Choke? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

mer1in20 · 08-23-2006, 03:07 PM

How long should you keep the choke out when starting a bike. Mine needs the choke sometimes but I was told two different theories on how long to keep the choke out. One was not longer than 10 seconds as any longer might hurt some plugs? The other was as long as you deem necessary so the bike will run smoothly. Anyone?

geoffsimpson · 08-23-2006, 03:32 PM

Until it runs smooth. I don't have a choke anymore, but when I did, I used it only to help fire up when cold and then a couple seconds after, slowly pushing it in as it ran.

That's just what I did....I'm sure there are different ideas out there

viper94bite · 08-23-2006, 03:35 PM

i'd say it depends on the bike. My bike is carbed and I don't even need the choke. My marauder I had to leave the choke on till the bike started to sputter with the choke on.

**Clint** · 08-23-2006, 04:30 PM

You're supposed to taper it down as needed to maintain the desired warmup rpm and to keep it accelerating smoothly while warming up. Then you shut it off.

Captain Steve · 08-24-2006, 05:02 PM

I used the "vroom vroom" method.

Start bike w/ choke. "vroom vroom".

Check bike's running gear. "vroom vroom".

Strap on gear, sit back on bike, turn off choke. "vroom vroom".

When the bike was cold, going "vroom vroom" with the throttle sounded good with the choke on, bad with the choke off.

When the bike was nice and warm, going "vroom vroom" with the choke on sounded like crap. It sounded great with the choke off.

I also tended to do the "vroom vroom" test whenever a pretty girl looked my way. "Just checking the choke ma'am".

92Notch · 08-25-2006, 02:04 PM

what the hell is a choke?

leenmachine · 08-25-2006, 02:29 PM

constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing

Rickster · 08-25-2006, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Steve

I used the "vroom vroom" method.

Start bike w/ choke. "vroom vroom".

Check bike's running gear. "vroom vroom".

Strap on gear, sit back on bike, turn off choke. "vroom vroom".

When the bike was cold, going "vroom vroom" with the throttle sounded good with the choke on, bad with the choke off.

When the bike was nice and warm, going "vroom vroom" with the choke on sounded like crap. It sounded great with the choke off.

I also tended to do the "vroom vroom" test whenever a pretty girl looked my way. "Just checking the choke ma'am".

Every time you go "vroom vroom" with a cold motor, you are taking thousands of miles off the life of said motor. I've read that as much as 85% of all engine wear happens in the first few min's of starting a cold motor.

As far as the choke goes, I agree with RowdyRed

RelicRider · 08-25-2006, 10:19 PM

I do that with all my vehicles, warm or cold. A few minutes waiting for the oil to get where it needs to be just seems to work for me. When its warm out I don't use the choke but I still give it a little time to warm up. I also agree with RowdyRed, works for me.

**inspiron** · 08-26-2006, 01:44 PM

RTFM?

Every bike is different. And every location is different. You'll have to try it out and see what works for you. It depends upon the temperature outside (if it's really cold, the engine will need a bit longer to get warm), and if you live at a higher altitude, you'll need to keep the choke open longer (because the engine is sucking less oxygen).

Peekaboo · 08-26-2006, 02:41 PM

I need to use my choke even on warm days. My bike is older though....1979 Honda Hawk.

ZukiChaos · 08-26-2006, 03:48 PM

When I had my Virago I would need to open the choke up longer when I started in cold weather. In warm weather I practically turned it down/off in a matter of a few seconds. Go by how your bike sounds. You need to get the cold engine "warmed up" quickly and that is what the choke is doing...it is mixing the fuel so the engine gets what it needs to do the job.

BTW, Harley calls this an enricher...I guess because it describes what the "knob" is doing a little better than CHOKE!

08-23-2006, 03:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
mer1in20 Newbie Joined: Aug 2006 Bike: 2003 Suzuki Marauder 800 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 11	Choke? How long should you keep the choke out when starting a bike. Mine needs the choke sometimes but I was told two different theories on how long to keep the choke out. One was not longer than 10 seconds as any longer might hurt some plugs? The other was as long as you deem necessary so the bike will run smoothly. Anyone? __________________ Cruisin'

08-23-2006, 03:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
geoffsimpson Throttle Jockey Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: Grey, not silver, GREY 2006 Suzuki Boulevard M50 * 1983 GS750E Cafe Racer project Location: Prince George BC Posts: 3,111	Until it runs smooth. I don't have a choke anymore, but when I did, I used it only to help fire up when cold and then a couple seconds after, slowly pushing it in as it ran. That's just what I did....I'm sure there are different ideas out there __________________ Please Note: All opinions contained herein are worth exactly what you paid for them. It's true that every time you hear a bell ring, an angel gets its wings... But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap "snap", and Angel gets set on fire... Grey * De-badged * V & H Straightshots w/ Thunder-Monster Baffles and Billet Hot-Tips * POWAH COMMANDAH!! * Kury Wide Style Levers * Kury Zombie Pegs (what's left of them) * Johnskit Forward Controls * Johnskit 2.5" Lowering Kit * Carbon Fibre-esque Trim kit * your mom * Memphis Shades HellCat windshield * Passenger Backrest * Baddass MO-FO behind the bars * Metz 880's w/ lettering * Flamed Thunder MFG Teardrop Intake *

08-23-2006, 03:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
viper94bite Sit speling cheker Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: 2008 Yamaha FZ6 Location: omaha, ne Posts: 1,792	i'd say it depends on the bike. My bike is carbed and I don't even need the choke. My marauder I had to leave the choke on till the bike started to sputter with the choke on. __________________ *yippee*

08-24-2006, 05:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Captain Steve Where Am I ? Joined: Aug 2006 Bike: 2006 Black C50 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 37	I used the "vroom vroom" method. Start bike w/ choke. "vroom vroom". Check bike's running gear. "vroom vroom". Strap on gear, sit back on bike, turn off choke. "vroom vroom". When the bike was cold, going "vroom vroom" with the throttle sounded good with the choke on, bad with the choke off. When the bike was nice and warm, going "vroom vroom" with the choke on sounded like crap. It sounded great with the choke off. I also tended to do the "vroom vroom" test whenever a pretty girl looked my way. "Just checking the choke ma'am". __________________

08-25-2006, 02:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
92Notch Birthday Boy Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: '05½ C50 Limited Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 860	what the hell is a choke? __________________

08-25-2006, 02:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
leenmachine Fender Buffer Joined: May 2005 Bike: 05 C50 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 422	constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing __________________ "Life is too short to be %%%%ty all the time!"

08-25-2006, 10:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
RelicRider Seat Tester Joined: Aug 2006 Bike: Savage 02 Location: Up the River from Harrisburg PA Posts: 66	I do that with all my vehicles, warm or cold. A few minutes waiting for the oil to get where it needs to be just seems to work for me. When its warm out I don't use the choke but I still give it a little time to warm up. I also agree with RowdyRed, works for me. __________________ I don't need a reason to ride.... just a direction

08-26-2006, 01:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 11,941	RTFM? Every bike is different. And every location is different. You'll have to try it out and see what works for you. It depends upon the temperature outside (if it's really cold, the engine will need a bit longer to get warm), and if you live at a higher altitude, you'll need to keep the choke open longer (because the engine is sucking less oxygen). __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400

08-26-2006, 02:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
Peekaboo Seat Tester Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: Honda Hawk Location: OILERVILLE Posts: 85	I need to use my choke even on warm days. My bike is older though....1979 Honda Hawk.

08-26-2006, 03:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
ZukiChaos Kickstand Operator Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: '05 BlacknBlue C50 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 284	When I had my Virago I would need to open the choke up longer when I started in cold weather. In warm weather I practically turned it down/off in a matter of a few seconds. Go by how your bike sounds. You need to get the cold engine "warmed up" quickly and that is what the choke is doing...it is mixing the fuel so the engine gets what it needs to do the job. BTW, Harley calls this an enricher...I guess because it describes what the "knob" is doing a little better than CHOKE!

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