SuzukiSavage.com - Opinions on cold weather "short" rides?

babyhog

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Opinions on cold weather "short" rides?
01/18/10 at 11:58:44

So, it seems we've had alot of cold weather, all over the country. We have those lucky few who get to ride all year, and the die-hards that ride when its really cold. But my question is... Is it better or worse for the bike to take short rides in the cold? I mean, its 50° and sunny now, but by the time I get home, it will be close to dark, and the temp drops fast. If I can't get a decent ride in (30 minutes +), would it be better for the bike to not run it at all, or will a 10 minute ride be good enough? It might be enough to make me feel better mentally, to get a little ride in, but I don't want to do more damage than good to the bike.

Opinions please....

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rid Reply #1 - 01/18/10 at 12:04:06 If theres been salt on the roads there I wouldn't ride at all,It will rust quick,And look like a junk pretty quick. Motorcycles aren't make to take the salt like a car is. Wait till it rains good to get the salt off the roads,
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babyhog Serious Thumper Offline Find a Cure for Breast Cancer! NOW!! Posts: 3802 WV Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rid Reply #2 - 01/18/10 at 12:14:33 It rained yesterday, and the roads are pretty dry and more clean now, but thanks Bill.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides? Reply #3 - 01/18/10 at 12:48:39 If you're missing your weather, I found it. Dam jetstream took a wrong turn in alaska. Can someone get palin to face east again?
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides? Reply #4 - 01/18/10 at 13:53:23 Sure
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Paladin. Serious Thumper Offline Hamster Posts: 4929 Sunny Southern California Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides? Reply #5 - 01/18/10 at 14:46:14 babyhog wrote on 01/18/10 at 11:58:44: .... will a 10 minute ride be good enough? .... My poor little bike only gets 10 minute rides or less most of the time -- 3.5 miles to work, 0.7 to 3.0 miles to the six supermarkets, pet store, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.. Over five years / 24,000 miles of this abuse.
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BurnPgh Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1732	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides? Reply #6 - 01/18/10 at 14:50:22 biggest thing Id worry about is draining the battery little by little if you take short rides all the time. Once in a while shouldnt be a problem.
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Trippah Serious Thumper Offline I ride, therefore I am. Posts: 2517 central Mass Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides? Reply #7 - 01/18/10 at 15:35:07 I'll second the battery coment- but a battery tender would take care of that issue. Whatever damage you're gona do to the engine will take place in the first 30 seconds..so many years of this abuse will mean when you hit Paladin's age, you might have to augment the Sav with a luxotourer.
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kimchris1 Serious Thumper Offline Pink Posse Rider... Posts: 2135 Belfair, Washington Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides? Reply #8 - 01/18/10 at 19:15:54 I don't even gear up unless I can at least be on the bike for 1/2 hr. In my opinion to ride in the cool weather is not worth it for 10 mins. I want more more more.. O yeah were talking of riding the mc in cool weather..
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Charon

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Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides?
Reply #9 - 01/18/10 at 19:17:28

My worry would be more with moisture accumulation in the exhaust pipe and the engine oil. I think a run of at least ten miles, with at least a mile or two at highway speed, would be adequate. That would also be enough to recharge the battery, given that the battery is in reasonable shape itself. In aviation, the old saying is "If you start it, fly it." I think the same applies for land vehicles. I think the fairly common practice of starting the engine for a few minutes every couple of weeks "to keep the battery charged" does more harm than good.

If your battery is in reasonably good shape, and there are no parasitic loads on it (radios with memories, clocks, or the like) it will hold plenty of charge for at least a couple of months. I would not bother with a battery tender on a permanent basis. However, it would not be amiss to connect one overnight every month or so.

Naturally, the opinions of others may be different.

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Digger

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Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rid
Reply #10 - 01/18/10 at 20:20:18

babyhog wrote on 01/18/10 at 11:58:44:

So, it seems we've had alot of cold weather, all over the country. We have those lucky few who get to ride all year, and the die-hards that ride when its really cold. But my question is... Is it better or worse for the bike to take short rides in the cold? I mean, its 50° and sunny now, but by the time I get home, it will be close to dark, and the temp drops fast. If I can't get a decent ride in (30 minutes +), would it be better for the bike to not run it at all, or will a 10 minute ride be good enough? It might be enough to make me feel better mentally, to get a little ride in, but I don't want to do more damage than good to the bike.

Opinions please....

Baby,

My Savage (see signature) is the king of the cold-weather short-riders. I don't own a cage and it is my "daily rider." I don't commute, so the bike gets used strictly for errands.

I don't think one or two short rides in cold weather are a problem, as long as you mix in a longer ride fairly frequently. That's the use mine gets and the engine seems to be wearing well.

What I would avoid is a month of daily 1 mile-long rides in 30 deg F temperatures. That would not be good.

Bottom line: Let 'er get good and hot every second or third ride.

JMHO.

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
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BurnPgh

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Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rid
Reply #11 - 01/18/10 at 21:00:48

Charon wrote on 01/18/10 at 19:17:28:

My worry would be more with moisture accumulation in the exhaust pipe and the engine oil.

Good point. I would think that so long as the engine gets up to temp that it shouldnt be too big an issue though. Am I mistaken? I do usually let my bike warm up a minute or two longer in cold wheather just to make sure it gets up to temp before I get going.

Digger - Ive never taken a good look at your signature pic before. It always just looked like you were holding a big book or something to me. Now that I've given it a good look...correct me if Im wrong but is your bike painted like a space shuttle? If so, got a bigger pic?

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babyhog

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Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides?
Reply #12 - 01/19/10 at 05:33:22

Thanks for all the comments!!

I really appreciate the input.

My Big Crank is only a couple of months old (the ole "left-the-key-on" syndrome bit me earlier this year). I never got my battery tender and I have started the bike a couple of times and let it run for a few minutes, but I was also thinking that wasn't the best idea. My bike is stored in my heated garage, so I assume that helps. One reason I hadn't gotten the battery tender is because we need two of them, but as Charon pointed out, we could just get one and share it. One night a month would be easy. Think I might just do that! I wondered how long a ride would fully recharge the battery, so I feel better now.

I didn't take it out last night, but it is warming up outside, so I know I'm gonna get it out real soon. Vrrroooooommmm

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~ 2006 Black, Big Crank battery, HD Softail muffler, engine guard/o-ring pegs, Spitfite windshield, custom mounted Saddlemen bags, Mustang seat! ~ oh, and Hairdo by Helmet! ~

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Savage_Amusement Serious Thumper Offline On this steel horse I ride. Posts: 1004 Omaha, NE Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rides? Reply #13 - 01/19/10 at 06:00:39 Let it warm up good first, have a battery tender and I don't see the problem.
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Opinions on cold weather "short" rid Reply #14 - 01/19/10 at 08:48:03 To get full charge you need a battery charger not a battery tender,Just a small 2-6 amp.And they are cheaper than a tender.
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