1st gear...

[MiG]

I think what MiG is referring to is the practice of starting a new computer-controlled fuel-injected motor running tight tolerances, and getting it under load to warm up - instead of letting it warm up "naturally", by having it idle for a few minutes (maybe up to 5 minutes) - before you put it under load and ride it out the driveway......

Yep, that's it. Doesn't even need to be fuel injected. Sure the throttle response isn't sexy in the first few minutes, but it's better than prolonging the warm up. Apparently you get condensation (remember the products of burning hydrocarbons) sitting in the engine for longer if you do the slow warm up and it forms acids and "bad stuff" You're also clearly wasting fuel. Probably pissing off the neighbors too, judging by how many people love obnoxiously loud mufflers.
I also reckon splash lubrication would suck if you're idling at low revs (perhaps you're one of the no choke people that idle really low when cold?) with cold oil. Fortunately the most critical bits are pressure fed.

P.S. I'm using saying all this in a generic sense, not directing it at you.

[Jonno]

I am at home and bored, hence my extra interest to post

*snip* Apparently you get condensation (remember the products of burning hydrocarbons) sitting in the engine for longer if you do the slow warm up and it forms acids and "bad stuff"

Oh no! Global warming in your engine

To me it is about the oil and a compromise, we have been down the what brand oil is better debate many times here but I am interested why one oil grade and type may make a bike change gears better when warm rather than cold?

Hehe...No I'm not, I just wanted to bring the debate back to oils again and because I am always right, just ask me

IMO having to warm an cold engine for one extra moment or three as you put on your helmet & gloves is a small compromise, after all the wear rate of the engine itself will not be a serious issue unless there is a history of poor servicing and who really keeps a bike that long on this forum to worry about it?

[MickLC]

Should I chuck in some stuff from an Ian Irving article in Rapid from a while back? In particular the bit about oil pumps on modern sportsbikes, specifically those designed to be used as race bikes (so any of the superbike/supersports), and that they don't normally have enough oil pressure at idle for the top end to be lubricated properly because the pump is designed to be running at high revs most of the time.

He said that sitting at idle to warm up for extended periods would be detrimental to the engine. If I remember correctly the best way he put forward for warming them up was to slowly rev them up and down until they were up to temperature...guaranteed to piss the neighbours off

[mohawk miss]

Hmmm....

I always let it idle for a bit while locking doors, garages, putting on helmet, gloves, sunnies....you get the idea. This "locking" thing it intermittent, in that its only happened twice in three months. But have now discovered that the best way from 1st to 2nd is a double-tap of the lever.

Since it was serviced at work , I will invest in a better oil for next time, and see if ti makes a difference. Its funny how they DO have preferences for oil brand A over oil brand B.

Thanks guys.

[Gosling1]

no worries mate - Check your chain tension as well, this can have quite an effect on gear-selection. It may also just be a worn return spring on the gear selector - on the old air-cooled kwakkas you could change these really easily......not sure about your model.