My bike has been tucked up warm under her cover for a couple of weeks now, permanently fed by an Optimate IV. Now traditionally with my previous bike I would fire it up every 3-4 weeks, let it get up to temp and them switch it off thinking I was doing it good to get it warm and get the fluids flowing, stop the fuel from going bad etc. But I've read recently that that could do more harm than good as it creates condensation both internally and externally which could damage parts. Anyone know if the occasional warm up is best - or am I best just letting her sleep until next spring? What do you guys do?
Just leave it well ventilated, worst thing possible is to start it up, and let it idle, then shut off. Exactly as you stated, internally it just cannot burn off all that condensation that it creates.
i dont start mine at all unless i,m going for a spin. you need to load the engine up to warm properly and that won,t happen when stationary. also i wouldnt leave the optimate on full time. i,ve killed 2 batterys in last few years by doing this. just 3-4 days at a time with a few weeks in between.
The Warm it through now and again was started by the, give inanimate objects a human face brigade. They also think Polar bears are kind. Starting an engine that's been standing a few weeks can cause quite a bit of wear, most of the oil has drained from the moving parts, and until oil pressure is restored they are running metal to metal, and the metal in big end shells is pretty soft, ouch. The other comments about condensation are another concern, making a poor situation worse. Some companies say the oil they produce will stick, ameliorating the problem. I wonder if Dr Shumans patent cure-all was there original product. My advice, for what it's worth (an old bu$$ers musings) leave it alone to sleep and rest its tired bones so It'll be fit well and rested. for the summer. Good luck. Mike.
Cheers guys - I'll leave it sleeping over the winter then. It's just hard to resist firing her up and blapping the throttle
Nope not recommended unless your going to get it all up to working temp which you won't if it's not moving
I have always wondered aswell whether good or bad never really decided my mate has a 2004 blade he had it with 1100 miles now done 48000 or something like that he starts it every week and he never starts as I do let it tick over he revs the bollox off it I cringe bollock him he's just like na they made for it ha ha . First service I had to do as he couldn't be bothered was at around 7-8000 miles after he brought it cheap shit oil and filter And to be fair it runs sweet as a nut whether he has just Been lucky I don't know . He has never had a problem with it except stator he said then can't you just take it out lol . Bike is used on track and road and it's still going strong
On my last two previous bikes i used to pop into the garage every couple of weeks over the winter period just to fire them up and let them warm up, purely to get some charge into the battery as i have killed a couple of battery's in the past years through neglect. But when i bought my Blade i decided enough was enough and purchased a Optimate, as i thought it was time to give the neighbours eardrums some piece and quiet this winter and then basically i can just forget about it until the decent weather returns
Neither of mine will be started till next season now, and both will be permanently connected to their respective Optimate 4 all Winter too. Nothing left to discuss!
On all me previous bikes, ive started them up once a week upto temp and then whilst they are cooling, the garage doors ( front n back ) are open to get the air circulating, and im busy taking off panels and fairings to make sure everything is all ok. and they didnt ger covered back up until they had cooled off completely. last bike ( R6 ) was still sweet even after 44k in 4 years, prob do the same with the Blade as in over 10 yrs of biking ive never owned and will never own a battery charger!!! you could ask the same question and everyone will say goor or bad things about doing summat, i go with what i feel is the best unless am proven wrong. Am sure someone with loads of mechaical experience like Arthur could give us a more definate answer to what is good or bad ??
honda manual even states not to leave idling for a period of time, something you would have to do if you wanted to properly warm it up. starting bikes weekly has no benefits whatsoever....or dealers would be starting all the bikes on a weekly basis.
I used to keep my old 916 connected to an Optimate on a more or less permanent basis until I found that that the battery had boiled completely dry. I do the same as rocket suggests now.
