a bike properly warm

[Quickly]

As you might have read on the Racing & Trackdays forum, I've taken up sprinting and the first meeting is on April 5. I've had a little practice on quiet bit of private road around here, just to get an idea of what times I'm likely to do and that kind of thing and - shock horror - my times are a lot quicker when the bike is warm.

When I start the bike up on my drive, warm it up for five minutes or so and then head off to the road (which is about a mile of NSL away) I find when I dump the clutch the wheel stays planted, I'm doing about 15 seconds and getting up to about 80 mph.

Today, having been on the bike for about 3 hours having a good blast on NSL roads, the wheel came up each time, I did about 12/13 secs and got it up to around 95 mph on each run. This is on a VFR400 (nc24).

My question is this: what's the best way to get the bike as warmed up as it was today when I'm sat around in a paddock all day. Will starting it up and keeping the revs high around 8/9k as they would have been today, but in neutral, be enough? And if so, how long do I need to do that and will it stay warm between runs (probably every 45 mins to and hour) ?

Thanks for any help - any other sprinting tips are appreciated too.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Constantly blipping the throttle is probably the best way.

Warms it up more thoroughly than just idling, and seems to be the technique of choice for most race teams. Don't go ballistic and rev the nuts off it though. Up to 1/3-1/2 of tach range should be fine. Just keep on blipping the throttle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5DILIDC-T4


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[Moonie]

Don't know about Hillclimbing but we do about 80C from throttle blipping and use tyrewarmers.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[Kickstart]

Hi

How have you been timing yourself?

While I would expect you to get a bit quicker with heat, not sure engine heat will make a massive difference to power. Tyre heat will help for standing quarters (time to practice your burnout technique).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Spit-Fire]

i agree with mr keith,
increasing traction via tyre warmth will help with your starts,

so that could be responsible for your quicker times over engine heat, or a combination of both
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[Tarmacsurfer]

Kickstart is right as usual.

Warming the motor thoroughly will help with engine wear by making sure the oil is at temperature and well spread. It'll be traction that's making the big difference. Possibly also some degree of you being "warmed up" as well, after a fast ride around you'll be far more dialled into the bike.
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[Alexio]

Use a blow torch
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[yen_powell]

[Quickly]

Thanks all, I did consider the tyres might have played a part but will concentrate on getting them warm before hand - perfect excuse to practice my burnouts.

I'd been timing it very scientifically... sellotaping my phone to the clocks, setting the stopwatch off, waiting 'til it gets to five seconds then going down and glancing at it after I finish the run. Not sure it'll be quite so high-tech on raceday!
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Slightly more accurate would be using GPS logs to check (most are only 1Hz so not that accurate).

You can get a performance GPS unit designed for measuring acceleration and the like.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[robocog]

Blipping the throttle seems to be a popular way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHy2yjm2744

In the background you can just about hear a couple of others warming up before moving out onto the hillclimb

Regards
Rob
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Needs a bigger garage...

[stinkwheel]

I'll ask the several times NSA sprint champion who drinks in my local if he's out tonight.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Quickly]

[stinkwheel]

[Ariel Badger]

Try to get a ride at Hoghton Tower Nr Preston. One of my favourites only 1/8 mile but uphill on the driveway of a stately house.
Have you looked at the National Hillclimb Association (NHCA)website? You will eventually get bored with going in a straight line so twisty sprints and hillclimbs will add some spice.
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[G]

When there's corners thrown in, especially starting out, warm tyres are going to be very important if you're allowed tyre warmers.
Regardless, while it's best to have a decently warm bike, I wouldn't overly worry - the likely hood is that it's getting the power down coming out of the corner that will be the limiting factor.

Remember in your above example you would be 'warmed up' too, which helps.

[The Original Muzza]

Getting a bike properly warm....

is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman.

First you make sure you've applied plenty of choke.
Then you see that you push the right button, sometimes this requires a bit of pulling at her lever (if you know what I'm saying ).
Then you stick on your gloves and get your helmet ready. Before you know it you'll have given her 5 minutes to warm herself up while you make yourself a cup of tea and then you're ready to ride away.
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[Ariel Badger]

[G]

Yea I thought as much; heard that wets are often used due to their quick warming properties and you shouldn't be out long enough to cook them.

Seems a bit scary to me, trying to go all-out (well, near) on a cold front with a warm rear, but then the whole thing is a bit less 'precise' than normal road riding on average I'd say.

[stinkwheel]

Sorry I took so long getting back.

According to my mate, many of them don't warm their bikes up to any degree. They just use thin as fuck oil (rockoil) so it gets pumped round quickly.

Apparently the amount of heat they are generating on a run with a reasonably highly tuned bike (especially running boost) is pretty impressive. The main problem is too much heat and they want to be starting with it all pretty cool.

He reckons most of the serious competitors start their bike on the line. Especially those with ice-packed charge coolers.

This is from someone running a 400bhp, nitrous injected, supercharged 'busa.

Apparently some of the top-fuel guys have remote oil heaters.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]