Sine I just found out that New Westminster has instituted a no-idle bylaw, with a 3 minute max, how short is too short before I take off from my driveway? LOL, what a bunch of BS the activists are spewing.. "500 hours of idling is equivalent to 100,000km of driving wear" "The best way to warm a car is to drive it, not to idle it"
Ummm, yeah, I don't think I'll be following this bylaw. I also own a DR650 Suzuki dual-sport, similar to PHIL's KLR. That'll also be idling in the driveway while I strap on all my safety gear for every ride. What a nanny-city I live in... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I wonder if I'll get a chance to tell them to shove their new bylaw.

Well, diesels don't warm up well while idling, they do actually warm up best when under load. I start mine and idle until she runs smooth and I feel the oil has had time to warm up. Usually this is no more than 3 minutes anyway.

With the bike I start it, strap on the helmet and go. It's so loud that I worry my neighbors would lynch me if I let it sit and pound out Yoshimura unleashed 1000cc V-Twin music for too long. If I need to, I ride across to the corner store parking lot across the street for further warm up.

Gotta hear/see that thing soon Ed.

AFA diesel warmup, absolutely what Ed said above. Mine takes quite a while to reach operating temp unless I'm going. I generally start it, and wait until the idle is smooth (rarely takes a minute - usu much less), and then I slowly start away. This is the key I think. If I had to pull out onto a highway as soon as I left the house, then no, I'd leave it longer, but my street is 30k, then the thoroughfare is 60k, so I slowly work up to speed/temp, while moving. More idling than that is a waste of fuel, IMHO. Obviously winter time it takes a little longer...

I notice mine won't kick down into OD until the transmission has warmed up too. Don't know if this is something electronic built in, or if it's just "Magic". But yeah, warmup to a smooth idle, then drive away gently. Warms up very fast when underway too.

Can you ride that thumper through Highwood pass? (Highway 40?) Can you get 200K out of a tank?

Done the 40 (north though, into Waiparous: gravel = slippery floating fun!). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And usu pushing 400k per tank. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

But thumpity-thump-thump can't compare to a wide-open V-twin scream... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />

Well then, I'll be the one worryng about fuel stops then. She's thirsty, but worth it.

I'll stop threadjacking now!