It's not just your imagination.
Drive it a lot and not just short runs. It needs to get good and warm and the engine will sing for you! No smoke, instant start, smooth as can be.
Just starting the truck and let it idle for a while is not a good life style for your deuce.
Driving the deuce is the best preventive maintenance program.
Yeah, get groceries, but go to the next town, not just down the road. The deuce loves to show you what it can do and you learn to know it better too.
I can't say enough about the Chargetek 500 battery maintainer either. It charges the batteries separately and I keep it plugged in whenever the truck is parked. Always fast cranks, even with 5 year old batteries.