cool down period

[LagerDrinker]

First off ide like to say if you havent checked out this forum(DIY forum), your nuts. Cool tips and tricks that chopper put up. so onto my question...
After a long ride do you shut off bike right away or let it idle for a minute to let temperature come down a little? This was something that my dad was always big on and ive just done the same. Ill let my bike just idle for 30 seconds-1 minute after a long ride. Always done the same with all my cars. I know it sounds silly but kinda makes sence to me. I get off bike, take off gloves, helmet, glasses, dig for a smoke, light it up, and just listen to the engine while its really nice and hot and oil is thin. When i shut off bike theres less popping noises from engine. i dont know if im saving my engine from anything but it seems temperatures are equaling out a bit. maybe extending like of head/base gaskets, i dont know. anyone else do this or am i just thinking to much into it?

[pquirk]

Yeah, I think you're nutty, but it sure can't hurt anything. The way I see it after a long ride I usually have a few blocks worth of neighborhood put-put drivin' before I get to my garage anyhow it cools down slow either way.

[WaBiker]

Guess I never understood the *cool Down* concept for air cooled engines. Kinda sorta makes sense with water cooled...
Sometimes I'll let 'er idle a few seconds as a kinda of *post ride function check* though.

[LagerDrinker]

Originally Posted by WaBiker

Guess I never understood the *cool Down* concept for air cooled engines. Kinda sorta makes sense with water cooled...
Sometimes I'll let 'er idle a few seconds as a kinda of *post ride function check* though.

its the rate of cool down. When its run real hard it runs just a bit hotter, i like to get it back to normal running temp before shutting off. If i shut off while its still blazing hot, engine crackles and pops while cooling. Once at normal running temp if i shut off it just cools off quietly.

[klown]

I just drive the piss out of it and turn the bitch off. That's just the way I roll

[Casper]

I'm sure I'd get banned on [youknowwhere] just for saying this, but I'm the same as Klown. Ride like hell then shut 'er off. Snaking through the driveway when I get home gives it probably half a minute of idle speed anyway, so I guess I do sort of let it cool down, even if that's not the intent.

[RonM]

I like to idle with the gas off till the bowl runs dry. I let it sit outside for 5 or ten minutes to cool down before I pull it indoors. The stuff I ride is old and I dont want any gas fires from an unseen leak

I let them warm up for 30 or so seconds before I hit the road but no cool down afterwards, what for. Ride the shit out of it and put it away wet.


kgdb

[LagerDrinker]

Originally Posted by kgdb

I let them warm up for 30 or so seconds before I hit the road but no cool down afterwards, what for. Ride the shit out of it and put it away wet.


kgdb

i guess my biggest concern is aluminum case, all iron cylinders, and aluminum heads. makes me feel better when i let the oil do its job. ive seen extreme cases of failure to allow engine to cool down in turbo motors, oil gets burned and turns to carbon sludge in heads.

tru dat but in your basic v twin I just dont see the need. 35 yrs of riding hard and I have not had any bad effects yet.

kgdb