Yes. Years ago I use to feel the need to start my bike at least once a month but then I read some guides and thought about it a little and came to the following conclusions/assumptions....
Almost every guide you read online states to not keep running the engine unless storing for years, but even then it's debatable whether to do it or just use fogging oil in the bores (which I don't do), or literally fill the whole engine with cheap oil.
You mention the oil circulation, here's my take on it.
Most of the oil settles (drips down to the sump) within the first hour after shutdown. More will accumulate afterwards but I seriously doubt there'll be anymore drip down after 24 hours. You leave yours for 2 weeks.. what's the difference between 2 weeks and 5 months in terms of what's happened in the engine?
I've gone into an engine of mine after it has been stood for months and everything looked pretty coated in oil. Oil has a chemical attraction to metal, synthetic even more so. Castrol Magnatec's ability to stick to your engine was nothing special to Castrol, all engine oil does it. Oil also gets trapped in cavities, especially in and around bearings. So I just don't see any real difference between 2 weeks, 1 month or 5 months.
It's the cold starts that are the worst and most damaging to an engine. After 5 months your engine will have had to endure roughly 10 cold starts whereas mine will have only had 1.
Then there is the gas blowby and condensation issue, I don't think idling and blipping the throttle is enough to adequately clear the build up from running the engine, but that's just opinion.
Plug fouling - I'm not sure how much bike engines suffer from this but extended idling can foul plugs to the point they need replacing. I read TL1000's were suppose to be suffer from it.
Flat spots - I will slightly over inflate the tyres, just to help them stay in shape. I think it's not so much being stationary (whilst loaded) that could cause a flat spot, but allowing it to sit whilst under inflated. However I have no issue with lifting a bike off the ground to protect its tyres, and if mine had good tyres on I'd be tempted to do so.
Head bearings, only ever had one fail and that was on my DRZ. It was actually due to the grease getting waterlogged due to river crossings and jet washing. I now use waterproof grease and repack regularly. If the bearings have good grease coverage & healthy (dry) grease then no issues should arise from them simply resting in the same position for an extended time.
So that is my considered opinion on storage. Feel free to educate me if I'm doing it wrong.
1190 Adventure S, 990 Superduke, VFR800 Vtec, DRZ-400E.
