Starting

[Fatjohn]

Any of you guys find that your alp can be a bit of a challenge to start if the situation requires only a little bit of choke? I'll give you an example; this morning it was brass monkeys, gave her full choke (no throttle) and as she always does, she fired first time. Unfortunately (being a nob) I managed to stall her on the ramp up out of my yard. No problem, press the starter - nothing. Ease the choke back on a bit - nothing. Take the choke off a bit - nothing. Take the choke off altogether - nothing. put it on a bit again - nothing. etc. etc. Eventually, I get it right and off we go. Now, this situation more regularly happens at this time of the year after a day at work; full choke is too much, no choke is too little (unless you catch her on the throttle straight after) and so I have to spend a minute or so some nights trying to get it right. I don't use throttle on starting as the manual says don't and I tend to do as the good people at Honda say. The irony of the situation is that I can be away for a fortnight, come back to start her on the coldest of mornings and I *know* she'll go first time. What actually worries me is that evening when I'm leaving work and I don't know if I'll have to do the choke shuffle!

This ring any bells? Or should I just get a scooter and never darken motorcycling's doors again?

[Austin]

Never have to use the choke at all on mine. Even on the coldest mornings. It just starts!!

Wonderful bike, and I get high fifties and even sixt mpg

[Von Short Hausen]

Yup FJ, I can definitely relate to that. Mine ('99) is a pig in the cold weather if I've started her on choke and then stalled after about a minute. There just doesn't seem to be a setting that works.

With my previous Fazer (in line 4) I used to take the choke off and flip the throttle, but as you point out, Mr Honda say NO

[Dessert Storm]

From cold, I always start mine on full choke. Usually defy Mr Honda and give it a little blip of the throttle as it fires (I can still be dangerous: oh yes.). After a short period, the engine tells me it wants less choke so I move the lever to the halfway position. By the time I have put on my helmet and gloves it is ready to have the choke off completely. If I stall, it restarts without protest.

Is yours a 600 or 650, FJ?

[Fatjohn]

650.

As I said - it never fails to start first time in the morning, at any time of the year, the only time I ever have a problem is if it's been sat in the cold for 8 or 10 hours since it was last run and can't make its mind up just how much choke it needs. Then it can be a bit of a pain, but I know it will go....just as soon as I get it set up right.

Just doesn't look very cool, that's all...

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Must admit the choke setup (jets?) don't seem as good on the 650's as on the 600's.

I find a bit of throttle on first crank helps, doesn't like being sat, ticking over with choke on though, I tried messing with the pilot screws, to no benefit..

Are the valve clearances and carb balance ok?
It should restart no problem.

Phil

Austin.... I think you have a rogue bike! (I wish I had one.....)

[Austin]

Austin.... I think you have a rogue bike! (I wish I had one.....)

I know

Bad starting such as described has to be flooding - wet plugs coz there is too much petrol in the cilinder. The old cure, and one that works on everthing I have ever owned - car and bike is, give it 30 seconds or so. Then close the choke [ie off], full throttle and hit the starter until it starts. It will cough and splutter before it begins to rev, but as u close the throttle it should catch properl. Then hit the throttle repeatedl until it runs clean. There will clouds of black smoke out the exhaust. If it still needs choke, gentl ease it open for the minimum it needs to keep it running.

[Von Short Hausen]

Well I've been playing with the choke a bit today..

Blipping the throttle works a treat, so I reckon I can blip to my heart's content in future. Which just goes to show that you can't believe everything you read

Mr Honda - Hah, what does he know, he just builds the ruddy things

[ChrisH]

Never have to use the choke at all on mine. Even on the coldest mornings. It just starts!!

Wonderful bike, and I get high fifties and even sixt mpg

C'mon, man.. be honest you're not even STARTING the engine, just paddling along wiv de feet to get that sort of MPG Hardly ever use the choke on my 600, but then it hardly ever gets really cold here in de Emerald Isle...

[Austin]

C'mon, man.. be honest you're not even STARTING the engine, just paddling along wiv de feet to get that sort of MPG

no, honest, I've written about this before. It happens all the time!!!!