Warming Up

[iandavid]

On my previous 1200RT and now on the 1200GS I've always started of by turning on ignition, waiting for the christmas lights to stop, started the bike and rode off like I've stolen it.

Some of mates say that is a no no and it should be left to warm up for a few minutes.

What do others do.

 

[Our Gee]

Well I would say that the first part of your procedure is correct, right up to the part where you "ride it like you stole it". The best way to warm up the engine is to ride it, but without large handful's of throttle or high revs until normal operating temperature is reached. BMW Boxer Engines, especially the 1200 are not the best at "ticking over" and you will also blue your exhaust headers prematurely without any airflow. I always switch off at those temporary roadworks lights to avoid lengthy stationary tickover situations. But, each to his own !!.

 

[Big_Steve64]

I don't generally let the engine "warm up" before riding, there is no need.
But I DO let the engine oil get up to temperature before I use any revs over 4k. Maybe 5 / 10 minutes riding? Not an issue for me, as my journeys are always long.
This is something I have always done, since my Dad started to teach me mechanical sympathy.
Most people know that 95% of the wear that occurs in an engine happens when the oil isn't up to working temp. Maybe modern oil and engines have moved on in this respect. but I still do it the old way. always served me well.

 

[Wapping]

What does your Owner's Handbook say, on the matter of starting and then riding your motorcycle?

 

[iandavid]

What does your Owner's Handbook say, on the matter of starting and then riding your motorcycle?

It doen't mention it.

 

[Wapping]

So, if what you say is correct, the manual is silent on the matter. Yet it has all sorts of other information on Does and Dont's, including cleaning the vehicle.

Which suggests that BMW do not specificaly recommend any pre-ride warming-up of their air cooled motorcycle to any particular temperature, prior to riding off.

Nor indeed do they apparently mention (or specifically recommend) holding the rev's below some arbitrary point, in order to preserve its mechanical integrity over the long, medium or short terms of ownership, other than during the (limited) running in period.

On the other hand, the Owner's Manual for the HP2 Sport (which has the same air cooled Boxer engine as the 1200GS, but in a much higher state of tune) DOES have specifics about limiting the rev's when the bike is ridden each time..... until its engine reaches its normal operating temperature.... Along with vari-coloured idiot lights that flash in a pleasing rainbow like arc across its highly technical instrument panel.


PS See assoorted threads where (very) worried correspondents to the pages of UKGSer have had their exhaust tubes glowing cherry red, as they had forgotten that they had left their air cooed motorcycle 'warming-up', whilst they wandered off to seek permission from their wife to go for a twenty minute ride. One bod apparently even managed to boil the oil in his....No doubt he will sell it here.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Twin cam manual says you should ride off immediately. IIRC the later manuals also mention limiting revs until warm.

 

[Wapping]

So we go back.

What does the Owner's Manual say?

We now have a bod that tells us it says 'Drive off immediately'.

But wait, he has a feeling (a thing best restricted to what one does in ones trousers) that the latest version says, 'Limit the rev's '. Whilst the OP reckons what? Ah yes, 'It doesn't mention it'.

So, in the space of a few posts we range from:

Nothing in the handbook

Drive off immediately, in the handbook

Limit the rev's, I think.... In the handbook, of the later models


It really is very confusing.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Ride off asap

<3000rpm ...............until 3 bars are showing on oil temp guage

Worked for me for nearly 20 years on Boxers

 

[Roymondo]

My handbook (2011 GSA) specifically states "do not allow the engine to idle unnecessarily. Ride away immediately after starting the engine."
It makes no reference to limiting revs etc before it has warmed up.


---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?c12wic

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

+1
Mr JB has it.

I too have followed same ritual on all my GS bikes. Mechanical sympathy. Look after the machine and it will serve you well.

 

[Rasher]

Well I would say that the first part of your procedure is correct, right up to the part where you "ride it like you stole it". The best way to warm up the engine is to ride it, but without large handful's of throttle or high revs until normal operating temperature is reached

Or Use Some Common Sense!

Modern motors, with modern clearances and modern oils will probably tolerate a lot of abuse (At least according to extensive research I have carried out with various company cars) but with my own vehicles I tend to err on the side of caution.

Some manufacturers say drive straight off, but I don't think they mean like your at Santa Pod.

Personally I fire it up, pull away and ride at no more than a semi-brisk pace for a mile or so, I don't time or measure this distance and to be honest and by the time I clear my own part of suburbia (a mile or so in any direction) I reckon should have plenty of warm oil around it by then.

 

[Wapping]

My handbook (2011 GSA) specifically states "do not allow the engine to idle unnecessarily. Ride away immediately after starting the engine."
It makes no reference to limiting revs etc before it has warmed

So, now we are getting somewhere.

At last, someone has looked at what the handbook says for their model.....

 

[ihandyman247]

On my previous 1200RT and now on the 1200GS I've always started of by turning on ignition, waiting for the christmas lights to stop, started the bike and rode off like I've stolen it.

Some of mates say that is a no no and it should be left to warm up for a few minutes.

What do others do.

That is correct Sir !
Live your bike to warm up at list for 5 minutes , that's what I do

 

[Beemerman59]

Ride straight off, limit revs to 3K/4K, don't lug it, wait until engine at normal temperature then let rip

 

[WindyChuffer]

For the 1200GS:

- Start engine.
- Leave bike for at least 45 minutes with engine running
- Go get your breakfast and have a shower / shave etc (no need to stay with the bike).
- Ride it like you stole it.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

For the 1200GS:

- Start engine.
- Leave bike for at least 45 minutes with engine running
- Go get your breakfast and have a shower / shave etc (no need to stay with the bike).
- Ride it like you stole it.

Ha. It's been done.

 

[Gossy]

For the 1200GS:

- Start engine.
- Leave bike for at least 45 minutes with engine running
- Go get your breakfast and have a shower / shave etc (no need to stay with the bike).
- Ride it like you stole it.

For complete safety, preservation and general peace of mind, lock the bike up , lock garage and use the car - don't drive off too fast mind.

 

[TheBergers]

My handbook (2011 GSA) specifically states "do not allow the engine to idle unnecessarily. Ride away immediately after starting the engine."

I particularly like the sentence above that one - "In extreme cases, the motorcycle could catch fire."

Hello, Warranty Direct - my GSA seems to have spontaneously combusted.

 

[spikidave]

I had a similar query on another bike forum where when starting a bike with carbs, I tended to keep the revs below 2k until I could release the choke totally to ensure the oil was well distributed before I raised the revs, but at revs that low the engine often stammered seeming, as if it wasn't sure which way it wanted to rotate. The general concensus there was that, not to worry too much about keeping the bike revs as low as possible because the higher the revs, the faster the oil pump works resulting in the oil flowing to where it's meant to be quicker. But I guess a level of mechanical sympathy and common sense is involved and avoid using rediculously high revs when cold.