Choke question

Voodoo Rufus · July 24th, 2009, 09:57 PM

I have a quick question regarding the choke on cold start. My bike fires up fine without the choke, but if I add any choke, the bike will sputter and die. It will idle fine without it, but idles pretty low around 500-800 rpm. After a couple minutes it will rise to my set idle of 1250 rpm. Throttle inputs cannot be entered very much until the motor starts to warm up. Ambient temps are between 60-80F. I don't start riding until I can freely rev the motor, which takes about 5 minutes or so. I don't consider this a big problem or anything. Just looking for an explanation.

kkim · July 24th, 2009, 10:22 PM

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_is..._at_startup%3F

M-Oorb · July 25th, 2009, 06:52 AM

I think some if that info should be added the the ninjette wiki

Posted via Mobile Device

Voodoo Rufus · July 25th, 2009, 07:10 AM

Unfortunately, I don't see where in that FAQ that it explains why any choke application would stumble or kill the motor.

kkim · July 25th, 2009, 10:16 AM

are you turning the throttle when trying to start w/ the choke on?

Voodoo Rufus · July 25th, 2009, 10:24 AM

No.

kkim · July 25th, 2009, 10:27 AM

double check to see that the choke cable is adjusted correctly at the carbs.

what are the temps where you live?

komohana · July 25th, 2009, 10:28 AM

applying choke once the engine is running will have it do the same thing on my bike.. maybe i'm not understanding your process. personally, i crack the choke just abit prior to hitting the ignition. i'll apply choke and give the throttle a short twist then hit the ignition. i realize that may go against 'established' procedures, but it works for me. then again, i'm in tropical weather. since adding shims to the mixture needles, i haven't used the choke whatsoever.

Voodoo Rufus · July 25th, 2009, 11:27 AM

When I start the bike it's 60-80 degrees F. The altitude here is 7,000 feet. Might that have something to do with it?

kkim · July 25th, 2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rufus

When I start the bike it's 60-80 degrees F. The altitude here is 7,000 feet. Might that have something to do with it?

yes, the altitude might make the difference. air is less dense at higher altitudes (so less oxygen content), so more fuel gets mixed per fixed quantities of air. short story, you're running rich already, so adding the extra fuel w/ the choke may make it too much for the bike at start up.

If you ride at that altitude a majority of your time, you may want to speak with your dealer about what can be done about rejetting for higher altitudes. I believe Kawasaki says rejetting might be needed for anything above 5000 ft. Check your owner's manual for the exact altitude.

Perhaps someone else who rides above 5000 ft can comment?

Voodoo Rufus · July 25th, 2009, 12:26 PM

After the engine is fully warmed it runs fine. No hesitation or anything. After 1,000+ miles I can see myself pursuing an exhaust/jet kit, but that will be a couple months from now.

Alex · July 25th, 2009, 09:42 PM

It'll warm up much quicker if you just started riding it. I think the key part of that wiki entry is the advice to not just let it sit in the driveway idling for an extended period. Start it, and get on the road.

Voodoo Rufus · July 26th, 2009, 02:18 AM

Does one really want to try to ride it when you can't get it to rev at all? Or are you suggesting let it warm just enough so that there's enough throttle available to get moving?

g21-30 · July 26th, 2009, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkim

Perhaps someone else who rides above 5000 ft can comment?

PM Cochese, since he lives in the Boulder/Denver, CO area, which is definitely above 5000 ft.

Check out Post #31 in this thread:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19131

komohana · July 26th, 2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

It'll warm up much quicker if you just started riding it. I think the key part of that wiki entry is the advice to not just let it sit in the driveway idling for an extended period. Start it, and get on the road.

when i was still using the choke, i'd let the bike sit w/choke applied for a min. or so, but started to ride the bike away w/choke applied per the wiki entry you've mentioned. again, am doing the tropical/sea-level starts but it would still take abit for rpm's to settle when warmed up enuff.

July 24th, 2009, 09:57 PM	#1
Voodoo Rufus ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Evanston, Wyoming Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawi Ninja 250, Blue Posts: 28	Choke question I have a quick question regarding the choke on cold start. My bike fires up fine without the choke, but if I add any choke, the bike will sputter and die. It will idle fine without it, but idles pretty low around 500-800 rpm. After a couple minutes it will rise to my set idle of 1250 rpm. Throttle inputs cannot be entered very much until the motor starts to warm up. Ambient temps are between 60-80F. I don't start riding until I can freely rev the motor, which takes about 5 minutes or so. I don't consider this a big problem or anything. Just looking for an explanation.

July 25th, 2009, 10:28 AM	#8
komohana ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Steve Location: Kekaha, Kauai HI Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 GSX-R 600 2003 EX250: Woodcraft Bars, Levers, Mirrors, Shim'd Mixture, Synthetic, '08 Rear Shock Posts: A lot.	applying choke once the engine is running will have it do the same thing on my bike.. maybe i'm not understanding your process. personally, i crack the choke just abit prior to hitting the ignition. i'll apply choke and give the throttle a short twist then hit the ignition. i realize that may go against 'established' procedures, but it works for me. then again, i'm in tropical weather. since adding shims to the mixture needles, i haven't used the choke whatsoever. __________________________________________________ Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous?

July 25th, 2009, 09:42 PM	#12
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	It'll warm up much quicker if you just started riding it. I think the key part of that wiki entry is the advice to not just let it sit in the driveway idling for an extended period. Start it, and get on the road. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

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July 24th, 2009, 10:22 PM	#2
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_is..._at_startup%3F

July 25th, 2009, 06:52 AM	#3
M-Oorb ninjette.org sage Name: Matt Location: South East Florida/Rutgers University Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250r (Fastest Color) Posts: 914	I think some if that info should be added the the ninjette wiki Posted via Mobile Device

July 25th, 2009, 07:10 AM	#4
Voodoo Rufus ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Evanston, Wyoming Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawi Ninja 250, Blue Posts: 28	Unfortunately, I don't see where in that FAQ that it explains why any choke application would stumble or kill the motor.

July 25th, 2009, 10:16 AM	#5
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	are you turning the throttle when trying to start w/ the choke on?

July 25th, 2009, 10:24 AM	#6
Voodoo Rufus ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Evanston, Wyoming Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawi Ninja 250, Blue Posts: 28	No.

July 25th, 2009, 10:27 AM	#7
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	double check to see that the choke cable is adjusted correctly at the carbs. what are the temps where you live?

July 25th, 2009, 11:27 AM	#9
Voodoo Rufus ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Evanston, Wyoming Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawi Ninja 250, Blue Posts: 28	When I start the bike it's 60-80 degrees F. The altitude here is 7,000 feet. Might that have something to do with it?

July 25th, 2009, 12:26 PM	#11
Voodoo Rufus ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Evanston, Wyoming Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawi Ninja 250, Blue Posts: 28	After the engine is fully warmed it runs fine. No hesitation or anything. After 1,000+ miles I can see myself pursuing an exhaust/jet kit, but that will be a couple months from now.

July 26th, 2009, 02:18 AM	#13
Voodoo Rufus ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Evanston, Wyoming Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawi Ninja 250, Blue Posts: 28	Does one really want to try to ride it when you can't get it to rev at all? Or are you suggesting let it warm just enough so that there's enough throttle available to get moving?