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Adjusting idle speed, V-star 650?

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:21 am
by acritzer
Hi everyone. My bike seems to take a LONG time to warm up, and I'm concerned about having the choke out too far or too long. Can I adjust the idle speed to find a better middle ground? If so, how do I go about doing that? What are the recommendations for this type of adjustment?

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:34 am
by Sev
Idle should be in th range of 1200rpm. You don't want to increase idle speed to make it warm up faster.

It's a carbed bike, so it will take a while to warm up, that's just part of the game. But I'm of the opinion you should have it on a the choke for the shortest time you can get away with. So I'll start riding even with the bike ready to stall out because it's still cold.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:03 am
by acritzer
Is there anyway to know the RPMs without a tach? Thanks, I'll keep that advice in mind. I keep trying to push the choke in when I think it should be warm, only to come to a stop light and end up stalling, or almost stalling....guess I could give it a little gas (duh).

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:43 pm
by Social Distortion
650 v stars take a little while to warm up, especially when its cold.
Take your time, open up the choke for the recommended time stated in your dealer manual and go.
USually, i open my chokes and let it go for 15-30 seconds wide open, then i push in the choke and put my gear on.
Helmet, jacket, tank bag, gloves and glasses-
off i go....

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:42 am
by acritzer
I rode in to work today. It was around 50. I started with it wide open. Then pushed in half way while I put my stuff on. Next, I pushed it in to about 1/3 and took off. After about a couple miles I eased it in a little more. I'd say after 5 miles I pushed it all the way in. Still sounded like it was close to giving out, but it managed to stay running.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:13 am
by jstark47
acritzer wrote:I started with it wide open. Then pushed in half way while I put my stuff on. Next, I pushed it in to about 1/3 and took off. After about a couple miles I eased it in a little more. I'd say after 5 miles I pushed it all the way in.
I tend to put the choke on my Bonneville back in as soon as possible, and tolerate a little cold engine stumbling at idle. But I put it in in steps, just like you said here.

BTW, the idle adjustment is often a knob to turn in the general vicinity of the carbs. Check your manual. If you're going to do it at all, don't adjust idle until the bike is thoroughly warmed up - like 20 minutes of highway running. If you raise idle speed so it idles easier at start-up, then it will be too fast when the bike is warmed up.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:34 am
by acritzer
jstark47 wrote:
acritzer wrote:I started with it wide open. Then pushed in half way while I put my stuff on. Next, I pushed it in to about 1/3 and took off. After about a couple miles I eased it in a little more. I'd say after 5 miles I pushed it all the way in.
I tend to put the choke on my Bonneville back in as soon as possible, and tolerate a little cold engine stumbling at idle. But I put it in in steps, just like you said here.

BTW, the idle adjustment is often a knob to turn in the general vicinity of the carbs. Check your manual. If you're going to do it at all, don't adjust idle until the bike is thoroughly warmed up - like 20 minutes of highway running. If you raise idle speed so it idles easier at start-up, then it will be too fast when the bike is warmed up.
Thanks Stark. I've figured that out now, after some helpful posts. I guess the v-stars in general take a little while to warm up. I think I just got nervous after pushing the choke in too soon and stalling while at a stop light. My fault though, it wasn't warmed up all the way.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:08 am
by jonnythan
My Virago will sometimes stall when I pull out the choke lever, even when it's warm enough to run without the choke.

My solution is to just pull it out very quickly. If it does stall, I just start it right back up. When it's 50 degrees or so out, I only need to have the choke in for about 30 seconds before the engine can run without it.