[barry5k]

My neighbor and I are having a big debate. We both own a 1500. He will start up his bike letting it idle while he puts on his gear. Sometimes this will be five minutes or more.

I say it's enough to let it idle for about a minute until you hear the bike come down from a higher idle to normal idle rpm's.

The manual says not to let the bike idle for more than five minutes. Both are FI models. I think he is hurting his bike, he thinks I don't let it idle long enough and not letting the oil circulate through the motor.

If I'm right, I'd love to prove it to him. If I'm wrong, well, I guess you'll tell me!:redface:

 

[polizei]

I let my bike idle while I put my gear on, but it's usually only 1-2 minutes. You won't hurt the bike at all by not letting it idle, unless you really beat on it! Under "normal" driving conditions, I would say you're fine either way. I also don't think letting the bike idle for 5+ minutes will hurt the bike either.

Now, I am no expert by any means...so I could be wrong.

-Cody

 

[wild_deuce03]

I let it idle until it slows down and then off I go.

 

[rwreuter]

I let it idle until it slows down and then off I go.

+1

 

[ZeroPunch]

Mine idles as I back it out of the garage and turn it around get out of the drive. then it's 20 mph out of the subdivision .4 miles then I let her rip.

 

[Ruger]

Mine idles as I back it out of the garage and turn it around get out of the drive. then it's 20 mph out of the subdivision .4 miles then I let her rip.

+1 When it is cold I let it idle until the rpm drops. Otherwise I do it just like Zero. 5 minutes seems a little long, although I doubt it is going to hurt anything but your wallet.

 

[jwred306]

I let my bike run while I'm gearing up, but it doesn't take long for everything in you engine to get oil on it. Its pressurized and the oil goes where it needs within a couple sec. I don't think either one of you are wrong. I just like to warm up my vehicles before I drive them. I don't see any damage coming from either way, unless you start it and run it hard instantly.

 

[Flash]

If you live and ride in cold places idling longer to warm engine is good. If you live in warm places ie. Arizona or Hawaii then just start and go after a few seconds for oil pressure up.

 

[The Vulcaniser]

I let mine idle for 3 or 4 minutes while i gear up...... sometimes less, sometimes more. The bike has always idled down by that time, and i slowly ride out of my estate to warm it more. 5 minutes idling won't hurt a bike..... if you left it idling for 20 minutes, i guess that might not be advantageous. If i wash my bike, i always start it and let it idle for up to 10 minutes to dry it out. I can't see it hurting the bike.

 

[Wicked96SS]

Probably not doing anymore "damage" to the engine than you are idling at a stop light... I have a couple 3 - 5 minute (potential) lights that I hate...

Well, if it's cold, might be slightly worse... but I would guess no issue will come from it other than he is wasting gas... I am aware of the claimed issues of idling to warm up, just don't think it really matters all that much. I've never heard of engine damage due to idling to warm up.

I actually DID have to overhaul an engine when I was a mechanic... this is a true story... guy changed his oil, and started to car to ensure "it wasn't leaking"... got distracted... and went to bed, leaving the car idling all night. On his drive to work, knocked like crazy... bearings were shot.

 

[Plato]

I let my Nad idle for about 20 seconds -about the time it takes me to wrestle it back out of the carport and get the chrome whale pointed in the right direction. I do ride gentle the first few miles, but all that idling does is waste gas IMO.

I do run Rotella 5W-40 in the winter so it starts easy and gets that oil flowing fast on those few below freezing rides to work. :wink:

 

[gdhugh]

I let my bike idle while I put my gear on, but it's usually only 1-2 minutes. You won't hurt the bike at all by not letting it idle, unless you really beat on it! Under "normal" driving conditions, I would say you're fine either way. I also don't think letting the bike idle for 5+ minutes will hurt the bike either.

Now, I am no expert by any means...so I could be wrong.

-Cody

Mine idles as I back it out of the garage and turn it around get out of the drive. then it's 20 mph out of the subdivision .4 miles then I let her rip.

+1000

 

[wild_deuce03]

I'm not positive but I believe that MOM says to let it idle down before pulling off. I'll have to check that though. I may have just read it somewhere.

 

[jwred306]

Probably not doing anymore "damage" to the engine than you are idling at a stop light... I have a couple 3 - 5 minute (potential) lights that I hate...

Well, if it's cold, might be slightly worse... but I would guess no issue will come from it other than he is wasting gas... I am aware of the claimed issues of idling to warm up, just don't think it really matters all that much. I've never heard of engine damage due to idling to warm up.

I actually DID have to overhaul an engine when I was a mechanic... this is a true story... guy changed his oil, and started to car to ensure "it wasn't leaking"... got distracted... and went to bed, leaving the car idling all night. On his drive to work, knocked like crazy... bearings were shot.

Not trying to Say anyone is wrong but I can't see how letting a engine idle overnight will take out bearings, tractor trailers do it all the time. I would think there was another issue that would have caused bearing failure.

 

[Wicked96SS]

Not trying to Say anyone is wrong but I can't see how letting a engine idle overnight will take out bearings, tractor trailers do it all the time. I would think there was another issue that would have caused bearing failure.

Tractor trailers are not passenger cars... and the oil pressure of most Diesel engines (especially for tractor trailers) are much higher for that reason.

Anyhow, that was the story he gave us, and as embarrassing and dumb as it was, I would believe it... he could have come up with a better lie!!

 

[jwred306]

maybe he forgot to mention he started it before adding the oil.
I get people who make excuses everyday

 

[nomidlname]

I have to find my MOM which is in a pile on my new desk (wife hated my nice old desk and made me replace it ) But I'm pretty sure it says not to idle over 5 minutes. Don't know why you shouldn't idle over 5 minutes but I have obeyed MOM.

 

[jbsmd]

A minute doesn't seem very long, and five minutes seems too long. On my cruiser (manual choke), when it can idle with the choke off, I ride....On the Sport, when the temp shows up on the dial, I ride...around 120F. Thinking about it though, it may only be about a minute or two. Don't know how you could prove he's doing harm, other than what your manual says.

 

[barry5k]

Well, it is obvious that my neighbor and I can stop debating this issue! On to another issue another day!!!!

 

[artz]

one of the reasons I use mobil one v-twin synthetic motor oil.