Really Dumb Move

[Buff]

I pulled a really dumb move last week and thought I'd report on it to you all so you don't make the same mistake.

I live in the Middle Atlantic and had parked my 2004 R1150R in my driveway as I endured a spate of rain and a head cold which ruined several weekend in a row. I was finally healthy 2 weekends ago and got excited by a weather report which forecast 60 degrees and sunny for the coming Monday. I was excited about being able to get out for ride, if only to work and back.

Well, I charged the battery and added air to the tires. After the battery was charged enough, I started my bike and let it idle for 30 or 40 minutes while I got distracted by another chore. On Monday, I got about 3 houses down the street when I noticed a red warning light that had never been on before. I returned home, pulled out my trusty owners manual and found that it was the low oil pressure light.

I then checked the oil sight glass and found that it was cooked to a crackly white and oil was leaking from its gasket. By now, you all must have figured out what I did wrong, but it still had not dawned on me.

I had my bike towed to the dealer where the first words out of the service adviser's mouth were "did you leave it idling for a while?" I paced and fidgeted for a day worrying about how much damage that I'd done to the engine. When the service adviser finally called me with a report, I found that I'd been lucky. I'd only bought a couple of new sensor wires, a new oil sight glass, and a new oil and filter. The bike ran fine when I rode it home from the dealer-even in the 30 degree weather.

The service adviser said that I was the first rider of the season to pull this stunt. He said that he usually gets a couple each year. Sometimes a fire is possible if it's done in a garage.

Well now, I'm a bit poorer and a lot wiser and still watching the weather report for a warm, dry day.

[Biff's R]

Doh!

You do not need to warm these bikes up. Just start it and ride away. If it is really cold start it, then put your gloves on, and ride away.

[towerworker]

You are one lucky fella!!

Wayne

[The Velvet Monkey]

I'm glad your bike is okay and even though it did take some Mr. Green to get it back together it sounds like you were lucky. My advice is to take your bike for a long ride (if it's not too cold)and forget all about it.

[bikermeow]

I remember a similar post by a guy who has a picture of red-hot headers after 25 mins of idling.

Will try to dig up the pictures.

[Sunbeemer]

A friend of mine bought a bike with a crystallized sight glass, and I remembered that somebody posted here about that being a symptom of overheating, so thanks for your post confirming it. He got his sight glass replaced (eventually) and changed all his fluids, and the bike has not had any problems since, so you should be good to go!

You might be interested in reading Snowprick's "clutch quit" thread about the need to keep the bike moving.

[boxermania]

Buff
You are really lucky......I remember a few years back someone posted a pic of a bike either in NY or New Jersey that had burned to a crisp. The fellow started the bike, got a phone call and forgot about the bike. End of story

[Beemeridian]

11

[marine dad]

damn....

[bikermeow]

Yup, that is the very one, Beemeradian.

Dang, I'm still impressed even now.

Cheers

[Beemeridian]

11

[boxermania]

+1 Beemeridian.....but please, pass me the eggnog

[sjbmw]

Thanks for swallowing hard and posting this. I did not even know this!

Sometimes I will let my bike idle after washing it, now I know!