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Message started by Alex Wheatley on 04/09/17 at 20:04:51

Title: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Alex Wheatley on 04/09/17 at 20:04:51

Just a quickie here.
Most of my riding is short hops around town (I know, terrible for the cam) - usually no more than 5 miles per journey, often 2-3, and usually no faster than 40-45. I'm vaguely aware that some engines/vehicles need a longer run from time to time (like the family diesel car, which gets its filter clogged if it doesn't get a chance to warm up fully every once in a while).

So my query is - does a similar logic apply to our thumpy little bikes? I could envisage, for example, gunk building up in places which would get cleared out with a run that gets the engine running at full operating temp for half an hour, or something like that. I doubt that the oil in my bike gets fully up to temp more than once a week with my typical usage pattern.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Kris01 on 04/09/17 at 20:20:03

It's better to get to operating temp to burn off any condensation in the oil, etc. Most wear occurs during startup so a warm engine is a happy engine.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by batman on 04/09/17 at 21:55:15

I believe the oil in our air cooled motors warns faster than a car, a car's oil takes about 30 min. to come to temperature ,the water temp comes up much faster.It's just a good idea not to ride hard for say,the first 5miles. But longer rides are better for cam chain life ,recharging your battery, and clearing the oil of moisture .If your rides are only a couple of miles you might plan once a week to "take the long way home".

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by philthymike on 04/10/17 at 06:33:21

My father always used to tell me a good long drive on the highway once in awhile is good for burning the carbon accumulation off of the pistons.
Any truth in this?

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Dave on 04/10/17 at 06:46:32

5C444540584455414547492C0 wrote:

My father always used to tell me a good long drive on the highway once in awhile is good for burning the carbon accumulation off of the pistons.
Any truth in this?

I am sure there is less carbon in an engine that is driven for long periods than there is one that goes on short trips - however throttle use/speed also has an effect. If you are idling along at low throttle settings all the time - the internal parts of the engine are not being exposed to the larger thermal loads that help to burn off the carbon.

I once used a company car that was normally driven by a fellow that must have never pushed the accelerator down - it was a Ford LTD with a V8.....and he apparently drove the car in a very calm manner. I was on a freeway ramp and needed to get up to speed to merge - so I floored it.......and the darn thing started making funny sounds as the carbon started coming loose from the engine and exhaust system. I could see the black "dust" cloud behind the car from all the crap coming out of the exhaust. I used the car for the entire afternoon, and when I gave the car back to him.....it was all cleaned out and the car no longer made weird sounds when you pushed the accelerator down! :)

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/10/17 at 09:44:11

My first car, a hand me down from Gramma, because dad bought her a better car, ran a whopping eighty MPH. After I took it out at about five A.M.every Saturday for a few months it was bumping above 115.
1962 four door Impala / 283/ Powerglide.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Kris01 on 04/10/17 at 18:52:34

My first Mustang (I've had 5!) was like that. It was so full of carbon that it wouldn't top 80 mph. I got it cleaned out "the Dave way" ;D and it ran fine afterwards. Well...until I blew a cylinder head gasket!

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Ruttly on 04/10/17 at 19:48:31

Run a can of Seafoam thru it. Add it to fuel , fill it up , keep it at freeway speed for awhile. If it's real bad put some in a spray bottle remove air filter and spray into carb while running engine at elevated rpm ! It's going to make it smoke but that all the crap coming out. I like to do both ways.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by gizzo on 04/11/17 at 04:38:56

0E372C367574450 wrote:

That's what we called a "wog tune". works well on old italian chaff that's treated too gently.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Kris01 on 04/11/17 at 17:58:18

634445455D48310 wrote:

It's going to make it smoke but that all the crap coming out. I like to do both ways.

Nah, that's just the kerosene burning off.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by BSTON on 04/12/17 at 07:46:48

After reading the subject I thought this was about the mental benefits of going on a long ride.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Alex Wheatley on 04/12/17 at 12:48:31

BSTON - Obviously there's that, although there's only one road near me with any decent curves (which, obviously, by now I know incredibly well...), and even that one only has, maybe, four good bends. Some really pleasant scenery round here though.

Thanks, all.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by BSTON on 04/12/17 at 13:43:55

This little loop doesn't look too bad.

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/75/1384/North-Carolina/Back-Country-Church-Roads.html#sthash.fB1fp6xl.dpbs

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by batman on 04/12/17 at 20:59:25

Alex,A wise man once said "go west young man" that's the direction opposite the beach,Iknow there's hills in NC.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by Alex Wheatley on 04/13/17 at 06:28:15

That country route is nice for some good scenery, although the last leg down Guess Road is nasty - tend to get hemmed in by dozens of pickups and SUVs down Guess Road! I've been round there a few times.

Batman - Oh, I know there are some inspiring roads out to the west. I'll have to head out there when I've got a few free days to string together.

Title: Re: Benefits of long rides?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/13/17 at 07:32:33

On Tuesday I went to the doctor, about fifty miles, it's in the country. Got done there and went down to Athens Texas to look at a boat. POS, title problems, not doing it, BUT, I didn't want to ride the Roads Everyone Uses to get from Athens to Longview,so I asked a guy, and he said the road I'd seen would get me moving North East, but wouldn't get to Hwy 80.. It was cloudy, patchy light rain, just cool enough to not be hot dressed for rain. I just wore the top, wasn't wet enough to get the chaps wet..
AND the point? Ohh, what a great ride home. A road I've never been on, out in the boonies, almost zero traffic, and the best single moment was after a few little kinks in the road, I see a Left Curve sign, forty MPH. Taking a quick look to see if I can get an idea about the radius, if I can just see some more of the signs with the chevron pointing Left, I'll have a clue about what speed I can go in.. And I saw four or five, little yellow patches showing through gaps in trees and brush, and sixty worked Great..
It was such a great day, wow, and then yesterday was a huge pit, ahhwell, see what today brings..