Normal choke operation

[mikemo]

Hello all. I had a question about my new (to me) 1995 VFR.

 

On a cold start, 85F outside temperature, I pull the choke lever all the way back and hit the starter. The bike starts instantly and idles around 1500rpm. The manual says that immediately after starting, use the choke lever to keep the rpm between 2500 and 3000rpm, and after 15 seconds, turn the choke completely off. Mine never goes that high when choked. At most it idles at around 2000rpm with the choke lever pulled fully toward me. 

 

When I went for my first ride I noticed that the warm idle was a bit high at 1500rpm. When I got home I adjusted the idle knob to bring it down to about 1100rpm. Now, when coming off of choke after a cold start, the idle is quite low until the bike is very warm.

 

Is all this normal, or do I have carb issues lurking?

 

BTW, the engine seems to run fantastically. 

Thanks!

[Captain 80s]

Sounds pretty normal to me.  Sometimes after starting on FULL choke, if you give the throttle a slight blip the choked high idle will jump up, and then you can adjust the lever to the desired RPM.

 

Also, you don't necessarily have to completely turn the choke off after a bit.  You can dial it down to get a decent idle until it wants to idle without out choke at the proper RPM.

 

Or have everything ready and sit on the bike manipulating the throttle with no choke at your desired RPM until warm and safe to ride without wanting to die in a bad spot.

 

Yes, that is a FANTASTIC engine and bike. 

[squirrelman]

i dont use the choke lever to set my warmup idle speed; instead i adjust the idle setting screw to boost cold fast idle, then dial it back when warm.  at 85 degrees, no choke should be necessary for starting, so its clear youre using it to boost cold idle speed.

[Captain 80s]

1 hour ago, squirrelman said:

i dont use the choke lever to set my warmup idle speed; instead i adjust the idle setting screw to boost cold fast idle, then dial it back when warm.

 

Adjusters are very accessible on RC36.  Another good suggestion, which I also do every now and then on my bikes 

[tsmitty]

With mine, I have always given it full choke then hit start, when she goes into high idle I will unchoke slowly until a smooth 1500 idle, at that point I wait, dont change anything, the bike will go into a second high idle after a minute or so, then I turn the choke off and she's ready to rumble. I mentioned this in a post;  my bike seems slow to reach the second fast idle so I turned the mixture screws in 1/4 turn for a try.

[mikemo]

Thanks again, guys. Good to know.

 

[Wald]

On 7/18/2024 at 6:25 PM, mikemo said:

Hello all. I had a question about my new (to me) 1995 VFR.

 

On a cold start, 85F outside temperature, I pull the choke lever all the way back and hit the starter. The bike starts instantly and idles around 1500rpm. The manual says that immediately after starting, use the choke lever to keep the rpm between 2500 and 3000rpm, and after 15 seconds, turn the choke completely off. Mine never goes that high when choked. At most it idles at around 2000rpm with the choke lever pulled fully toward me. 

 

When I went for my first ride I noticed that the warm idle was a bit high at 1500rpm. When I got home I adjusted the idle knob to bring it down to about 1100rpm. Now, when coming off of choke after a cold start, the idle is quite low until the bike is very warm.

 

Is all this normal, or do I have carb issues lurking?

 

BTW, the engine seems to run fantastically. 

Thanks!

This sounds quite normal to me. My '97 does the same. It always starts within less than a second, revs around 2000 rpm, I adjust the choke immediately, pull the clutch few times and off we go! I close the choke after 200 yards already.

We need to see some pictures!