Topic: Negative effects of constant in-city driving

[mono]

OK so it seems like most people here do a lot of highway driving and all the troubleshooting seems to assume that these are the normal operating conditions.

However, for me it's not.  I really don't go on the highways much (because people are absolutely moronic here ), and so at least 95% of my driving is city roads, under 45MPH (i rarely get her out of 3rd), and stop-and-go with spirited burts of activity.  max trip is probably around 7 miles one way, average commute time around 20 mins.

I know that driving conditions like this are generally not healthy for cars, so i'm assuming that issues are compounded on our ultra-sensitive machines.

Anyone care to comment or share experiences?  AM I totally off-base here?

Thanks!

[flybox1]

IIWM i wouldnt worry about it
...but i probably would bump up my maintenance intervals.  especially if its hot.

[bollingball]

OK so it seems like most people here do a lot of highway driving and all the troubleshooting seems to assume that these are the normal operating conditions.

However, for me it's not.  I really don't go on the highways much (because people are absolutely moronic here ), and so at least 95% of my driving is city roads, under 45MPH (i rarely get her out of 3rd), and stop-and-go with spirited burts of activity.  max trip is probably around 7 miles one way, average commute time around 20 mins.

I know that driving conditions like this are generally not healthy for cars, so i'm assuming that issues are compounded on our ultra-sensitive machines.

Anyone care to comment or share experiences?  AM I totally off-base here?

Thanks!

Maybe I missed it but it depends what bike your talking about. It looks like you have two bikes the 550 is thought to be charging challenged so your type of riding would need a little help every night with a smart charger no big deal. Also I think you are not getting the oil up to full temp so would need more frequent changing imo. Why not get out on the week end and drive that puppy hard they love it. Get out and enjoy the country side
Ken

[bjbuchanan]

Shorter maintenance intervals and for the smaller bikes keep the revs up just a little higher to help the weaker charging system. It isn't really a big deal, the bikes were engineered to be used in all conditions. With that being said it is air cooled so you gotta move it around. Sitting in dead traffic for more than a couple mins and it is gonna get HOT

[seanbarney41]

yeah, +1...city riding is not very fun.  Why not head out to the country for some two lane blacktop action

[RAFster122s]

Short trips will not get the oil hot so it will collect water with time due to condensation and that will require more frequent changes. The acids that build up in the oil are what require the oil to be changed.  With time it clogs the filter and when left in too long it starts to become gritty.

[Prospect]

I also do about 95% of my riding in the city.  It's begining to take a toll on my sanity.  The trafic here in Toronto is almost the worst in North America.

Charging is a big issue for me.  I simply don't get the revs high enough to charge the battery.  I put the battery on the trickle charger almost after every ride.  Bike starts better with a good battery and you're not putting too high a demand from the 40 year old charging system that way.  Everything else stays the same for me.