Strange starting VT100

[Dragoon]

Fine bikers all over!!!!

I have a 05 VT1100 Honda Shadow Spirit. It runs fantastic, has a LOT of pull and is just an all around wonderful bike especially for my 60 miles each way commute on SoCal freeways.

However, when I bought it, they told me these bikes need a little more gas then normal when starting it up. Mine certainly does. I need to press the starter and crank it adding gas until it finally starts. Sometimes I have to do this three or four times before it finally roars to life. When it is cold, I simply add a bit of choke and it starts first crank. I am certain this is not right and would like you to opine.

Some helpful info: the bike has Cobra full length pipes on it, I am not sure if they have done anything to the jets or of they had dealt with the air intake. I am STILL waiting for my owners manual to check all of this out. I will be replacing the plugs this weekend so will look to see if the problem is there, however, as I say, it runs like a dream, idles perfectly and evenly and has so much torque that I can't imagine I am having a spark issue.

Any ideas?

By the way, the Cobras have a great sound to them and now my neighbors believe that I really do leave for work at 4:30 am

[DivideOverflow]

Start with a little choke every time. A lot of bikes are just cold blooded to start.

[Dragoon]

Thanks.

I will try that for a few days.

[sharpmagna]

Yeah I agree with starting the bike with choke all the time. It's been pretty hot lately and even then, the bike needs the choke on to start and continue running. If I don't use choke, it'll run for about 30 seconds and then you can hear it start sputtering. If I start with choke, the RPMs will ramp up after 20 seconds or so of running. I'll turn off the choke and the bike runs just fine...

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

My husband had the same bike and most of the time it'll take some choke to get it going...