1969 Norton Commando 750 warm up

I recall reading somewhere in this forum that you should let the motorcycle warm up for a certain period of time to ensure oil circulation, however I can't find it any more. As I am a new Norton Commando owner I am wondering how long should I warm up the motorcycle prior to riding? Also, my oil tank seems to get very hot after riding approximately 10 km at 50 to 60 km/hr (city riding). I don't have a cover over the oil tank (was missing when I bought it) and I can feel the heat on my leg and the oil tank is hot to touch, is this normal? Oil level is good when I check the dipstick.

Cheers,
Ekvin

Hi.
If you have a 1969 Fastback or R the bike dont has the right side cover the oil tank.
If you have a S (or a 1970 roadster) the bike has the right side cover but the oil tank is in central position and dont touch the right leg.
Ciao
Piero

Ekvin said:

I recall reading somewhere in this forum that you should let the motorcycle warm up for a certain period of time to ensure oil circulation, however I can't find it any more. As I am a new Norton Commando owner I am wondering how long should I warm up the motorcycle prior to riding?

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Oil should be circulating within a matter of a few seconds after starting, so unless you know there is a quantity of oil in the sump that needs to return to the oil tank then I suggest you ride off shortly after starting up, and not wait around.

Hi Ekvin,

you can, and should, ride away quite soon after starting

the oil starts circulating as soon as the motor is started and pumps more quickly as the RPM's increase

there is no reason to start and wait any length of time before taking off, you pretty much go right away because at an idle of around 1000 the carbs are on the slow idle circuit which is richer and if you stay on that circuit you can load up, darken the plugs, so get going

within a couple of blocks the carbs should be able hold an idle on their own

Warm it up by riding it.

I'll go as soon as I see oil returning into the oil tank. The oil does get hot, probably too hot to touch once it's up to operating temp.

Good info, I thought I had to let it idle to get the oil to circulate. Thanks for the info!

My oil pressure gage begins climbing off the pin about the third piston up. Ride away and just refrain from revving hard a couple miles. Standard fare for all I.C.E.

I wouldn't let it idle to get oil returning into the oil tank, give it a little throttle, like 2-2.5K rpm. You want that oil getting to the cam as fast as you can with out over revving. At least that's what I've gleaned from the experts.