Topic: warm the bike up or just ride?

[RoyMunson]

Since starting to ride (i've been riding a 350F for close to a month now), i've gotten differing advice about starting my bike when it's cold. 

One guy has told me to open the choke, start it and let it warm up, closing the choke as the bike starts warming up and idling higher.  Then ride it.

Another guy told me not to warm it up at all.  He said to open the choke just to get it started then close the choke while keeping the throttle open to keep the bike from idling too low and cutting off.  Then just ride and if I'm stopped and the bike's not warmed up enough to idle without cutting off, to keep the throttle open slightly.

Any thoughts about which is better or if there's some other way I should be starting my bike?

Thanks

[Slayer]

One guy has told me to open the choke, start it and let it warm up, closing the choke as the bike starts warming up and idling higher.  Then ride it.

Thats how I did it. I started it up and took my time with my gear and gave the bike a good look over while it is warming up. I don't think it matters too much. The first method restricts air to make the fuel rich. The second adds fuel to the mixture. The first just seems to make more logical sense unless you are in a hurry.

[Toxic]

Dude... you might as well ask what oil is best?

Everybody has an opinion.  Use some common sense.  The colder it is outside the longer it needs to warm up the oil.

If you are not going to give it lots of warm up time don't immediately hop on it and bet the pi$$ out of it.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Add enough choke to keep it from dying on startup.
Then take it off and add throttle until it warms up enough.

[HavocTurbo]

I do both.

The CB's get choke. The choke's actually work well. I commend the carb designer.

The XS gets throttle. The choke has 3 positions... ON,ON, OFF. None of which help the bike when it's cold. I'll maim the carb designer.

Either one works depending on how you ride and care for the bike. As well as design and structure. Altitude plays a part as well. At least some people say.

[MCRider]

For me, its safer and less frustrating to just hang with it, let it warm up, and ride off when its ready. Its a bit of the ritual, start it, lock the throttle open part way with the throttle lock (NEP or Cruisemaster) finish suiting up, gloves, helmet etc.   Then when I do take off, if I need some throttle for traffic or whatever, its there without hesitation.

Very frustrating to nurse an old bike out into traffic, and have it stumble when you give it some gas.

Newer bikes and cars for that matter, no longer need warm up as the computers and fuel injection mean just start it and go.  I can start my FJR and within a few moments, it will accept full throttle with little if any hesitation.  Same with my 96 (still primitive) van vs my old 64 Lemans. THe van will go right now, (electronic fuel injection) the LeMans said uh,uh, let me warm up. (4bbl carb)

So sometimes the perspective of the advice giver must be known.

[TwoTired]

Another guy told me not to warm it up at all.  He said to open the choke just to get it started then close the choke while keeping the throttle open to keep the bike from idling too low and cutting off.  Then just ride and if I'm stopped and the bike's not warmed up enough to idle without cutting off, to keep the throttle open slightly.

Slight correction: choke on (applied) is closed, choke off is open.
I don't warm up my 550s at all,   I drive off with the choke applied and take a little off at a time during the ride until the engine is warm and choke isn't neccessary.

Riding a cold engine will not hurt it.  Just don't ask for max power while it is warming.  Moderate power is fine, and will actually speed up the warming process.
If you have cold spark plugs, the bike may be unrideable during warm up.  If you are riding in cold temps, the next hottest heat range plug will be to your cold riding benefit.
The CB550 uses D7EA as standard.  Which is a hotter plug than the D8EA used as standard in many of the SOHC4s.  But, if the weather is cold, you can eliminate a standing warm up with a higher heat range spark plug.

Cheers,

[KeithB]

My 72 Cb750 is choke on, start and choke off immediately. Ready to ride...gently.
The 78 Cb750 wants a couple of minutes on choke before it behaves. Choke off and ride...gently.

[333]

350Fs run a little rich to begin with, so if you run the choke too long, you'll foul plugs.  One guy who had 3 or 4 of them said to go 10 leaner on the main jets, but I have never tried it.

But back to the original question.  I cut the choke off within 10 or 15 seconds, and start the ride.  I don't rev it over 6k until it will idle on it's own(at stop lights).

[BeSeeingYou]

My 750F needs full choke to start when cold but as soon as it starts I back off to 3/4 for best idle and let it sit for a minute while I put on my gear.  After that it's choke off and it idles at 1100 and is good to go.  After the first minute of warm up it never dies at idle. 

[Spanner 1]

I never let my bike idle to warm-up...I do the opposite..!, put on my gear, sit on the bike ready to go, start it up with choke on and ride immediatly never above 3-4K rpm while opening the choke in 3 stages...... different chokes for different folks..!!

[Qingdao]

Take your bike into bed with you the night before and give it some loving.  It'll be warm for the morning!!!  


AND NO MORING BREATH... EWWWW!

[Gordon]

Idling to warm up is a waste of gas.  Your bike will warm up just the same (and faster) if you're riding it, and the faster your engine gets up to ideal operating temperature the better.  And don't tell me about cold mornings.  I ride my bikes year 'round in Denver and even on sub-zero mornings the bikes only need about 30 seconds of idling before they're ready to go.   

[vames]

I've never done much of a warm-up with my 75 400f or my 76 750F. Choke -- start -- turn choke off immediately -- ride immediately off without hitting it too hard. All year round and all temps in New York City. After two blocks it's warm enough to idle on its own. Never did understand the concept of "cold bloodedness." To me that sounds like that's code for "this bike's not properly tuned."

[Hope]

We have another thread here on people's start up procedures.....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=21234.0

Search is your friend 

[MCRider]

I've never done much of a warm-up with my 75 400f or my 76 750F. Choke -- start -- turn choke off immediately -- ride immediately off without hitting it too hard. All year round and all temps in New York City. After two blocks it's warm enough to idle on its own. Never did understand the concept of "cold bloodedness." To me that sounds like that's code for "this bike's not properly tuned."

Cold bloodedness certainly exists in properly tuned machines. If the tuning is for hot running, well its going to stumble at start up. Many engines simply won't atomize the fuel properly until the head gets up to temperature. Doesn't mean its bad, just different.

Older cars often don't run well till the intake manifold gets up to temperature. You can still run it, just don't be surprised if it stumbles.

Computers and EFI go a long way to overcoming this by adjusting the fuel intake for temperature.  Can't do that (as well) with a carburetor.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I don't worry about the engine being chilly, it's just a little cantankerous about how it runs then. I am more concerned about oil pressure and circulation. If you had an oil pressure gauge you'd see what I'm talking about. When you first start them up the oil is cold and thicker. It will indicate higher pressure but it's not going to flow as well. Not as good of lubrication initially as oil has drained to the bottom of the engine. It will not circulate as easily ESPECIALLY at low rpms. If you sit there and play with the throttle it will better circulate the oil. Or start your ride and the oil circulates better and warms up faster too due to higher rpms.

My opinion is not to let it idle at cold startup. Either gently rev it up to get the oil flowing better or jump on and ride. Lubricate, my friends, lubricate. Low oil pressure is bad for an engine. Cold oil will show a higher pressure since it's thick and doesn't want to flow as easily BUT you need to get the oil moving one way or the other. Just be nice to it at first until it is warmed up.   

[333]

Are you trying to turn this into an oil thread, Jerry?

[Beans]

This is my take.  I do it on all my bikes.  Warm them up and then ride.  They seem to perform better when warmed. Up.  With my 550f I start it up go inside make a quit bike to eat in the morning and by the time I'm done and got my gear on its warm.  I do the same thing when I ride my dirtbike.  I start it get something to eat depending where I'm riding, put my gear on and ride.  My dadds always told me warm it up give it time and it will last a lot longer. Plus I hate sitting at a light when its cold the bugger never wants to idle and dies.

[Spanner 1]

If I went to buy a bike and the seller told me he regularly started the bike cold and 'went inside for something to eat !!!' and let it idle for 20 mins., I would NEVER buy a bike treated like that knowingly...even low mileage it would be HIGH wear....Sheesh!

[shizzomynizzo]

Dude... you might as well ask what oil is best?

Everybody has an opinion.  Use some common sense.  The colder it is outside the longer it needs to warm up the oil.

If you are not going to give it lots of warm up time don't immediately hop on it and bet the pi$$ out of it.

Castrol GTX 20w50 from 1974! my dad bought 5 cases way back when and still has 2 full in his attic that he gets out for me when oil change time comes.

[verboten1]

the virago gets a minute or so to warm up, the KLR gets 2-3 minutes, teh forged piston in there is really loose cold

[bistromath]

Got a stroker Camaro that I give 3 minutes every time. I wait until the forged pistons stop slapping and it no longer sounds like a Diesel... 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Are you trying to turn this into an oil thread, Jerry?

HELL NO !! Just lubrication  

[Gordon]

This is my take.  I do it on all my bikes.  Warm them up and then ride.  They seem to perform better when warmed. Up.  With my 550f I start it up go inside make a quit bike to eat in the morning and by the time I'm done and got my gear on its warm.  I do the same thing when I ride my dirtbike.  I start it get something to eat depending where I'm riding, put my gear on and ride.  My dadds always told me warm it up give it time and it will last a lot longer. Plus I hate sitting at a light when its cold the bugger never wants to idle and dies.

Of course your bike performs better when it's at optimum operating temperature, but that's not the point.  Warming-up your bikes like that may be better for your initial enjoyment of each ride, but it's worse for your engines.  

[Duke McDukiedook]

Unless you are in sub 20F temps you should warm up an internal-combustion engine for no longer than 30 seconds in a car or motorcycle.

Anything longer than that is excessive and unnecessary.