do bikes nee to warm up before ridden?

[mase101]

do bikes always need to warm up for a min or 2 before bein ridden?took mine out yesterday without warmin her up and it cut out down the road, had hardly any petrol so not sure if that could be why. I stopped flicked the petrol on to reserve and used choke on her, let her run for about 2 mins and she was fine after that

[MC]

Yes, particularly with a manual choke.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Rogerborg]

No, not even with a manual choke.

It may be more convenient to fire it up and then go through your rituals, but it's not necessary.
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[MC]

Who was it on here that crashed cos his engine spluttered as it was cold? With my 125 it wouldn't even accelerate properly when cold (manual choke). With automatic chokes its not as bad but I still want the engine to be running properly before setting off.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[barrkel]

There's a lot of different bits of moving metal in an engine and some expand at different rates to others. Tolerances etc. in the engine will have been designed for a running within a temperature range.

And of course if the engine has been stopped for some time, the top of the engine won't have a whole lot of oil. An engine that has been running for a couple of minutes will have had the oil pump going for a while.

Cold oil is also a bit more viscous.

Just ride more gently for the first couple of minutes. The engine is usually a bit rougher, and may need a bit more throttle to avoid stalling.
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[CaNsA]

[Llama-Farmer]

I know with most cars you're not supposed to. A cold engine under zero load don't burn very efficiently and can produce acidic emissions which do more damage to internals like piston rings etc. Under load (i.e. driving when cold) is not so bad for it.


Bike is probably the same. Choke should merely make the bike easier to start and run when cold, feed it back in as the engine warms up.

However ride normally and let the bike warm up fully before you cane it.
(The tyre will need to warm up too, so twice the reason to)
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[Ayrton]

My 125 always felt like it didnt have any power unless it was warmed up for a couple of minutes before i set off. Not really that much of a problem if you turn it on while getting yourself ready.

[Rogerborg]

[Pigeon]

Prefer to warm them up enough to come off choke. Choke is too many rpms for my noggin to handle in the AM.

...... that's manual choke. Automatic choke, fuck it, the computer is waaaay more clever than me at that time in the morning. Although I trust the computer to not go full skynet on my ass yo.

[davebike]

Best practice is to start engine and ride off
Lots don't and I don't suppose it make a big difference

Dave
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[Christoffee]

I never do. I usually just take it easy for a minute or two.

The other day I forgot my phone so headed back and collected it. It's the first time I've left the house with a warm engine and I thought the bike felt a little better. I little more lively and eager.
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Bike: CBF125

[Pete.]

Once started it should take only a few moments for the bike to be fit to pull away, especially in the current weather. If the bike complains when you do it the first time by bogging badly causing you to have to catch it on the clutch just leave it a bit longer next time.
Ride away gently and avoid high revs or labouring the engine until you're warmed through and you won't be doing it any harm. If you have a temperature gauge it's easy to tell when it's warmed through, otherwise you'll have to judge it by the responsiveness.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[janner_10]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Another vote for starting it and moving off pretty much ASAP. Some are a bit mardy when they are on the choke but normally pretty easy to ride around that (my 1200 Bandit when standard would require the choke to start when cold, but would stall at the first junction about 200 yards away if I left the choke on).

In a car I don't sometimes. I am a wuss and the heater is nice .

All the best

Keith
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[MC]

[Ayrton]

[wots]

Again, every bike is different, but aside from the fact I don't like annoying neighbours my fireblade in particular is better with immediate ride off. Depending on the temperature, I might need choke in a morning. If I don't start and ride off when the choke is required it would splutter to a halt after about two minutes and then it's a twat to restart after that.

So for me, choke (or not choke) and ride off tentatively, after about 1/4-1/2 mile remove choke (if it was on) and the bike is perfect.

Same with the car, start up and go.
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Currently: Yamaha DT 125 LC2,Repsol Fireblade, and Bumblebee MSX 125

[snomag]

My current bike is a bit of a bitch to ride straight after starting it up, so I do let it 'warm up' for a minute before riding it. Choke still has to be on for 1/2mile probably, after that it's all good.

I could ride it straight away, as I've done it a few times in the past, but with this bike it doesn't feel right - not had much of an issue with previous ones.

[SQL]

I have to warm mine up for 2-5mins as it is gutless otherwise.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

None of my bikes nor cars were any worse off for me pulling away immediately.
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[mase101]

thanks to everyone who replied. so the general consensus is that's a warm up is a good thing. Wotsthestory completely relate to what you said, sounds exactly the same as mine! just waiting for the nice weather to get out there!

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[-Matt-]

I usually don't. Engine on in the garage, within a minute of back-n-forthing it out onto the road i'll be away. I do take it easy for a few miles until its warmed up though, can feel and hear a little difference usually until its got warm.

My SB200 however did need warming up or it would run like a sack of spanners, but that might be because is a two stroke/old n' knackered, or both not too sure.

[Clutchy]

Do you nod at other bikers?
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