Total Motorcycle Community Forums

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).

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.

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

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.