My dad was a Harley mechanic before WWll, also during the war fixing anything that needed attention. Wether it was the lawn mower, Honda trail bike, your first car, etc, it was warm it up for a couple of minutes, then drive casually through your neighborhood. Piss off others, not your neighbors. Only other rule was, “ don’t be one of those hey look at me guys”. He’s gone for 11 years now, his teachings are passed onto grandkids now.
The oil temperature is important, but just as important, or maybe even more so is the temperature of the of the metal components inside the motor. Some are steel, some are aluminum, some are alloys of mixed metals, and they warm up at different intervals. I wait until my RPM’s drop below 1200. It usually takes just a couple minutes. If you’ve rode in the last hour or so, it will be a little warm still, and won’t take as long. Let that bike warm up! Your motor will thank you.
You are spot on. I am a pilot and Harley engines are air cooled just like airplanes. I was taught by my dad very early to let the engine warm up. Pilots do a runup to check systems and mag drop due to having duel plugs per cylinder. So my warmup from cold is a couple of minutes and until the idle drops. Take care of your Harley and ride safe! R
Been riding well over 20 years and always warm up my bikes. If you ever ridden a bike with a carb you get used to letting them warm up in the winter. Fuel injection is a blessing.
A short warm up is beneficial to any engine. I don't mean let it idle for half an hour, just warm it up for a couple minutes and then take it easy for a couple miles. Been driving for 50 years so I know a little bit about engines.
The engine will warm up best while riding. It can take up to 20 minutes or more for the engine and oil to warm up to operating temp and this can only be done while riding. The key is to ride it moderately during this warm up period. After it's warm, go for it!
Yes & no. If you truly know what you're doing and understand the internal combustion engine, then YES. You are correct. Most riders have NO clue about engines or anything else that is mechanical.
I was told by a certified HD mechanic 20 years ago that you should warm the engine up until you can feel noticable warmth on the rocker boxes, because if you don't, you will eventually experience a blown head gasket a lot sooner then you would have if you always warmed up the engine.
2014 STGS I let my bike warm up until the rpm dropped. Usually 3 minutes. regardless of the temperature outside. I have no problems with the engine from 11 miles to 60k Stock engine 103 with stage 2 heavy breather.
I warm up 2 minutes, that is enough to get warm up idle down to 1000 rpm, to prevent the clunk load on the drive train, that's my concern. Independent on hot or cold weather. H-D advises not to warm up more than 30 sec. The first 10 km I go easy anyway to further warm up the motor. And only at 50 km/30mi the air cooled engines are really warm up in terms of running smooth.
I have had several Harley models in my time and have always let it warm up first. Usually put on my helmet, shades, and gloves while it does. About 3 minutes is fine.
On my 98 Evo,several minutes. In a hurry to ride, I drive easy till warmed up. On the evos, you need the heat to expand the heads and cylinders so you get a good seat on the base gaskets, a known flaw on the evo motors, as the factory did not flat-deck machine the bottom of the cylinder to the case precisely. The warm up slightly expands the length of the cylinder .001 or 2, for a better base seal.
There is an oil pressure gauge on Rushmore and later touring. You hit the info button on the right hand controls and it will show you the oil pressure on 14-17. On 18 and newer it just says “Oil Pressure Ok” or “Oil Pressure Low”. Kills me that a dealership guy doesn’t know this.
It's never a good idea to let an air cooled engine idle too long, even during warm up. Get on it and ride it easy while it warms up. The air flowing over the engine as you ride allows the engine to warm up "more evenly". Love your videos Tall!! Love that Road King Memphis....Road kings are my favorite FL variant.
Yes you should it’s to get the oil to all moving parts and to seal the rings in the cylinders you need the rings to expand for a better performance ride.
Hey Tall ! Beautiful Blue Road King with a stout “little” 95” Zippers kit. I have ridden Harleys for (58) years now + build many high performance motors in my home shop. My preference is the early Twin Cam Baggers. I have a beautiful blue 2002 FLHT that I have customized completely since buying it new. I built my original 88” motor to a 98” with S&S cam chest, Branch cyl heads, BUB/Rinehart 2-in-1 exhaust, Crane HI-4 ignition module, carb fuel tank w/ Pingel fuel valve, Axtell Cylinders, J.E. forged pistons, S.E. 6-speed trans, 3.27 gearing, custom designed and machined S&S G flange type intake manifold w/ Race Back and 45 Mikuni (was EFI when new)…….. being a performance carb fanatic…….. I converted the EFI to carbureted. This beauty has THE BEST of everything!!! I have always warmed up my motor for a minimum of (3) minutes even during Summer weather. Harley motors GROW dimensionally from cold to full operating temps. By warming the motor……. additional longevity and reliability is added……. guaranteed. A moderately warmed motor with increased compression very certainly greatly reduces the chance of blown cyl head gaskets. I have disassembled many H-D motors of all types for complete rebuilds I perform. The largest amount of internal WEAR is on the thrust sides of both pistons…….. which is normally attributed to increased RPM’s on a COLD motor…….. that has not been allowed to properly warm up prior to riding. H-D oiling systems REQUIRE some TIME to allow much needed oil flow to adequately lubricate motor internals during the time span the motor IS GROWING after a cold start. Believe me…… warming your motor prior to riding is one of the BEST things you can do for your much cherished Harley!!! I really ENJOY your videos + always love to hear you say: “ It’s a BEAUTIFUL DAY” and even more so: “Have a BLESSED DAY”. GREAT JOB, My Brother!!! Keep it up + stay SAFE out there!!! J. Mac 😎🍀🇺🇸
A couple of my older Harleys are still running 60wt in the summer. Gotta let 'em warm up. My Evo runs 20-50wt so I let it warm enough to take throttle. I knew a lot of guys that would let them warm up long enough to smoke a cigarette.
I always let them warm up,especially my 98 Dyna, my 08 Electra glide too. I know the Evos if you didn't let warm up would sometimes cause a base gasket leak.
I have a 2018 FXLR low rider and I always warm the engine for 5 min. I have found out by doing this I don't have that clunk when putting it in 1st gear.I live in AZ,I do this even when it's hot in the summer.
Because of the dissimilar metals in any engine it is recommended to let them warm up so there isn't any friction. Have you ever seen a racer start his vehicle and take off. Different metals expand at different temperatures. Oil has to meet an operating temperature also for it to preform properly.
I'm glad I came across this video. I was about to start a channel named King Glide because I have a SG and about to buy a RK. Well, back to the drawing board. I usually let it warm up while I'm closing the garage door, putting on my gear and getting the tunes right. So probably 4-5 minutes.
100% agree the pressure is what really matters. Been ridin at least 15 years on the street now. 1-2 minutes seems to get my pressure gauge dropping to the standard reading. Bikes now adays just come with a "dummy" light that cant be used for anything other than knowing your really low on oil.
I've currently got a bog standard 107 2018 Road King and basically I let the bike tell me when it is warmed up and ready to ride; could be 15-30 secs in hot weather or could be 2-3 minutes when its cold. Depending on how cold it is depends on how high the initial revs are and for how long they stay high but as the engine warms up the revs die down to a steady tick-over around 850 - 900 rpm, that's when I know the engine is warmed up and the bike ready to ride. On older bikes of course without this automatic sequence I tend to wait until it ticks over nicely without the choke on. Nice video and friendly to boot.
I understand why people would let there motor car/bike makes no difference warm up. But the truth of the matter is it actually takes longer to get the temp of the motor up to temp by letting it sit, than it does if you get on and ride. Now, that doesn't me start the motor and dump the clutch you still want it to come up to temp but you want to do it the most efficient way possible which is actually to put a load on it and ride. thanks for always putting out great content.
I’ve owned Harley, Suzuki, Honda and bmw. Everything from cruisers, sport bikes, muscle bikes and tourers. I always let my bikes warm up for about 1-2 minutes, long enough to don helmet, gloves and whatnot. Nice video
Tall, In the old days we had to let the bike warm up a little because the bikes had a carb and you got no throttle response until you could take the choke off, now with the fuel injection you don't need all that, if you got throttle response, you go boy!
The reason I let anything warm up, my car my diesel pickup or my motorcycle, is because when I was in auto mechanic shop class, the teacher said the most wear on an engine is the first few minutes if you drive a cold engine for the fact the metal is cold ie rings and pistons everything, he said during that few minutes of scraping that cold metal together before its at operating temp is equal to 30k miles of wear as far as I know metal is still metal in 2023 just like it was in 1977 when I was in that shop class
I let my M8 warm up until there is heat in the cylinders. For me it goes back to the EVO days when head gaskets would blow if you didn't. The older bikes didn't have as much compression so it wasn't really an issue.
I ride a 99 Softail Custom EVO powered Harley. Alloy cylinders contract with cold and leave gaskets loose. I have always let it warm up a few minutes before riding because by the end of my lane to the highway is less than half mile. When I get on the highway I have to get up to 60 fairly fast to keep from obstructing traffic. I have 64,000 miles on it with no leaks. Having said that, I also tried synthetic oil one time. Within 200 miles the base gaskets started to weep. I drained it and put Castrol 20-50 non synthetic back in it and it has not leaked a drop since. If I lived where I could ride slow for a while to warm it up I would probably do things differently. We have to take things into consideration. So far what I have done works. It also depends on the temperature of the day how long I warm it up. But all the parts are loose in the motor until it warms a little to expand the parts especially the alloy parts. Pistons, cylinders, and rods. The transmission and clutch work better warm than cold.
Excellent Topic Tall....Now here is where this could get long-winded. Oil tends to degrade during long term operation over temps of 140 C ,( 284 F). Operation of motor oils and Hydraulic fluids over these temps can cause premature failure of viscosity and anti-wear additives and the oil will become acidic in nature,.... which will start to attack some metals and some elastomers, etc. This holds true for Mineral based and Synthetics, ( your typical polyalkylene glycol aka PAG ) oils and Mineral based and Synthetic Hydraulic fluids, ( Phosphate Ester fluids ( Fire- resistant...), comes to mind here)..... Sooooo.... How Long should I warm up my Ride before I hit the Tarmac ????. Well, Like was said, When you start up the engine and the oil pressure hits peak and starts to drop down,..... then the engine is about 75 ~85 % ready ( .... If you are going from a cold start ). So for those with oil gauges, once the oil pressure starts to drop down. give it another minute or two. Injectors vs Carburetors, Injectors rely on Fuel-Maps, Carbs rely on engine heat to get the air-fuel vaporization optimal,... ( Ask any Pilot about Carb-heat on an Engine if you want an in-depth reason to warm up an engine)..... I digress. Myself, Air-cooled V-twin, Start it up on a cool day, say 50 F, then put on my helmet, flip up the visor, set my gloves on the seat and light up a smoke. Enjoy my smoke, butt it out, stand up, zip up my leathers, straddle the bike, put on my gloves, sit down, reach over and press my hand against the clutch housing. If it's warm to the touch, off I go. Total time on a cool day.... about 7 to 8 minutes. On a hot day or the bike is still warm, ( means the internals are still oily), about 3 minutes average. Ciao.
Now, I'm talking about my Indian 116 Thunderstroke.. Normal day, a minute or two, medium cold day, about the same, really cold day about 5 minutes. Keep riding, I'll keep watching....
There is an engineering study that shows how oil is distributed throughout the M8 during warmup. Once you watch that, no matter what anyone says, you'll be warming up your M8 every single time. I have a 2018 Road King w/ Stage IV kit. I let it warm up until the idle kicks down to
I think what is also important is, what kind of road do you start out on riding? If someone is going from driveway right to highway, than let it warm up more before dropping a gear. If your going on a backroad for a bit when first starting out, than a warmup is not really needed, as it will warm up while your going 40-45 on the back road.
If in a hurry to get on I go easy for a couple minutes in the summer before ripping on it. Winter just start it while you are putting your stuff on like others said. Gives it usually enough time that the idles drops. I cruise conservatively and let the running gear get some heat in it before ripping in the winter though too.
Cool video. Thanks for the nearly 20 minutes of grinning, while having my mornin' coffee. Be blessed and keep chasing that horizon. Skol! Oh yeah, 1 to 2 minutes... if waiting on the ol' lady to leather up ya might as well just shut it back down. Ha! ☕️
You did good. I just traded in my in my 2015 Street Glide Special at Treasure Coast Harley and got a new to me a 2021 a CVO Street Glide Model FLHXSE white and black with a blacked out Milwaukee engine. I don’t think I need anymore power. I’m 72 years old and I just keep on gliden I think after this I’ll might be ready for a trike we shall see. One day at a time. Keep on gliding!
Yes! You should warm your motorcycle up before putting it in gear. If YOU READ the Harley Davidson manual for any HD motorcycle from Panheads, Shovelheads, EVO'S, Twin Cams, & M8's. You'd know. The manual states for newer bikes to let the rpms come down to 950-1000 RPM's before putting the machine in gear. Carburetor bikes: pull choke, let it warm up for a minute, half choke for a couple of miles, no choke after that. If it dies, you pushed the choke in too early.
Been riding for 52 years. I warm up what ever time it takes to put on my gear, 100' to the street and down hill for a mile. So I get a slow warm up. Just don't start winding your motor out until your at full operating temps.
You have to let it warm up until the jugs are warm because they need to expand to complete Harleys low head bolt torque. Evo's would blow the head and base gaskets if you rode a cold engine hard.
Riding now Harleys for 35 year, Evo,TwinCam,M8.Always give the motor 1-2min,before I start riding.Especially on cold days, when the oil is though...grettings from Germany
Hey Tall. Met you at the Milwaukee fest last summer with my daughter. Anyhow, 2007 Softail Springer Classic. On a cold start I let it warm up about a minute and a half. Get the fluids flowing
2001 carbureted RK, "depends on how cold it is". =Correct answer. Hot weather maybe 15-30 seconds. Cold weather let the oil warm at least a minute. Longer if it's freezing temps.
I ride a 1992 Sportster 883 (First Harley)and I've not always done this but I was told to always let it warm up "at least" 5 minutes before riding. What I do often is start it up, give it a few minutes, shut if off & let it heat soak (especially if it's cold outside) fire it up again as I put helmet, gloves on and the usually go...& try not too long run the rpms up too high... Because it's so old.
Brainerd drag strip in Ringgold, ga holds drag nights for bikes weekly and i think crossville drag strip does a bike night as well during the summertime. Definitely gonna have to stop by the burger place you stopped at one day i'm out that way. Cold days I let it run for about a couple of minutes but temps above 50 about a minute tops.
Brother.. my 95 was the fastest Harley 2001 Fatboy I have the streetglide 117 st 2022 I believe my Fatboy would have given it a good run .. love the channel. Andy Bristol England
Great video and great question: "How long do you let your motorcycle warm up?" I was told by the dealership I got my first Road King to warm the bike until the rocker box covers feel warm, but I have no set of time I let it run before taking off. Usually, I'll start her and do a walk around checking that the turn signals and flashers are working properly, however once I get moving for the day and I'm at operating temperature it's probably a minimum of 30 seconds from starting to getting under way. I have a 2020 Road Glide Special and I replaced the chrome jiffy stand with a black one. My next add on? I'm looking really hard at a Saddleman saddle.
If it's a 100 degree day very little warm up is needed just wait 4-5 minutes before doing anything radical. If it's 20 degrees outside, warm up your bike for at least 5 minutes and ride away at low RPM until you feel like the bike is warm and running correctly.
I warm up my 19 Road Glide for about 3 mins or so. I ride everyday so pull out of garage start up and get helmet and put everything on and set up music then roll.
Most of us know the oil takes less than a minute to circulate around the engine however having the oil at operating temperature helps protect the bike at full throttle.
I let my 2019 FLHTK WARM UP before riding. Walk into the garage turn key on,start the bike while I put jacket, helmet, gloves on and adjust Sena. Roll bike into drive way, allow my wife to sit and settle, trigger the garage opener to close and we’re away. Never timed it, but it is between three (3) to five (5) minutes. It’s about the same whether it’s cold or not, as it’s all done while gearing up!
Air cooled, Oil cooled, Water cooled , motorcycle, automobile, semi.....it dont matter. If your vehicle has an internal combustion engine which is lubricated with oil and is made with tight tolerances you should let it idle long enough to allow your oil to circulate through the engine. Obviously, the time needed to accomplish this goal will vary depending on the outside temperature. Living in Georgia, I may let my bike idle for a minute in warm temperatures and up to a 3-4 minutes if its cold.
If you don't warm up a blockhead correctly, you can blow your jug to block gaskets. People that don't, those gaskets will end up leaking. Also seen the block Crack around the same area. Been riding 46 years.
I currently have a 2016 CVO breakout, and a 2018 CVO St. glide. The twin cam 110 in the breakout starts and runs perfectly right out of the gate. It doesn't seem to require a warm-up really at all. However the 117 Milwaukee eight that is in the street glide runs like absolute crap when it's cold. That one definitely seems to need to run for about five minutes at least before you twist the throttle hard. If it's not properly warmed up and you twist the throttle it seems to misfire and choke up causing lurching and hesitation. This is just my own personal experience.
2016 King, 1-3 minutes, depends if I’m running with extra gear, chaps, e.t.c, if it’s really cold outside below 35*, 5 minutes. And yes it gets below 35 in Houston. Lol!
Hi guys ,I have been riding all type of bikes here in England for 40 ,years,I let my harley idle for a few minutes,then ride, deluxe twin cam ,great videos bro,regards Michael 🇬🇧
Yes you should on old bikes for sure and on new bikes you should start it up then do your checks then ride but do not get on the throttle till its really good and warm after that you can do whatever you want
Great vid Tall, that 95 is amazing for its size! I let my bike warm up for at least 3-5 minutes when the engine is cold. This makes sure oil is properly flowing to all the components and has properly reached all areas of the engine. I ride a FatBob with a S4 131, and a proper warm up is cheap insurance compared to reducing life of components by being impatient. Liquid cooled or air cooled motorcycle, it doesn't matter. Always warm your bike up. Keep up the good work!! Love your videos. Watching from Vancouver Canada.
Anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. 2016 Fat Boy S. Same with wife, she rides a (water cooled) 2012 V Rod. Love your videos, if I ever get up to Tennessee I'd love to meet you.
Cold natured 2002 Fatboy with a carb and a dysfunctional choke. I bought the bike in February of 2002. I have to hold the choke out to keep the idle up so it will stay running when cold. Not sure how long it has to run before not needing the choke but probably around 2 or 3 minutes. Maybe I will pay closer attention to how long it takes the next time I start it in cold weather. Dreaming of the day I can afford a fuel injected bike.
I always let me bike an vehicles warm up . Just enough so I know the top end is being lubricated . With carb bike you had to choke them till they would idle . Then ride or drive
I watched your "warm / not warm" video and had something to add. I don't know if it'll help in really freezing weather areas, but my trike is garage stored and I have a double 100w light fixture that I slide up under the bike and that keeps the oil warm and the bike is ready to go as soon as I'm dressed out.
Always let my bike warm up, don’t ride till the rocker boxes are warm to the touch. Been told by numerous old school bikers/ Harley mechanics to do so. It’s bad for gaskets and seals not to
For my Sport Glide, I let it warm up putting on my helmet and gloves and close the garage. My Triumph is water cooled and let it do the same. Both are are 2 minutes minimum
Yes! Especially if you run synthetic oil. It dosnt disapate moisture as fast. The worst thing you can do to any Harley is lug the engine .keep them RPMs uo bits and girls
2013 RG. I start the bike and give it time for oil to get to the top of the engine and I take it easy untill It gets to normal temp. I do have a oil pressure gauge.
Think the manual says 45 sec for my CVO street. I always let mine warm up like 2mins regardless of the weather. Ask your buddy where he got those after market mirrors for me
I have an 06 1200 Custom Sporty and a 10 Heritage. Last year carb for the Sporty and EFI on the Heritage and they both get a warm up. I smoke a cigarette and then square my lid and gloves. Not long just long enough to let the oil get to flowing. My bikes don't leak and I wanna keep it that way.
I was once told to start the bike and then by the time I put on my helmet and gloves, it’s warmed enough :) well maybe not for November or April in Canada
My dad was a Harley mechanic before WWll, also during the war fixing anything that needed attention. Wether it was the lawn mower, Honda trail bike, your first car, etc, it was warm it up for a couple of minutes, then drive casually through your neighborhood. Piss off others, not your neighbors. Only other rule was, “ don’t be one of those hey look at me guys”. He’s gone for 11 years now, his teachings are passed onto grandkids now.
Its hard to lose a Father
The oil temperature is important, but just as important, or maybe even more so is the temperature of the of the metal components inside the motor. Some are steel, some are aluminum, some are alloys of mixed metals, and they warm up at different intervals. I wait until my RPM’s drop below 1200. It usually takes just a couple minutes. If you’ve rode in the last hour or so, it will be a little warm still, and won’t take as long. Let that bike warm up! Your motor will thank you.
Best statement ever made.
You are spot on. I am a pilot and Harley engines are air cooled just like airplanes. I was taught by my dad very early to let the engine warm up. Pilots do a runup to check systems and mag drop due to having duel plugs per cylinder. So my warmup from cold is a couple of minutes and until the idle drops. Take care of your Harley and ride safe! R
Been riding well over 20 years and always warm up my bikes. If you ever ridden a bike with a carb you get used to letting them warm up in the winter. Fuel injection is a blessing.
EFI is a game changer
A short warm up is beneficial to any engine. I don't mean let it idle for half an hour, just warm it up for a couple minutes and then take it easy for a couple miles. Been driving for 50 years so I know a little bit about engines.
The engine will warm up best while riding. It can take up to 20 minutes or more for the engine and oil to warm up to operating temp and this can only be done while riding. The key is to ride it moderately during this warm up period. After it's warm, go for it!
Yes & no. If you truly know what you're doing and understand the internal combustion engine, then YES. You are correct. Most riders have NO clue about engines or anything else that is mechanical.
I was told by a certified HD mechanic 20 years ago that you should warm the engine up until you can feel noticable warmth on the rocker boxes, because if you don't, you will eventually experience a blown head gasket a lot sooner then you would have if you always warmed up the engine.
2014 STGS I let my bike warm up until the rpm dropped. Usually 3 minutes. regardless of the temperature outside. I have no problems with the engine from 11 miles to 60k Stock engine 103 with stage 2 heavy breather.
I do the same just like my truck. It’s always best to let the rpm drop so the bike is ready to go.
Do the same thing brother have a SGS 2014 also drop rpm and take off !!
I warm up 2 minutes, that is enough to get warm up idle down to 1000 rpm, to prevent the clunk load on the drive train, that's my concern. Independent on hot or cold weather. H-D advises not to warm up more than 30 sec. The first 10 km I go easy anyway to further warm up the motor. And only at 50 km/30mi the air cooled engines are really warm up in terms of running smooth.
I have had several Harley models in my time and have always let it warm up first. Usually put on my helmet, shades, and gloves while it does. About 3 minutes is fine.
On my 98 Evo,several minutes. In a hurry to ride, I drive easy till warmed up. On the evos, you need the heat to expand the heads and cylinders so you get a good seat on the base gaskets, a known flaw on the evo motors, as the factory did not flat-deck machine the bottom of the cylinder to the case precisely. The warm up slightly expands the length of the cylinder .001 or 2, for a better base seal.
There is an oil pressure gauge on Rushmore and later touring. You hit the info button on the right hand controls and it will show you the oil pressure on 14-17. On 18 and newer it just says “Oil Pressure Ok” or “Oil Pressure Low”. Kills me that a dealership guy doesn’t know this.
It's never a good idea to let an air cooled engine idle too long, even during warm up. Get on it and ride it easy while it warms up. The air flowing over the engine as you ride allows the engine to warm up "more evenly". Love your videos Tall!! Love that Road King Memphis....Road kings are my favorite FL variant.
Operating temperature vs cruising temperature... 👍 Spot on sir!
I’ve got an EVO so I let mine warm up for about 5-7 minutes, longer in cold weather.
Yes you should it’s to get the oil to all moving parts and to seal the rings in the cylinders you need the rings to expand for a better performance ride.
I agree
Hey Tall !
Beautiful Blue Road King with a stout “little” 95” Zippers kit.
I have ridden Harleys for (58) years now + build many high performance motors in my home shop. My preference is the early Twin Cam Baggers. I have a beautiful blue 2002 FLHT that I have customized completely since buying it new.
I built my original 88” motor to a 98” with S&S cam chest, Branch cyl heads, BUB/Rinehart 2-in-1 exhaust, Crane HI-4 ignition module, carb fuel tank w/ Pingel fuel valve, Axtell Cylinders, J.E. forged pistons, S.E. 6-speed trans, 3.27 gearing, custom designed and machined S&S G flange type intake manifold w/ Race Back and 45 Mikuni (was EFI when new)…….. being a performance carb fanatic…….. I converted the EFI to carbureted. This beauty has THE BEST of everything!!!
I have always warmed up my motor for a minimum of (3) minutes even during Summer weather. Harley motors GROW dimensionally from cold to full operating temps. By warming the motor……. additional longevity and reliability is added……. guaranteed. A moderately warmed motor with increased compression very certainly greatly reduces the chance of blown cyl head gaskets.
I have disassembled many H-D motors of all types for complete rebuilds I perform. The largest amount of internal WEAR is on the thrust sides of both pistons…….. which is normally attributed to increased RPM’s on a COLD motor…….. that has not been allowed to properly warm up prior to riding. H-D oiling systems REQUIRE some TIME to allow much needed oil flow to adequately lubricate motor internals during the time span the motor IS GROWING after a cold start. Believe me…… warming your motor prior to riding is one of the BEST things you can do for your much cherished Harley!!!
I really ENJOY your videos + always love to hear you say: “ It’s a BEAUTIFUL DAY” and even more so: “Have a BLESSED DAY”.
GREAT JOB, My Brother!!!
Keep it up + stay SAFE out there!!!
J. Mac 😎🍀🇺🇸
Well said ,j mac,I was always told to let that oil get round the engine,old triumph,or harley,or italian vee twin,best wishes mike 🇬🇧
A couple of my older Harleys are still running 60wt in the summer. Gotta let 'em warm up. My Evo runs 20-50wt so I let it warm enough to take throttle. I knew a lot of guys that would let them warm up long enough to smoke a cigarette.
A cigarette takes 2.5 minutes to smoke.
I always let them warm up,especially my 98 Dyna, my 08 Electra glide too. I know the Evos if you didn't let warm up would sometimes cause a base gasket leak.
If it's cold 3 to 5 minutes in warmer Temps first start up 1 to 2 minutes warm up
Your Road King in blue with the rims look awesome. Nice job Tall.
Well spotted Mark. Those wheel spokes are a really nice style.
I have a 2018 FXLR low rider and I always warm the engine for 5 min. I have found out by doing this I don't have that clunk when putting it in 1st gear.I live in AZ,I do this even when it's hot in the summer.
You are right same as I do.
As you should.
Because of the dissimilar metals in any engine it is recommended to let them warm up so there isn't any friction. Have you ever seen a racer start his vehicle and take off. Different metals expand at different temperatures. Oil has to meet an operating temperature also for it to preform properly.
I'm glad I came across this video. I was about to start a channel named King Glide because I have a SG and about to buy a RK. Well, back to the drawing board.
I usually let it warm up while I'm closing the garage door, putting on my gear and getting the tunes right. So probably 4-5 minutes.
I let my Ultra limited warm up atleast until it comes down off high idle.
100% agree the pressure is what really matters. Been ridin at least 15 years on the street now. 1-2 minutes seems to get my pressure gauge dropping to the standard reading. Bikes now adays just come with a "dummy" light that cant be used for anything other than knowing your really low on oil.
Metal expands an contracts depending on hot or cold. Im thinking of my bearings. I think you should warm it up , not over heat it.
I've currently got a bog standard 107 2018 Road King and basically I let the bike tell me when it is warmed up and ready to ride; could be 15-30 secs in hot weather or could be 2-3 minutes when its cold.
Depending on how cold it is depends on how high the initial revs are and for how long they stay high but as the engine warms up the revs die down to a steady tick-over around 850 - 900 rpm, that's when I know the engine is warmed up and the bike ready to ride.
On older bikes of course without this automatic sequence I tend to wait until it ticks over nicely without the choke on.
Nice video and friendly to boot.
I understand why people would let there motor car/bike makes no difference warm up. But the truth of the matter is it actually takes longer to get the temp of the motor up to temp by letting it sit, than it does if you get on and ride. Now, that doesn't me start the motor and dump the clutch you still want it to come up to temp but you want to do it the most efficient way possible which is actually to put a load on it and ride. thanks for always putting out great content.
I’ve owned Harley, Suzuki, Honda and bmw. Everything from cruisers, sport bikes, muscle bikes and tourers. I always let my bikes warm up for about 1-2 minutes, long enough to don helmet, gloves and whatnot. Nice video
Tall, In the old days we had to let the bike warm up a little because the bikes had a carb and you got no throttle response until you could take the choke off, now with the fuel injection you don't need all that, if you got throttle response, you go boy!
The reason I let anything warm up, my car my diesel pickup or my motorcycle, is because when I was in auto mechanic shop class, the teacher said the most wear on an engine is the first few minutes if you drive a cold engine for the fact the metal is cold ie rings and pistons everything, he said during that few minutes of scraping that cold metal together before its at operating temp is equal to 30k miles of wear as far as I know metal is still metal in 2023 just like it was in 1977 when I was in that shop class
I live in the northeast and I usually give it 2-3 minutes. Hats off to the road king that thing moves!
I let my M8 warm up until there is heat in the cylinders. For me it goes back to the EVO days when head gaskets would blow if you didn't. The older bikes didn't have as much compression so it wasn't really an issue.
I ride a 99 Softail Custom EVO powered Harley. Alloy cylinders contract with cold and leave gaskets loose. I have always let it warm up a few minutes before riding because by the end of my lane to the highway is less than half mile. When I get on the highway I have to get up to 60 fairly fast to keep from obstructing traffic. I have 64,000 miles on it with no leaks.
Having said that, I also tried synthetic oil one time. Within 200 miles the base gaskets started to weep. I drained it and put Castrol 20-50 non synthetic back in it and it has not leaked a drop since.
If I lived where I could ride slow for a while to warm it up I would probably do things differently.
We have to take things into consideration. So far what I have done works. It also depends on the temperature of the day how long I warm it up. But all the parts are loose in the motor until it warms a little to expand the parts especially the alloy parts. Pistons, cylinders, and rods. The transmission and clutch work better warm than cold.
Excellent Topic Tall....Now here is where this could get long-winded. Oil tends to degrade during long term operation over temps of 140 C ,( 284 F). Operation of motor oils and Hydraulic fluids over these temps can cause premature failure of viscosity and anti-wear additives and the oil will become acidic in nature,.... which will start to attack some metals and some elastomers, etc. This holds true for Mineral based and Synthetics, ( your typical polyalkylene glycol aka PAG ) oils and Mineral based and Synthetic Hydraulic fluids, ( Phosphate Ester fluids ( Fire- resistant...), comes to mind here)..... Sooooo.... How Long should I warm up my Ride before I hit the Tarmac ????. Well, Like was said, When you start up the engine and the oil pressure hits peak and starts to drop down,..... then the engine is about 75 ~85 % ready ( .... If you are going from a cold start ). So for those with oil gauges, once the oil pressure starts to drop down. give it another minute or two.
Injectors vs Carburetors, Injectors rely on Fuel-Maps, Carbs rely on engine heat to get the air-fuel vaporization optimal,... ( Ask any Pilot about Carb-heat on an Engine if you want an in-depth reason to warm up an engine)..... I digress.
Myself, Air-cooled V-twin, Start it up on a cool day, say 50 F, then put on my helmet, flip up the visor, set my gloves on the seat and light up a smoke. Enjoy my smoke, butt it out, stand up, zip up my leathers, straddle the bike, put on my gloves, sit down, reach over and press my hand against the clutch housing. If it's warm to the touch, off I go. Total time on a cool day.... about 7 to 8 minutes.
On a hot day or the bike is still warm, ( means the internals are still oily), about 3 minutes average.
Ciao.
I usually let my bike warm up for a couple minutes. Let the oil circulate and warm up a little .
Parts dude is old school. He's taking about warning up carb bikes. Much respect.
I have that exact green harley. Thats been my favorite bike hands down. Green is the best color too
Now, I'm talking about my Indian 116 Thunderstroke..
Normal day, a minute or two, medium cold day, about the same, really cold day about 5 minutes.
Keep riding, I'll keep watching....
There is an engineering study that shows how oil is distributed throughout the M8 during warmup. Once you watch that, no matter what anyone says, you'll be warming up your M8 every single time. I have a 2018 Road King w/ Stage IV kit. I let it warm up until the idle kicks down to
Tall, I warm up my bike 3-5 minutes before rolling out on the road. I’m riding a 2012 Triumph Thunderbird Storm! She is a sweet ride.
I think what is also important is, what kind of road do you start out on riding? If someone is going from driveway right to highway, than let it warm up more before dropping a gear. If your going on a backroad for a bit when first starting out, than a warmup is not really needed, as it will warm up while your going 40-45 on the back road.
If in a hurry to get on I go easy for a couple minutes in the summer before ripping on it. Winter just start it while you are putting your stuff on like others said. Gives it usually enough time that the idles drops. I cruise conservatively and let the running gear get some heat in it before ripping in the winter though too.
Cool video. Thanks for the nearly 20 minutes of grinning, while having my mornin' coffee. Be blessed and keep chasing that horizon. Skol! Oh yeah, 1 to 2 minutes... if waiting on the ol' lady to leather up ya might as well just shut it back down. Ha!
☕️
I recently traded my 2019 Roadglide for a 2022 Streetglide. I warm my bikes up from 2 to 5 minutes. Keep on Gliding!
Which do you like the best?
@@markmcintosh7095Last sentence says it all.
@@freebehindbars8654 they're both glide models
You did good. I just traded in my in my 2015 Street Glide Special at Treasure Coast Harley and got a new to me a 2021 a CVO Street Glide Model FLHXSE white and black with a blacked out Milwaukee engine. I don’t think I need anymore power. I’m 72 years old and I just keep on gliden I think after this I’ll might be ready for a trike we shall see. One day at a time. Keep on gliding!
Yes! You should warm your motorcycle up before putting it in gear. If YOU READ the Harley Davidson manual for any HD motorcycle from Panheads, Shovelheads, EVO'S, Twin Cams, & M8's. You'd know. The manual states for newer bikes to let the rpms come down to 950-1000 RPM's before putting the machine in gear. Carburetor bikes: pull choke, let it warm up for a minute, half choke for a couple of miles, no choke after that. If it dies, you pushed the choke in too early.
Great video
I start the bike, put on helmet and gloves...and go
Whatever the weather
Been riding for 52 years. I warm up what ever time it takes to put on my gear, 100' to the street and down hill for a mile. So I get a slow warm up.
Just don't start winding your motor out until your at full operating temps.
You have to let it warm up until the jugs are warm because they need to expand to complete Harleys low head bolt torque. Evo's would blow the head and base gaskets if you rode a cold engine hard.
Riding now Harleys for 35 year, Evo,TwinCam,M8.Always give the motor 1-2min,before I start riding.Especially on cold days, when the oil
is though...grettings from Germany
I have owned a few bikes and always give them at least three minutes…or until I’m fully dressed..spring and fall in New York can get chilly!!
Old Evo rider here, always. More so with the old shovels and pans, thick oil needs to be warmed a bit.
2020 Road Glide Limited- I let it warm-up till the idle comes down. Roughly 2-3 minutes.
Hey Tall. Met you at the Milwaukee fest last summer with my daughter. Anyhow, 2007 Softail Springer Classic. On a cold start I let it warm up about a minute and a half. Get the fluids flowing
Memphis is looking good brother, hopefully you can find and upload the bar install again. Thanks and Happy New Years
2001 carbureted RK, "depends on how cold it is". =Correct answer.
Hot weather maybe 15-30 seconds.
Cold weather let the oil warm at least a minute. Longer if it's freezing temps.
I ride a 1992 Sportster 883 (First Harley)and I've not always done this but I was told to always let it warm up "at least" 5 minutes before riding. What I do often is start it up, give it a few minutes, shut if off & let it heat soak (especially if it's cold outside) fire it up again as I put helmet, gloves on and the usually go...& try not too long run the rpms up too high... Because it's so old.
A warm up is needed for that 92..Keep an eye on your oil level faithfully too...
Just like Pops I have a v twin.....start her up and wait a short while till the revs drop slightly
My ‘02 Sportster is carbureted and definitely needs to be warmed up for a few minutes when the weather is cool.
Brainerd drag strip in Ringgold, ga holds drag nights for bikes weekly and i think crossville drag strip does a bike night as well during the summertime. Definitely gonna have to stop by the burger place you stopped at one day i'm out that way. Cold days I let it run for about a couple of minutes but temps above 50 about a minute tops.
Brother.. my 95 was the fastest Harley 2001 Fatboy I have the streetglide 117 st 2022 I believe my Fatboy would have given it a good run .. love the channel. Andy Bristol England
Great video and great question: "How long do you let your motorcycle warm up?" I was told by the dealership I got my first Road King to warm the bike until the rocker box covers feel warm, but I have no set of time I let it run before taking off. Usually, I'll start her and do a walk around checking that the turn signals and flashers are working properly, however once I get moving for the day and I'm at operating temperature it's probably a minimum of 30 seconds from starting to getting under way. I have a 2020 Road Glide Special and I replaced the chrome jiffy stand with a black one. My next add on? I'm looking really hard at a Saddleman saddle.
If it's a 100 degree day very little warm up is needed just wait 4-5 minutes before doing anything radical. If it's 20 degrees outside, warm up your bike for at least 5 minutes and ride away at low RPM until you feel like the bike is warm and running correctly.
Once the cylinders fins and rocker boxes get warm to the touch. Take it easy a few miles for trans/primary then let her eat.
Ride on brother , King style , I have a 2005 RK built- 211 cam screaming eagle stage 4 - King Style
20yrs riding. Currently on a 14' street glide special. With all my bikes 2-3 min or until I get my gear on and music set.
I warm up my 19 Road Glide for about 3 mins or so. I ride everyday so pull out of garage start up and get helmet and put everything on and set up music then roll.
Most of us know the oil takes less than a minute to circulate around the engine however having the oil at operating temperature helps protect the bike at full throttle.
I let my 2019 FLHTK WARM UP before riding. Walk into the garage turn key on,start the bike while I put jacket, helmet, gloves on and adjust Sena. Roll bike into drive way, allow my wife to sit and settle, trigger the garage opener to close and we’re away. Never timed it, but it is between three (3) to five (5) minutes. It’s about the same whether it’s cold or not, as it’s all done while gearing up!
Air cooled, Oil cooled, Water cooled , motorcycle, automobile, semi.....it dont matter. If your vehicle has an internal combustion engine which is lubricated with oil and is made with tight tolerances you should let it idle long enough to allow your oil to circulate through the engine. Obviously, the time needed to accomplish this goal will vary depending on the outside temperature.
Living in Georgia, I may let my bike idle for a minute in warm temperatures and up to a 3-4 minutes if its cold.
If you don't warm up a blockhead correctly, you can blow your jug to block gaskets. People that don't, those gaskets will end up leaking. Also seen the block Crack around the same area. Been riding 46 years.
2013 FLD pearl blue i wait 2-5 minutes. Memphis looks awesome in blue.
I currently have a 2016 CVO breakout, and a 2018 CVO St. glide. The twin cam 110 in the breakout starts and runs perfectly right out of the gate. It doesn't seem to require a warm-up really at all. However the 117 Milwaukee eight that is in the street glide runs like absolute crap when it's cold. That one definitely seems to need to run for about five minutes at least before you twist the throttle hard. If it's not properly warmed up and you twist the throttle it seems to misfire and choke up causing lurching and hesitation. This is just my own personal experience.
2016 King, 1-3 minutes, depends if I’m running with extra gear, chaps, e.t.c, if it’s really cold outside below 35*, 5 minutes. And yes it gets below 35 in Houston. Lol!
Hi guys ,I have been riding all type of bikes here in England for 40 ,years,I let my harley idle for a few minutes,then ride, deluxe twin cam ,great videos bro,regards Michael 🇬🇧
Yes you should on old bikes for sure and on new bikes you should start it up then do your checks then ride but do not get on the throttle till its really good and warm after that you can do whatever you want
Great vid Tall, that 95 is amazing for its size! I let my bike warm up for at least 3-5 minutes when the engine is cold. This makes sure oil is properly flowing to all the components and has properly reached all areas of the engine. I ride a FatBob with a S4 131, and a proper warm up is cheap insurance compared to reducing life of components by being impatient. Liquid cooled or air cooled motorcycle, it doesn't matter. Always warm your bike up. Keep up the good work!! Love your videos. Watching from Vancouver Canada.
Oil pressure is higher with cold oil That's why it is important to let your oil warm up so it will flow proper and loop internal part
Anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. 2016 Fat Boy S. Same with wife, she rides a (water cooled) 2012 V Rod. Love your videos, if I ever get up to Tennessee I'd love to meet you.
Cold natured 2002 Fatboy with a carb and a dysfunctional choke. I bought the bike in February of 2002. I have to hold the choke out to keep the idle up so it will stay running when cold. Not sure how long it has to run before not needing the choke but probably around 2 or 3 minutes. Maybe I will pay closer attention to how long it takes the next time I start it in cold weather. Dreaming of the day I can afford a fuel injected bike.
I always let me bike an vehicles warm up . Just enough so I know the top end is being lubricated . With carb bike you had to choke them till they would idle . Then ride or drive
I always let my 2019 Harley SGS warm up for 1 to 2 minutes minimum. Ride safe ride often and keep motovlogging!!
I watched your "warm / not warm" video and had something to add. I don't know if it'll help in really freezing weather areas, but my trike is garage stored and I have a double 100w light fixture that I slide up under the bike and that keeps the oil warm and the bike is ready to go as soon as I'm dressed out.
Always let my bike warm up, don’t ride till the rocker boxes are warm to the touch. Been told by numerous old school bikers/ Harley mechanics to do so. It’s bad for gaskets and seals not to
For my Sport Glide, I let it warm up putting on my helmet and gloves and close the garage. My Triumph is water cooled and let it do the same. Both are are 2 minutes minimum
Yes! Especially if you run synthetic oil. It dosnt disapate moisture as fast. The worst thing you can do to any Harley is lug the engine .keep them RPMs uo bits and girls
2013 RG. I start the bike and give it time for oil to get to the top of the engine and I take it easy untill It gets to normal temp. I do have a oil pressure gauge.
Think the manual says 45 sec for my CVO street. I always let mine warm up like 2mins regardless of the weather. Ask your buddy where he got those after market mirrors for me
I have an 06 1200 Custom Sporty and a 10 Heritage. Last year carb for the Sporty and EFI on the Heritage and they both get a warm up. I smoke a cigarette and then square my lid and gloves. Not long just long enough to let the oil get to flowing. My bikes don't leak and I wanna keep it that way.
2017 SGS , I warm it up for 2-3 minutes on warmer days. On colder days 3-4 minutes.
I like to let the idle settle down a little
Enough time for helmet and gloves.
If the bike is warm … few seconds
I was once told to start the bike and then by the time I put on my helmet and gloves, it’s warmed enough :) well maybe not for November or April in Canada
Just enough time to put on my gloves, helmet and check my stuff then just ride along cruise like for a couple of miles before sending it 👌
Have a 19 UL. I let it warm up 3 to 5 minutes. Long enough to finish getting suited up.
The two bikes really sounded good out on the highway together
99% of the time I let mine warm up for a few minutes. Funny how your sound cuts out just at the right time
First start of the day I let it run 2 minutes no matter what the outside temperature is at. I currently have 2018 Slim.
Oil takes miles to warm up, you can run the bike for over five minutes, pull the drip stick and it’s room/ambient temp.
Good looking bikes I let mine warm up 2-5 minutes depending on the weather
That apex paint job... 🥰