Did I hurt anything?

[damooster]

It's 30 degrees outside and I decide that I want to ride for the first time in almost two weeks. If I don't ride my bike and it's been about a week, I usually start it up and let it run for a bit to get everything flowing, but I didn't do that since the last time I rode.

I usually start the bike like this: I push the starter button while I open the choke up until the bike starts. I let it run idle for about 5 minutes and then I take off. I will close the choke (is that the right term) after a few blocks and normally I don't have any problems.

However, the past two rides have been different: I get down the street and when I stop at the red light, my bike cuts off. I try to start it and no go. I wait 15 seconds and try again, this time with some more choke, but no start. I wait 15 seconds and try again. Still no go.

This morning, I'm at the stop light and it cuts off again. The light is about to turn green, so I panic and turn the choke all the way up and open the throttle. The bike starts all right, but it shoots up to 10k rpm before I can let go of the throttle and close the choke. The light then turns green and I head to work, where I didn't notice any problems (matter of fact, I was going faster than usual because I was so freaking cold).

On my way home, the bike does this again (shuts off at the light). In another panic, I again rev it up and the bike is at a high rpm. Cars are honking behind me, so I just open up the throttle while it's already at ahigh rpm and make it home. I didn't notice any problems on the way home, and the bike seemed to idle fine. After a few minutes of running it doesn't shut off any more.

So my question is, did I hurt anything at the stop light? In the future, should I let the bike warm up longer? What did I do wrong?

(Explanations in layman terms would be appreciated as I'm a mechanical crazy donkey).

[badinfluence63]

damooster,

I road up until November 6th. And I noticed when it got 30 degrees +- I needed to choke it longer and slowly push the choke in a little at a time because it was so cold. I think you might choke the bike different in cold arse weather. To do like you normally do might not work. Air seems thicker when colder.

[Wrider]

Yeah, things take longer to warm up in the cold. Last winter when I was riding my Volusia (was in Colorado at the time), at some points, usually about 0 F, I had to leave the choke on a little. And yeah, just back it out slowly.

Also, don't pin the throttle when you're using the choke. If you open the throttle a little, say about 1/4 or less, you should be good to go!

Wrider

[Brackstone]

Yesterday I stalled on my way to a red light because I didn't let my bike warm up enough.

I'm actually glad it happened because I never experienced it before. Now I'm not scared of it anymore.