Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

GBD Approved

Using an engine without waiting for it to reach its optimum temperature on a regular basis will surely reduce the life of the engine.

What you can do is start your bike and let the engine idle for a bit before the idling speed stabilizes, only then you ride off.

Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

Thanks for approval.
I usually warm up the engine for around a minute and then start riding.
I donot riv hard at all.

Do i need to warn up more?

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Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

60-90 seconds should be enough. For freezing types places, 5 mins would help though!

Only 2 kms (one way) actually may kill the battery as it doesn't get much to charge. See, a battery charges and discharges at the same time. When the rate of discharge exceeds the rate of charge, we deem the battery unfit. Now, if you do not ride much without load (daytime), the battery would not get enough time to charge itself. Plus, with the not so great amount of charge stores, you ride back in the dark with additional load (lights), battery discharges further.

I'd say; find some time maybe at least 2 days a week to ride it for 15-20 kms at least.

Alternatively, for 2 km, is walking not a feasible option for you? I don't know if you've any time constraints or other commitments, hence asking.

Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

Thanks man
If its only the battery that takes hit i can consider it.Heard it creates carbon biultup problem on engine.

I used to walk usually but now a days my cousin is troubling me.He rides my bike when i am not home and he rides really rough.
He rides untill tank gets emty.
He totally emtied 3 full tank of fuel within around a 10 days .
So i am taking my bike to college early in the morning everyday.


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Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

We all got reckless riders in our family circle, esp when motorcycle belongs to someone else and is not around to defend. Due to this ungratefulness, simple humane act of lending/borrowing takes a huge hit.

Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

I usually warm my SS125's engine up for around a minute in the morning irrespective of the time of the year. Twice - once in the morning(while going to the office) and also in the evening(before my ride back to home). That helps.
And as Divya bhai has already suggested, give the battery of your bike enough time to accumulate charge.

Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

Actually that combination of only 2km cold low rev rides and opposite to that - your cousin ripping it = bad. Make sure he warms the engine before he revs hard.

I can empathize with your feeling man, I had a room mate just like that... used to make my blood boil.

Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

Hmm... another age old debate...

With the new generation of oils, especially the synthetic ones which contain esters, a thin coat of oil will stick to all metal surfaces even when left over night during which time most of the oil will fall down into the oil sump due to gravity. This thin coat of oil helps protect the engine components during the initial cold start in the morning. So in a way you are better off today due to the new generation of oils than you were say about 10 years back. The one suggestion that I can give you is that if you are living in very cold areas i.e. below 10 degrees, I would suggest a 0W oil to ensure that oil starts circulating rapidly as soon as you start your bike.

Now coming to the oil warming part... while what has been said is true, here is what Kawasaki recommends for its bikes 'DO NOT start moving or RACE the engine immediately after starting it, EVEN if the engine is ALREADY WARM. Run the engine for two or three minutes at IDLE speed to give the oil a chance to work up into all the engine parts'. What it means is that even if the engine oil is warm, you should allow the bike to idle for 2 to 3 minutes before moving out. This is to allow for oil reach the furtherest part in the engine i.e. the head and its components. The distance between the oil sump and the engine head is considerable and therefore it is best to allow oil to circulate fully in the engine before moving out.

Re: Effects on engine while riding bike for very short distance

Thanks for detailed info..
My ride is fz and i am currently using protec synthetic 4t synthetic base.
I idle the bike for a minute at 2000 rpm and move out but donot riv the engine at all.

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