starting motorcycle periodically is a bad idea?

[6BowlOfChili]

Alot of us are riding less and putting our bikes away when winter starts

I'm still out there, but not enough to ignore the battery. A lot of riders fire up their engines now and then to keep the battery charged and lube things up.

There's an article on RevZilla that basically says that's actually a bad idea.

They claim short runs cause moisture inside and out, leading to corrosion on stuff like O2 sensors and valves.

Regular riding heats the engine enough to dry out that moisture, but a few minutes of idling doesn't cut it.

And they say you don't even need to lube the engine because the oil sticks around just fine on its own.

I agree with the article. what do you think, guys?

 

[forjox]

Yes, it’s a bad idea! All your points are right on point! If you’re going to start it, run it long enough to dry out the moisture, BUT DON’T do it unless you can go for a nice long ride.

 

[Saynotocops]

It's true, but this is a poor explanation which is why people get it wrong. Short runs in winter are the problem and that's true. The engine doesn't get to operating temperature and you risk moisture. This also means that if the bike gets to operating temperature you reduce the problem. On the other hand you increase other potential problems. Is it bad? Yes and no. If you're one of those overly cautious, get a battery tender and don't worry about it.

 

[BoxerTorque]

Absolutely! I totally agree,those quick winter rides barely give the engine a chance to warm up properly, which can lead to moisture buildup. It's great to get it up to the right temp, but there are some downsides. Using a battery tender is a smart and low-stress way to ensure everything runs smoothly. Do you happen to use one?

 

[sprocketrocketriders163]

Yep, this takes me back to my old SV650. During one winter, I'd start it up for a minute every now and then just to "keep it fresh." But I never let it run long enough to really warm up. Before I knew it, I was dealing with mayonnaise-like gunk in the oil window and a rusty exhaust tip. I figured out pretty quickly that it's best to either ride it long enough to reach temp or just leave it on the tender and let it be. Those half-measures only created more problems than they solved

 

[BMWanderer]

Exactly. Quick, cold starts can be tougher on your bike than just keeping it on a battery tender. Warming it up right is super important