red hot exhaust gsa

[kwallace21]

Hello all,
just returned from 2 weeks and 2500 mile trip to europe on my 2004 1150 Gsa.
No probs to speak of. Last night however, I was warming the bike up in my dimly lit garage. Held it on full choke (2000rpm) for a few minutes then noticed both header pipes were glowing red, as in red hot. Flicked the choke off and it ticked over normally and headers went back to normal. I probably never noticed this as I only go out in the daytime. Is it normal for them to get red hot like that. I suppose they are just thin bits of steel at the end of a big hot thing with no air blowing over them at standstill and it was doing 2000rpm. Is my bike posessed by satan? Oh I should add that before my trip I had valves checked and TB's balanced however at around 4k rpm the bike would get quite vibey. However, when I stopped the odd time for petrol or lunch and rode off again the bike seemed a lot smoother. Definately anonyack intermittent fault. Coil packs look perfect. Plugs maybe? Can a faulty connection on the airbox temp sensor cause this. Only thing I touched on the bike was to put a new air filter in.
Many thanks in advance for your informative, piss taking and witty replies.

kev

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

Yes it's normal, some bikes have 'twin skin' downpipes so you don't notice it. As it is an Air cooled engine its best not to leave it 'warming up'

 

[D6]

yup, iv seen it on others, they used to light fags of my superdream 250,

 

[Voyager]

Yes +1 Mine does the same.

Bob.

 

[motobiker]

I've always been lead to believe that the one thing you should never do with these bikes is let them 'warm up'

key in - start engine - ride off.

 

[kwallace21]

thanks guys, much appreciated. I normally just start and go but I was warming the engine up to check the oil level. Any advice on the intermittant vibes would be handy though.
cheers
Kev

 

[davegs]

Oil level

How on earth can you check the oil level by "warming up" the engine?,
the way is to put it on the centre stand for at least 15 mins and THEN the oil level can be checked. Read your manual.
Dave (Abba fan) GS.

 

[kwallace21]

Dave,
i'm not that daft. I had topped up the level and was warming up the engine to get the added oil and into the system. I then check it the following morning, as always on the centre stand.
kev

 

[D6]

I've always been lead to believe that the one thing you should never do with these bikes is let them 'warm up'

key in - start engine - ride off.

what about when you are doing an injector sync?

 

[motobiker]

what about when you are doing an injector sync?

LOL... there's always one. how often do you sync YOUR injectors? every time you ride??

checking the oil.. go for a ride first to get it up to temperature. or do as i do.. check it in the morning having done the side-stand - main-stand rigmarole the night before.