BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

When I purchased my 1200 RT, the sales manager told me that it was important to "warm up the engine for 2-5 minutes before driving." With fuel engine and computerized control of fuel and air, I believe that any warm up period exceeding 1 minute was not necessary. Idling the engine is not a good thing. What is your advice regarding " warm up time?" :-\ 

I have just checked the 2013 Owners Manual which states "Ride away immediately
after starting the engine."

You were told rubbish.  Press button, go.

RTman10 wrote: You were told rubbish. Press button, go.

+1 agreed!  Peter

RTman10 wrote: You were told rubbish. Press button, go.

+1

Find another service manager! What else is he ignorant about?

It is unanimous; ride away after you start the engine. Thanks for all your help/advice. Cheers.

Mine runs for as long as it takes me to put my lid and gloves on 

Only warm up needed is the Satnav to locate satellites. After that, button pressed and go have fun.

You wisely chose this bike and then took advice from a sales manager. ?? Oops.

And another vote - complete rubbish.

Having said that, there are bikes which do need it so perhaps the advice given was confused by that. I had a modern Guzzi V7 not long ago and that definitely needed a short idle period to warm up if starting from cold or it was likely to stall when setting off. Nowhere near as long as 2-3 minutes though, perhaps 15-30 seconds or so.

Also, in the "old days" of Beezas, Triumphs, Nortons etc, this was common practice.

cdnrtowner wrote: When I purchased my 1200 RT, the sales manager told me that it was important to "warm up the engine for 2-5 minutes before driving." With fuel engine and computerized control of fuel and air, I believe that any warm up period exceeding 1 minute was not necessary. Idling the engine is not a good thing. What is your advice regarding " warm up time?" :-\

Good advice... if you're riding an RS 125/250 two stroke. You don't want a cold seizure . Four stroke, start em and ride em. Maybe your sales guy once worked for Aprillia.

Start the bike, put my gloves and lid on, ride away slowly till I see temp coming up
Then have at it
When it's very cold out, below freezing, I will let it idle for a couple minutes, hoping the seat and grips warm up a bit