choke question

tbone · 10-03-2008, 01:37 PM

Hey everyone....im always wondering how long should the choke be really on for....maybe someone can clear it up.

I find that when the full choke is on and drop it to the middle the bike revs much lower which is normal but i just never know when really the choke should be droped exactly. i mean from middle to no choke nothing changes im assuming i should be going from open to close ?

i guess what im saying is should i keep doing as i am for about 10 seconds and then drop it ? or should the sound actualy change when full open before i lower it ?

I got a 2003 vstar by the way

Thanks for all the help!!
Love this forum great reads!

YamahaFan · 10-03-2008, 02:11 PM

not sure about your bike, but mine idle up to 4k rpm when choke's on, so when it hits around 4k I turn it off.

Choke's for easy start in cold weather, once it starts and can idle on its own you can turn it off, still let the bike warm up a little

kitty kat · 10-03-2008, 02:27 PM

My bike won't start at all with the choke on, but previous bikes I used choke to get bike to idle at about 1200 rpm, and gradually reduced it to keep the idle speed constant.

Cruzrat · 10-03-2008, 05:43 PM

The wife's 03 V-star starts with 1/2 choke and no throttle. It will idle up enough to run while it's warming up at that setting. You should only have to use the choke for a minute or two at most.
If you don't have time to warm up before you ride , choke it at start and then as you go a mile or so down the road close the choke

Rat

sstep5884 · 10-04-2008, 08:53 PM

I've got a V1100. I'll start my bike with about 3/4 choke and only keep it there until I'm done backing out of my parking space in the morning. I only usually have to do this on cold mornings. Like Cruzrat said, you really only need it for a minute or two max.

stuco · 10-04-2008, 10:16 PM

Don't leave it on for two long. If you have to for longer than a minute or so then your bike is not tuned properly. On my 78 kawasaki, I ususally have to choke if it's cold or hasn't been cranked in a while. It likes to be reved up with the choke on (I adjust how much choke is on depending on how the engine sounds, gradually taking it off) for 10 or 20 seconds before it will idle smoothly. I've read reviews of this my bike from 1978 that say the same thing about this model when it was new. Anyway, the more you ride your bike, the more you will learn what it takes to get it idleing correctly.

tbone · 10-06-2008, 07:57 AM

ya i guess if i had a rpm display it would make this whole process easier. ok thanks to all for the advise

skooter Bum · 10-07-2008, 07:38 PM

Apply the choke full and after it starts, reduce the amount of choke applied.
Listen to the engine, it'll tell you when to turn it down.

On my 1100, I usually full choke it and after it starts, I go about half choke.
After a few moments, the engine will start to run a little rough, readjust the choke again until the engine smooths out and the rpm is stable.

By the time I get my riding gear on, the engine is warm enough to take the choke completely off.

The rule of thumb is, don't use the choke for more than 3 minutes. Any longer than that, the pipes may start to turn blue or discolor.

Hope this helps.

Ride Safe

10-03-2008, 01:37 PM	#1
tbone Motorcyclist Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 7	choke question Hey everyone....im always wondering how long should the choke be really on for....maybe someone can clear it up. I find that when the full choke is on and drop it to the middle the bike revs much lower which is normal but i just never know when really the choke should be droped exactly. i mean from middle to no choke nothing changes im assuming i should be going from open to close ? i guess what im saying is should i keep doing as i am for about 10 seconds and then drop it ? or should the sound actualy change when full open before i lower it ? I got a 2003 vstar by the way Thanks for all the help!! Love this forum great reads!

10-03-2008, 02:11 PM	#2
YamahaFan Certified Homeless Biker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: MA, US Posts: 2,560	not sure about your bike, but mine idle up to 4k rpm when choke's on, so when it hits around 4k I turn it off. Choke's for easy start in cold weather, once it starts and can idle on its own you can turn it off, still let the bike warm up a little __________________ 1996 Yamaha FZR600, first and current bike, and loving it. RIP Pat Taylor aka iamgumby I'm into women in leather. No whip please. It's not my style.

10-03-2008, 02:27 PM	#3
kitty kat Biker for Life Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blackpool, England Posts: 870	My bike won't start at all with the choke on, but previous bikes I used choke to get bike to idle at about 1200 rpm, and gradually reduced it to keep the idle speed constant. __________________ A bike is for life, not just sunny Sundays

10-03-2008, 05:43 PM	#4
Cruzrat no title needed Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Harrison,Ar. Posts: 521	The wife's 03 V-star starts with 1/2 choke and no throttle. It will idle up enough to run while it's warming up at that setting. You should only have to use the choke for a minute or two at most. If you don't have time to warm up before you ride , choke it at start and then as you go a mile or so down the road close the choke Rat __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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10-04-2008, 08:53 PM	#5
sstep5884 Verified Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 21	I've got a V1100. I'll start my bike with about 3/4 choke and only keep it there until I'm done backing out of my parking space in the morning. I only usually have to do this on cold mornings. Like Cruzrat said, you really only need it for a minute or two max.

10-04-2008, 10:16 PM	#6
stuco Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 268	Don't leave it on for two long. If you have to for longer than a minute or so then your bike is not tuned properly. On my 78 kawasaki, I ususally have to choke if it's cold or hasn't been cranked in a while. It likes to be reved up with the choke on (I adjust how much choke is on depending on how the engine sounds, gradually taking it off) for 10 or 20 seconds before it will idle smoothly. I've read reviews of this my bike from 1978 that say the same thing about this model when it was new. Anyway, the more you ride your bike, the more you will learn what it takes to get it idleing correctly.

10-06-2008, 07:57 AM	#7
tbone Motorcyclist Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 7	ya i guess if i had a rpm display it would make this whole process easier. ok thanks to all for the advise

10-07-2008, 07:38 PM	#8
skooter Bum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Warren, Michigan Posts: 1,280	Apply the choke full and after it starts, reduce the amount of choke applied. Listen to the engine, it'll tell you when to turn it down. On my 1100, I usually full choke it and after it starts, I go about half choke. After a few moments, the engine will start to run a little rough, readjust the choke again until the engine smooths out and the rpm is stable. By the time I get my riding gear on, the engine is warm enough to take the choke completely off. The rule of thumb is, don't use the choke for more than 3 minutes. Any longer than that, the pipes may start to turn blue or discolor. Hope this helps. Ride Safe