How Long Do You Let The Engine Warm Up

[CTB63]

Hey all,

I read through the users manual, and found out there is no engine temp gauge, just warning lights.

Not that I live in a cold area, but do you let the engine warm up before taking off with the scooter.

If so, how long do you let it idle before taking off?

Any info is appreciated.

CTB63
Riding C600 Sport
Had BV350
Had Buddy i170

 

[Edumakated]

Hey all,

I read through the users manual, and found out there is no engine temp gauge, just warning lights.

Not that I live in a cold area, but do you let the engine warm up before taking off with the scooter.

If so, how long do you let it idle before taking off?

Any info is appreciated.

CTB63
Riding C600 Sport
Had BV350
Had Buddy i170

About a minute or two. I basically start the engine and just let it warm up while I put my helmet and gear on.

 

[yellasei]

about the same, enough time to warm my heated grips up.

 

[Snowdog]

As soon as you can drive away, do that. Your engine will warm up faster with a mild load. Idling cold doesn't do your engine any good, and fuel injection doesn't need to warm up.

 

[TwoPort]

I've noticed it seems a little hesitant if I start and immediately ride away. Like if I'm leaning into a turn to straighten out and take off it may hesitate a bit and I've had to re-adjust for it. It seems only to take a minute and the acceleration is completely smooth.

 

[JaimeC]

It's a modern fuel injected vehicle. I push the button, and go, same as I've done with every fuel-injected vehicle I've owned since my 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit. Just drive it easily for the first few miles, that's all. The engine isn't the only thing that needs to warm up, but it IS the only thing that warms up if the vehicle just sits there with it idling.

 

[Colin J Monteith]

It's a modern fuel injected vehicle. I push the button, and go, same as I've done with every fuel-injected vehicle I've owned since my 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit. Just drive it easily for the first few miles, that's all. The engine isn't the only thing that needs to warm up, but it IS the only thing that warms up if the vehicle just sits there with it idling.

Asked mechanic this question at dealership yesterday. He said bikes for last 20 years or so have ban designed to start and go with no warm up. They recommend taking it easy for first couple miles to let fluids circulate properly. Older bikes just like older people need a few minutes at idle. Just as you said Jaime.

 

[CTB63]

Thanks all... Great info...!

 

[JaimeC]

Over the past two decades I've only owned TWO vehicles that actually required "Warm Up:" My 1995 BMW R100RT, and my 2000 Buell M2 Cyclone. Both of those bikes had one thing in common: Carburetors. If you tried to take off too soon with either of those bikes, it would stall. "Warming up" a vehicle is as out-of-date as carburetors these days.

 

[Snowdog]

My son's Honda Rebel required a full five minute warm up before it would move. Yes, it had a carburetor.

 

[SteveADV]

Over the past two decades I've only owned TWO vehicles that actually required "Warm Up:" My 1995 BMW R100RT, and my 2000 Buell M2 Cyclone. Both of those bikes had one thing in common: Carburetors. If you tried to take off too soon with either of those bikes, it would stall. "Warming up" a vehicle is as out-of-date as carburetors these days.

Ha...My '14 KLR starts with a choke and likes a little warm up just for just the reason you mention. Definitely old-school but so simple even a knucklehead like me can do some stuff to it. In fact, I admit to finding the simplicity somewhat nostalgic. Besides, it is a beast. Not nearly as modern as most of today's designs, but go anywhere, go far, and go fast enough.

It is parked beside my CGT in the garage and I think they have bonded.

 

[JaimeC]

Wow. I'm surprised Kawasaki still builds street bikes with carbs as late as 2014. Even Royal Enfield and Ural have switched over to fuel injection!!

 

[Snowdog]

Wow. I'm surprised Kawasaki still builds street bikes with carbs as late as 2014. Even Royal Enfield and Ural have switched over to fuel injection!!

Well, A carburetor is still easier to fix if it craps out in the desert. And will still work if the computer fries. ( oh yeah, no computer either)

 

[SteveADV]

Funny thing about the KLR....It just feels like there is not much to break and go wrong. Uhhhhh...not suggesting in anyway shape or form that it can hold a candle to the Beemer UMV. I like ithe KLR because it is primitive. I like the C650GT for the opposite reasons.

Sorta hijacked the thread talking about my KLR, but the manual says to get on your Beemer and ride. Those that know more about that kind of thing than I have suggested in past threads that they stick by what the designers/engineers have written in the owner's manual. Not sure why anyone would do differently.

 

[Snowdog]

It's not that they decide not to do what's in the owners manual, they don't read their owners manual!!

 

[SteveADV]

It's not that they decide not to do what's in the owners manual, they don't read their owners manual!!

Good point!

 

[Vago]

the 'good old days' were not always convenient . . I like start and go. I'll let it warm up for a short time if its frozen out

 

[exavid]

The only bike I've owned that REALLY needed warming up before riding was my Goldwing 1500. The GWs are all cold blooded but the 1500 was the worst of the bunch for that. If you didn't warm it up and ride a couple miles with half choke on a cold day it would like as not just quit on you. Definitely would do a real hesitation and threaten to quit. Once in a hurry to go to a hardware store before they closed on a cold day I jumped on my 1500, fired it up and tried to take off. Just as I was making the sharp turn at the end of my driveway it quit and pinned my leg to the ground. My air horns were within reach and my wife was home so with her help prying with a 2x4 I was able to pull my leg out from under. I walked funny for almost two weeks.
All the fuel injected bikes I've owned including the two I now have run just fine starting up in cold weather and riding off immediately. Down with carbs!

 

[db60]

I've noticed it seems a little hesitant if I start and immediately ride away. Like if I'm leaning into a turn to straighten out and take off it may hesitate a bit and I've had to re-adjust for it. It seems only to take a minute and the acceleration is completely smooth.

Hi TwoPort,

Mine is doing the exact same thing, when I start out when cold, it will stumble and almost stall when giving it the gas then quickly recover and off I go. It seems worse if I am turning to the left. Within minuites it runs very smoothly. Did yhou ever get this sorted, and if so, how?

Cheers!

 

[Kascarrabias]

hello guys, I´mcnew here as I just purchased my C650GT, 2013, a couple of months ago, as I needed to do the 40k kilometer service, I did it at my local BMW, talked to the chief of mechanics as I had several questions, one of them was just that, he told me the best is to warm up in idle for 2 to 3 minutes before staring to ride, as well not to crank on the gas as the clutch will pay the price of it. hope it helps.