It was 2 or 3 degrees this morning, and after a 16 mile ride the engine is still only at 60 degrees. Is there a minimum warm-up time you should allow before heading off?
Not sure but I tend to start mine and ride straight out with no warm up, have treated all my Ducati's the same and not had a problem, Took my 1199 out on Sunday and temp gauge didn't go over 68 till I hit 3 sets of traffic lights in a row
The only dramas I have ever had with my carbed bikes at really low temperatures is carb-icing, which just causes rough running. Yorkie
I remember from past threads that there are differing opinions on start-up. I always start on full choke particularly if cold (no throttle) and when it catches leave to idle only while putting on gloves and then ride off* immediately but slowly and if engine responsive after a minute or so (depending on how cold) I will shut choke off but being aware that higher risk of stalling when negotiating that first T junction turn.. If you do get icing regularly (even with standard inlet/filters in place) then you can try a small amount of Silkolene Pro FST in with the fuel or if you want to save money :- rubbing alcohol as I do. Another topic with differing views is how helpful the 'carb heating' system is (if you happen to have this fitted). I found it to be no help at all. *Have just taken to another habit re: binding wet clutch from standing overnight etc (lots of them do it). To save that 'clunk' when you put it into first (particularly bad if choke on/revs higher than idle) I now put into first before starting engine, clutch lever pulled in and push bike backwards and forwards until clutch is free - only takes about 3 pushes). Not applicable for dry clutch of course unless particularly 'gummy'.
Have you got an on/off tap for your oil radiator circuit ck? - should be off in this weather if you have and worth fitting one if you haven't.
I do recall some the the air cooled motors in later 80s and early 90s had cylinder head stud issues. Memory fails me as to whether this was warm up routine related with the orginal parts or just down to poor stud production. My cousin had a 750 back around 93 and he always warmed up religiously before setting off. I'm sure one of the more workshop based guys will be able to give more info.
If the OP didn't have a temperature gauge, he wouldn't know whether it seems too cold or not. My 750SS runs OK in the cold once it has been running for 10 minutes..........but I don't wait for it to warm up for more than 5 minutes at most......... .........but I do have the carb heater tap in the 'ON' posistion in the cold weather and they appear to work........ Don't know if the OP has carb heaters or not, but as Chris says, look for an on/off tap to the rad or carb heaters.
Have experienced carb icing on 750 and 900 SS and 900 monster but never on any of the Elefants possibly because of the long inlet trumpets (npi) leading to the airbox. All were fitted with 'heaters' but made no difference on or off.
Hi thanks for the replies, I tend not to let the bike warm up apart from during the donning of gloves and checking mirrors etc before setting off - my pipes are louder than standard and I try to consider the neighbours during early departures, so I don't hang about long. I do have carb heater and from past experience I know that it works, in fact mine is switched ON year round. It was more of a question about what's best practice for the care of the engine.
I used to use full "choke" to start then let her warm up until she idled without stalling Usually as long as it took to get helmet gloves on I didn't suffer carb icing and I rode most of the year including Christmas time when it was very cold
I would of let it rest particularly as it's nothing to do with the topic but I can never resist a 'devil's advocate' goading . You do have to have a pretty exhaustive approach to say conclusively the carb heaters work/don't work and I would suggest that anyone who didn't get carb icing with the heater turned on wasn't riding in particularly cold weather.
Mine starts the same year round, full choke to start no throttle, the half after 10 seconds the off after a min. Dose get hot though quickly and pulls fine from cold to hot. Dose anyone find that the dyno kits help with the carb icing??
^ You have hit on another good point as the cutdown (partly depends on how severely) airfilter top can increase the chances of carb icing. If you've ever been quick enough to actually see ice it's all about how air dives into the Venturi at the top of the carburettor and no amount of slowly moving oil through such small pipes, particular considering that it's right below a constantly circulating stream of cooling fuel, is going to have enough of an affect on the top part of the carburettor body.
Ducatis are designed for the Mediterranean therefore should only be ran when it's 20 degrees plus , oil needs to be extra virgin olive oil, fuel needs to be 98 Ron so throw some grappa in the tank and obligatory rules say you need to change your name to Andre'a or Southern Hemisphere Stacey
That's what I thought, the first owner of my bike fitted the DJ kit, K&N, strait through pipes and oil heating to try to stop the icing. This is all listed in the service history also with a comment that it doesn't work. Thinking about taking it off mine as I only really use it in the summer anyway.
