Starting without choke: how cold have you got away with? And a tip...

[icenian]

This is a question for those of you who have disable your bike's choke (before the choke disables the bike...)

What's the lowest temperature you've managed to start the bike in? I mean when it's been left overnight so it's had a proper chance to get cold.

Until now I think I've never had to start it at less than about -2 Celcius. But last night it was -7 and it wouldn't start...

Tip: If you're lucky enough to have a garage/shed with power, stick a fan heater pointing at the engine. After 15 minutes it started (with a not too healthy battery too) and ticked over immediately

(Newbies who haven't found out about the choke yet, try a search of this forum; here's one to get you started: Choke....again)

[chronyx]

I was glad I haven't done this last night outside the pub, don't think it would have fired without it.

Normally it's garaged and will fire without the choke in this weather, but very roughly and normally cutting in and out on one cylinder for about 10 seconds until there's a trace of heat in the cylinders.

[icenian]

last night outside the pub, don't think it would have fired without [choke]

If the bike has been ridden, even several hours beforehand, it seems fairly easy usually. Never have any trouble at all on cold evenings leaving work; equivalent temperature in the mornings can be a wee bit tricky.

[stageonesimmo]

Garden thermometer said it was still below freezing this morning and she was a bit of a pain, but ran fine with no chike at all after a bit of light coaxing on the throttle. So I'm still not gonna be tempted to use it............ (the choke that is, not the bike, I a proper AWB me... )

[Lord Stig]

Although I only got round to taking the mechanism out of the equation this summer (?), I used to follow Yen's rule and not use it. Having the old 75 mile commute at 4.45 am every day for the last few years the temperature was down to -6 degrees a fair few times, and I never had a problem. Actually, it could have been lower than that on a few occasions, but I didn't have a thermometer at the time (I used to have a black ice sensor fitted - you really don't want to lose it round the Devil's Puch Bowl (Hindhead) at 5.00 am in the pitch black).

I really, REALLY don't want to have to put the bl00dy thing back on, so it would have to be a pretty serious reluctance to start for me to even think about it.

[YEN_POWELL]

Although I only got round to taking the mechanism out of the equation this summer (?), I used to follow Yen's rule and not use it. Having the old 75 mile commute at 4.45 am every day for the last few years the temperature was down to -6 degrees a fair few times, and I never had a problem. Actually, it could have been lower than that on a few occasions, but I didn't have a thermometer at the time (I used to have a black ice sensor fitted - you really don't want to lose it round the Devil's Puch Bowl (Hindhead) at 5.00 am in the pitch black).

I really, REALLY don't want to have to put the bl00dy thing back on, so it would have to be a pretty serious reluctance to start for me to even think about it.

Everyday use seems to make a difference, fresher fuel in the carb I reckon. If I leave mine more thasn about 5 days and it's very cold it can take a few attempts to start it. Like many things in life, it's all in the wrist action!

[doglegdon]

Freezing? What the hell is freezing?

[icenian]

Like many things in life, it's all in the wrist action!

So, as a master of right hand action...

What's the secret? I have to keep the throttle completely closed until it fires, then open it straight away to try and keep the revs up at about 2000rpm. So there's not much wrist action involved if it doesn't fire at all...

[Lord Stig]

That quick start stuff would be better than the accursed choke - maybe that's an idea. Of what artic drivers sometimes use for waxed diesel - a fire built under the bash plate....

Maybe iridium plugs would help? I have them fitted, and starting is even easier than it normally is without them.

[Cie]

Well I did -1 this morning, absolutely no problem at all, I'm sure I can get a lot lower than that.

Oh, and the bike lives outside, with a simple canvas cover.