Choke now sorted

[Lord Stig]

"Kipper Tie" - that's hillarious! When you said "had" Brummie in-laws, I gather you managed to change them for some that might sound enthusiastic once in a while. No, I take that back - the chef the won the Midlands Great British Menu heat had a fine accent and did sound enthusiastic about food. Otherwise the two Brum stereotypes that appear in my head when I hear the accent are Neil Morissey and the 'I can't help noticing I'm considerably richer than yaw' Harry Enfield character....

I never have a problem starting from cold with the chokes blanked off - it has to be well below freezing for that. To be honest, even if there were a problem I'd probably still accept it than have the hassle of the chokes all the time. Bad design Mr Honda. On the other hand I'd rather have carbs than FI.

[YEN_POWELL]

It's hard to describe the starting. I actually use two hands to start from very cold. Right hand on the throttle and press the button with my left. I don't open the throttle at all as I start pressing the button. The motor spins (still with the throttle closed) and you'll sense it's actually firing and can open it a very small amount and let go of the button. Then it's very small movements to keep it ticking over.

I then ride straight off. If I stop 40-50 yards further up the road, to do up the top bit of my jacket say, or post a letter into my local postbox, it will normally run without any assistance on the throttle from me, but if it does stop (say snow on the ground type cold) then it'll start on the button straight away, now it knows what to do.

I told you it was hard to describe.

[icenian]

At about 2 Celcius or above mt AT is easy to start without choke. It gets pretty hard at around zero, but I don't think I've ever failed to start it except when it's been around -4 or -5 Celcius.

(That assumes the engine is really cold, several hours at least in sub zero temperatures.)

The most important thing (IMHO) is that if it won't start straight away, leave it for a couple of minutes before trying again (annoying, but less so than a flat battery). Always start with no throttle; and as it catches open the throttle a bit (don't yank it wide!) to try and keep it roughly around 2000-2500rpm.

If you have a garage/shed with power, get a cheap electric fan heater. Sit it on a box so it blows straight onto the engine. Go back in house and put your gear on, and by the time you're back out the bike will start and tick over no bother

[YEN_POWELL]

"Kipper Tie" - that's hillarious! When you said "had" Brummie in-laws, I gather you managed to change them for some that might sound enthusiastic once in a while. No, I take that back - the chef the won the Midlands Great British Menu heat had a fine accent and did sound enthusiastic about food. Otherwise the two Brum stereotypes that appear in my head when I hear the accent are Neil Morissey and the 'I can't help noticing I'm considerably richer than yaw' Harry Enfield character....

Well I called them in-laws. When you aren't married to someone it's a pain to keep describing their adventures with the words, " My girlfriends mum and dad" every time. Hadn't seen them for a few years (they live in South Wales) but stayed with them on my son's 14th birthday last August.

I still remember the first time I met them at their home. I was taken into an attached granny flat. Inside was my girlfriend's mum's mum. A very stern proud looking lady well into her 80s. Better mind my ps and qs here I thought.

" Hello gran, this is Ian, he's just arrived on his motorbike" said my girlfriend.

"Oh arr, orroight Ian, would you loik a lend of me motorcycle news?"

She had a copy delivered every week!! Turned out that her and her late husband had been motorbike fans all their lives and had been involved in speedway and other racing events in the midlands. She used to get the motorcycle news to see what the kids of all her old friends were up to in the racing world.

The granny flat was a converted garage. My girlfriend's dad (who wasn't that keen on her) used to tell everyone he kept his mother in law in the garage.

[Lord Stig]

Ha! Now that's class! That would be the Great Grand Inlaw then....

[icenian]

Well I called them in-laws. When you aren't married to someone....

you call them out-laws, surely?

[YEN_POWELL]

you call them out-laws, surely?

[JB1]

Icenian
I normally get about 160 - 180 to reserve. Both chokes weren't stuck on just the one. When I dismantled them, the left one was in as new condition and so I presume was working fine which is probably why it ran fairly smooth. The other choke plunger was rusted and the spring had broken.
Fortunately my bike is garaged and I ride various bikes for work so tend not to ride the AT during the cold periods.

[AIRWOLF]

Icenian
I normally get about 160 - 180 to reserve. Both chokes weren't stuck on just the one. When I dismantled them, the left one was in as new condition and so I presume was working fine which is probably why it ran fairly smooth. The other choke plunger was rusted and the spring had broken.
Fortunately my bike is garaged and I ride various bikes for work so tend not to ride the AT during the cold periods.

JB1
must be common,
mine was rusted solid + spring in bits on right side, - left one ok.

YEN,
thanks for that, I understand.
was how i did it, just need a bit of practice.
use a transalp or XR600 for winter/off road, so @ is tucked up for winter
but was glad of choke on @ at Squires meet (frost on seat and tent )

[icenian]

Icenian
I normally get about 160 - 180 to reserve

Hmmm, that's fairly bad. When mine got as lowas 180 to reserve (as opposed to about 200) I started looking for what was wrong (never found it though, seemed to recover on its own!)

Icenian
When I dismantled [the chokes] the left one was in as new condition and so I presume was working fine

You could well be right, but I wouldn't assume that. They can seem to be fine, move freely and it's impossible to see what's up - but the bike can still run like a dog. The trouble is to can't test them with everything fully assembled, and clearly it's possible for something that seems fine seize up a bit when put back together. Condition of the plugs is usually a giveaway, in my (limited) experience.