Topic: Choke?

[Darrell]

How long do you usually run on choke, or how long should you? I usually run it for a minute or two on choke, then have to either ride with the choke on for the first 10 minutes or so, or just pull it when I stop, as it won't idle with out it until it's good and warmed up.

Is this normal? Other than the loss of power, is riding with the choke on like that bad for the bike in any way?

What should I keep it idling at when it's cold anyway? I usually put it about 1.5k-2k rpm.

Thanks for any answers to all these questions

[2000daytona]

I live in Miami and we always have warm, actually hot weather now. I use the choke for a few seconds when pressing the starter button just to put some extra fuel in the carb. After that when the bike starts up there is not much problem. I have had no problems on  my CB750 K2 and K5. Not sure what happens would happen when you have deathly cold weather in the north. With my experience with motorcycles I would not even think of leaving the choke on for more than 10 to 15 seconds at max. Hope this helps and have a safe weekend. Regards, 2000 daytona.

[Bob Wessner]

My K0, Michigan, summer and warm, also just pull the choke for an instant when I hit the starter, then immediately close it (or it will start to stumble). I usually have to manually keep the throttle open to 1500 or 2000 for 30 seconds or so, then can take off.

Not sure what the procedure will be when it turns colder, this is the first summer in 22 years. Guess I will find out.

[Buffo]

running with the choke on might foul your plugs and/or put X S deposits in them...but it wont really hurt the bike...it is just more fuel

[scondon]

That's about what I've come to expect from the 77-78 carbs. The slow jets are very small and prone to clogging. Bike just won't idle until the carbs are NUCLEAR hot. Pulling the choke adds a little extra gas to the mix as well as closing down the air supply so you'll be running a tad rich with the choke pulled. I've been doing the same thing as you for around 4 years and have not had any problems. Just remember to take the choke all the way off when bike has warmed up(10-15 minutes).

         1500-2000rpm is fine for cold starting.Pulling the choke should raise your idle up to 2500rpm. When bike is good and hot and you've pushed the choke in your idle should drop to around 1100rpm. My opinion.

[Darrell]

Thanks for the input guys. That's the way mine acts scondon, and it'll idle just fine off choke when it's good and warmed up. It's just getting warmed up it has a hard time doing.

Oh well, at least I know I'm not too far off.

[ProTeal55]

I would use the choke as little as possibile.
The more fuel dumped into the motor at idle will just foul out your Sparkplugs.

My bike is REALLY cold blooded , so when i am just about to turn if off , i raise the idle about 300 rpm't then shut it off.
When i go to re-start the bike after it had been sitting - it fires right up , and has a good idle. After riding for about 10 min , the motor gets some heat in it , and i re-adjust the idle for riding conditions.

Same as in the American V-Twin world : Chokes and Enrinchiners are Evil