Cold Natured

[MPittma100]

My bike seems to want to run for a good while on the choke mode before it is ready to go down the road. Is this pretty much normal? (1979 XS11 Special with low mileage)

MP

[James England]

My bike seems to want to run for a good while on the choke mode before it is ready to go down the road. Is this pretty much normal? (1979 XS11 Special with low mileage)

MP

It depends how cold it is when you start the bike. You should be able to ride it down the road with the choke on though, until the engine warms up. Can you do this? It's a 2 position choke. I rarely use my full out setting, just the first notch...

[MPittma100]

Cold Natured

Yes, I normally use the second stage rather than full choke. I usually wait for it to warm up, but may try riding with the choke on in the future. I guess most of us (including me) find it hard to remember the different running characteristics between carbs and fuel injection.

[natemoen]

I think you have some carbs problems.

You have 2 threads that are basically referring to the same problem. Puck one of the threads and let's keep everything in that one.

[DGXSER]

For my bike, I always start on full "choke". It takes maybe 30 seconds or so and it is ready for the mid "choke" setting. I let it idle there until I can give it throttle and it does not sputter at me. Then ride it. Even in cold weather, it only takes maybe a mile and the bike is idling high and ready for to close the "choke". I put choke in parenthesis because it is really an enrichment system, adds fuel rather than limiting air.

[DCII]

I always start my bike on full choke when the engine is cold and usually let it run for about a minute or two until I put it in a notch. From there it normally takes another minute or until I get my Helmet and Jacket on before it is ready to ride.