Topic: What's your start up process?

[Sam Green Racing]

For the CB550Kor F in stock configuration with early style carbs.
Roll bike out of garage.
Put on leathers, Helmet, gloves.
Close garage door from outside.
Sit on bike
Turn on fuel petcock.
Raise side stand
Apply full choke
Crack throttle to about 1/4.
Push button- varoom
Choke to 2/3 position
Drive off.
Over next 1/2 mile knock a bit off the choke periodically until all off.
Avoid other homicidal drivers.

This assumes I rode the bike within the last week.  If it sat longer, I'll wait til it runs smoothly with a predictable throttle before driving off.

Cheers,

Hell Lloyd, I allways knew you were a smart cookie but how the hell do you manage to start your bike without turning on the ignition ?  

 

Sam.

[clarkjh]

For the CB550Kor F in stock configuration with early style carbs.
Roll bike out of garage.
Put on leathers, Helmet, gloves.
Close garage door from outside.
Sit on bike
Turn on fuel petcock.
Raise side stand
Apply full choke
Crack throttle to about 1/4.
Push button- varoom
Choke to 2/3 position
Drive off.
Over next 1/2 mile knock a bit off the choke periodically until all off.
Avoid other homicidal drivers.

This assumes I rode the bike within the last week.  If it sat longer, I'll wait til it runs smoothly with a predictable throttle before driving off.

Cheers,

Hell Lloyd, I allways knew you were a smart cookie but how the hell do you manage to start your bike without turning on the ignition ? 

 

Sam.

Live short? Pressure switch in the seat? Voodoo?

Now that I have mine sort of running, oil light keeps comming on, bad sender, lots of oil up top.

Key on
Butt on the saddle
Choke on
Fuel on
Hit the starter, usually twice
Bump off the center stand
Choke 1/2
Kick stand up.
Back out of carport.
Choke off.
Still working on the breaking of 2nd oversize pistons and rings, up to 60mile now.

James

[Sam Green Racing]

Voodoo 

Sam

[TwoTired]

Hell Lloyd, I allways knew you were a smart cookie but how the hell do you manage to start your bike without turning on the ignition ?  

 

Sam.

Well, Mr. adroit britches, who says I ever turn the ignition off?  Perhaps I have an automatic disconnect plug that disengages the battery charger as I roll the bike out of the garage?

Besides, machines in general are fearful of my aura.  Just ask my wife how many times she's been unable to make a machine work and when I come to fix it, it works as it should with none but a stern gaze and firm, purposeful hand.  The machines know darn well I'm capable of taking them apart bit by bit and scattering their inards to and fro.  Some even call me sir, albeit in a very weak wimpery voice hardly discernable by others.

Anyway, if I gave out ALL my secrets, I'd be even more dull.
 

Who do Voodoo?

[Gordon]

Honda CBs are known for being cold natured

That's only true of the later models.  The earlier models run richer and don't need to warm up as much.  If I've ridden my K1 within a week or so, it usually starts up by the second kick and I'm off in about 30 seconds.

[Sam Green Racing]

Sorry Sir Lloyd  

Mr Adroit Britches  

[CrisPDuk]

Walk out to the bike
Walk back in the house to get keys
turn ignition on
pat very softly on side of tank while whispering sweet nothing about how great a girl she is
try starter first time
cuss
choke on
try starter 2nd time
cuss
very carefully ask her to feel like going today
try starter 3rd time
cuss
try kickstart 1st time
cuss, cuss,  cuss
go to get tools
come back to get keys so i can get tools
cuss, cuss, cuss, cuss, cuss
turn kill switch to "on"
try starter 4th time
forget all the cussing and pull off slowly
stop after 10 ft
come back to put helmet and gloves on
Enjoy the ride

It doesn't work for everyone, but it gets me there

You omitted my own personal favourite:

Splutter to a halt 50yds up the road
Utter expletive of choice
Turn petcock on
Wait for float bowls to refill
Restart bike

With the HS100 it used to be worse, that could travel up to half a mile before the carb ran dry, meaning I tended to think it was the bike's fault, before I finally realised I'm a muppet

[nickjtc]

Walk out to the bike
Walk back in the house to get keys
turn ignition on
pat very softly on side of tank while whispering sweet nothing about how great a girl she is
try starter first time
cuss
choke on
try starter 2nd time
cuss
very carefully ask her to feel like going today
It doesn't work for everyone, but it gets me there

Wow!! There are more of us 'bike whisperers' out there. It's a well known fact that motorcycles have a persona and it is very important for the rider to achieve one-ness with that persona. On my long commutes on Sophie last year I would ALWAYS make the effort, at some point during the ride, of saying out loud "I wuv you Silver Sophie". Worked every time and she never gave me any issues.

As to start-up. Apparently CB650's are particularly cold blooded, so one has to have patience, Grasshopper.

Fuel on, Choke out, Ignition on, Push Starter button. She will fire immediately. Let the fun commence...... leave things as they are, since touching anything will result in a cough, fart and stoppage. Put in earplugs, put on helmet. As she gets warm slowly ease in the choke whilst turning in the fast idle knob. Yes, I hear you say, that means there are issues with the pilot jets. Next winter, I promise. Gloves on. After 2-3 minutes we're good to go. Screw out fast idle to about 1000rpm tickover and away-hay we go.

Trying to rush the process leads to frustration and tears. Yes, I admit I am in touch with my 'softer' side.

[jabbadeznuts]

CB 550:

1) Key
2) Choke
3) Throttle 3/4 to 100%
4) Kick 1 to 4 times depending on how cold it is
5) Off choke
6) Set idle screw to 1500 RPM
7) Adjust as needed while I'm having a smoke
Take off
9 ) Adjust so that idle is ~1200 RPM at idle after 1/2 mile.
10) 

[nteek754]

for 30 + years now I know when  my bikes are tuned when I on my 73 750K 836 kit

turn on gas
turn on key
full throttle
full choke
one kick (if want to show off)
but usually just a short push of the start button  choke off in few seconds ride easy till warmed up then its twist and go

[nteek754]

for 30 + years now I know when  my bikes are tuned when like   on my 73 750K 836 kit same thing for sisters 74 and bros 73 but then again I tune sisters bike and younger bro learned well lol

turn on gas
turn on key
full throttle
full choke
one kick (if want to show off)
but usually just a short push of the start button  choke off in few seconds ride easy till warmed up then its twist and go

[coyotecowboy]

1.  Roll off centerstand
2.  Back it out of the garage
3.  Snick into first, grab clutch and roll 10 feet or so to unstick clutch plates
4.  Back to neutral, kickstand down  
5.  CHECK GAS    Check oil while I'm at it
6.  Key on petcock on
7.  Choke it
8.  Give it about 1/3rd throttle
9.  Press starter button until she barks to life (about once over)
10. Choke to half, set throttle to 1800-2000 or so
11. Choke off
12. Do a walkaround, check lights, blinkers, chain, glance at carbs and drain tubes for gas leaks (hey, it happens) check tire pressure
13. Go put on gear
14. Go back out to bike because one cylinder finally decided to fire right and its now "idleing" at 3000RPM
15. Finish putting on gear
16. Idle it down, hop on and ride away before SWMBO comes out to ask why you're not still working on the house
17. Smile wickedly, blast up through the gears and go find some corners  (and be glad you have a helmet on or they'd lock ya up for having a look like that on your face)

[KB02]

F I N E - C

Fuel value to on
Ignition
Neutral
Engine cut off switch to on
Clutch / Choke

 

I'm sure someone here remembers hearing something like that at one point in time or another. 

[nickjtc]

F I N E - C

Fuel value to on
Ignition
Neutral
Engine cut off switch to on
Clutch / Choke
 
I'm sure someone here remembers hearing something like that at one point in time or another. 

Someone has done the MSF or Canada Safety Council motorcycle rider training course.....!

[Rocker]

I had nightmares about FINE-C for months after my MSF class......

F I N E - C

Fuel value to on
Ignition
Neutral
Engine cut off switch to on
Clutch / Choke

 

I'm sure someone here remembers hearing something like that at one point in time or another. 

I also use a Black and Decker 2 AMP automatic float mode battery maintainer. I use it when I do not plan to ride my bike for more then a week or so. It is great to use over the winter. It has 3 different plug attachments. One in particular is very handy. You can screw down the leads to your battery terminals and hide the wire under you seat. When you want to put her on the charger,  pull out the wire, plug into the charger, and you are off. When my bike is on the charger, I check my water level in my battery every week or so. Then when it comes time to start her up, the battery is happy and not dead.




http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=15572#

[upperlake04]

   Almost the same as TT-

    Roll bike out of garage.
    Put on leathers, Helmet, gloves.
    Close garage door from outside.
    Sit on bike
    Turn on fuel petcock.
    Raise side stand
    Apply full choke
    Crack throttle to about 1/4.
    Push button- varoom
    Choke to 2/3 position
> Adjust balls
    Drive off.
    Over next 1/2 mile knock a bit off the choke periodically until all off.

[CrisPDuk]

Who d'you think you are Valentino Rossi

[clarkjh]

UpperLake04

If you have to adjust them then your leather pants are too tight.

James

[upperlake04]

   my 550 friends - not sure but it appears to be a 750F thing   

[Hope]

Key
Turn on gas
Choke opened full
Kick to prime
Ignition on
Cross fingers
Kick to start
Allow few mins of idle... rev it up some (mainly cuz I like to hear it)
Close choke
Get on, shut up and hold on....  woohooo away we go
 

[KB02]

Someone has done the MSF or Canada Safety Council motorcycle rider training course.....!

 

Actually, I'm currently studying to be a Ridercoach for the MSF. It's amazing ther number of little bad habbits that they say I have. 

[super pasty white guy]

Roll bike out of the back yard
Don helmet and gloves
petcock
choke
roll forward to make sure it's still in neutral (light's out again)
kill switch
ignition
clutch in, rear brake on
start

Choke off

Realize that I forgot my earplugs, adjust idle to keep it running and put in earplugs.

As an aside, I found that it starts much easier since putting in iridium plugs this spring.  With the electronic ignition and new plugs, it starts on the first kick (when I'm so inclined as to go that route).

Dave

[nickjtc]

Actually, I'm currently studying to be a Ridercoach for the MSF. It's amazing ther number of little bad habbits that they say I have. 

Are those little bad habbits any relation to the good hobbits in LOTR?

All the very best with your endeavours at becoming a Ridercoach. Teaching others the joy of riding has to be one of the most fulfilling pastimes out there.

[Sam Green Racing]

  my 550 friends - not sure but it appears to be a 750F thing   

I've got a 750F Dave

Sam.

[moduleum]

what the hey?

everyone turns their fuel off via petcock, or what?