Choke on the bike?

[overworkedmonkey]

How long do I need to run the choke on the bike before I know it has sufficiently warmed up and second I can turn off the choke and ride off?

[zmlam]

Personally I put it on to start the engine, which gives me a few moments to briefly walk around the bike and eyeball it and make sure everything looks fine (15secs). Turn down the choke by then as the bike has (slightly) warmed up. Then I kick it in first gear and once I have started moving I turn off the choke.

Coming from a newbie point of view/experience. Have had no problems so far.

[Juzz976]

when the snow melts?

[overworkedmonkey]

Personally I put it on to start the engine, which gives me a few moments to briefly walk around the bike and eyeball it and make sure everything looks fine (15secs). Turn down the choke by then as the bike has (slightly) warmed up. Then I kick it in first gear and once I have started moving I turn off the choke.

Coming from a newbie point of view/experience. Have had no problems so far.

When you say "turn down", do you decrease the amount of fuel being pumped or simply turn off the choke completely? Seeing that there is real way of telling whether the bike has completely warmed up, how do you ensure it's safe enough to drive off without damaging the engine? With cars traditionally there's an indicator of some sort as an example.

[overworkedmonkey]

when the snow melts?

Interesting concept.

[Katman]

It pays to get the choke off as soon as you can, even if it means keeping the revs up by holding the throttle open slightly. The operation of the choke richens the fuel mixture which can have the effect of slightly fouling the plugs. Back in the days of leaded fuel the lead helped clean the plugs after that over-rich starting process but nowadays getting the engine up to full operating temperature is the only way to clean the plugs. Getting up to full temperature can take longer than you might think and if your riding is only short commutes your plugs can sometimes struggle to get back to a clean state. This can eventually lead to the bike not starting at all.

The bike can be ridden almost straight from start-up without any damage to the motor. Just don't thrash it.

[rc_36_rider]

touch is the best method, when the head starts to get warm to hot to the touch the valves and cam etc are getting hot oil and have started to take up normal operating clearence and it is safe to load up the engine. That is for 4 strokes 2 strokes are a different kettle if fish...

[Juzz976]

Interesting concept.

Thats how I know when to use the choke, when theres snow and ice.

Maybe because my bikes are stored inside a garage.

Turn choke off when engine temp is 20°C if u have a digital temp display, if not find out where your needle is when temp is 20°C.

[rc_36_rider]

Personally I don't like to load up a motor like ride the bike untill it hase taken up some of the internal clearences. Piston expansion etc to help reduce piston wear and the like, makes a difference in the long run or on old motors.

[Juzz976]

It pays to get the choke off as soon as you can, even if it means keeping the revs up by holding the throttle open slightly. The operation of the choke richens the fuel mixture which can have the effect of slightly fouling the plugs. Back in the days of leaded fuel the lead helped clean the plugs after that over-rich starting process but nowadays getting the engine up to full operating temperature is the only way to clean the plugs. Getting up to full temperature can take longer than you might think and if your riding is only short commutes your plugs can sometimes struggle to get back to a clean state. This can eventually lead to the bike not starting at all.

The bike can be ridden almost straight from start-up without any damage to the motor. Just don't thrash it.

+1 Katman is always right, when will people just accept this.

[rc_36_rider]

Also of note is when I started researching the to warm up the engine or not debarcle I found some interesting stuff out that ford had been doing in the 70's. they found that piston wear reduced dramitacally around 180 to 190 f compaired to even 160 f. im not sure what this equates to in celcious but what it tells me is your pistons are wearing out faster when the engine is cold...

[superman]

Yeah, never had to use choke as of yet. Weather has been too hot. Though I have heard her struggle a bit turning her on with no choke when it's 15 degrees or so before the sun has thus penetrated the valley I live in.

Plus I usually stare at my bike for 2 minutes once it's started before I ride off

[Juzz976]

Personally I don't like to load up a motor like ride the bike untill it hase taken up some of the internal clearences. Piston expansion etc to help reduce piston wear and the like, makes a difference in the long run or on old motors.

Running motors unloaded for long periods of time glazes the cylinder walls,
internal clearance for production motorcycles also differ from F1 cars and GP bikes.

[SMOKEU]

Every engine is different. I use about 2/3 choke to start my CBR from cold, then turn the choke right off after about 30 seconds.

[zmlam]

When you say "turn down", do you decrease the amount of fuel being pumped or simply turn off the choke completely? Seeing that there is real way of telling whether the bike has completely warmed up, how do you ensure it's safe enough to drive off without damaging the engine? With cars traditionally there's an indicator of some sort as an example.

Turn down - pull back on the choke (but not completely) so I can at least get out of the driveway. Once I'm out of driveway I normally turn it off completely.

But after the comments above - perhaps as the bike is warming up and while you're doing the walkaround/check gear, etc, slowly reduce the choke a few notches at a time (as it seems choke is not good to use?).

Or is it better to even avoid using the choke and use the throttle to keep the engine running (though I thought using the throttle and choke is the same thing).