starting the engine

[elpaso jo]

Gentlemen,
Can you please solve a problem, So many Valk owners  in Europe  have different views on starting a valkyrie
SO HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS

When the engine is cold do I:
Open the choke to half using no throttle,  warm her up and open the throttle gradually
Open the choke to half using a little throttle till warm and rev the engine gradually.
Open the choke fully using a little throttle/ half throttle.
Also, please confirm if revving the engine when cold can do damage.
Im a pretty new owner of a Valkyrie and it can take a little getting to know mechanically speaking
Appreciate a reply
Joe

[GJS]

Hi Joe,

I live on Vancouver Island off the west coast of BC Canada.
The hottest days of summer here are between 25-32 degrees C (85-100F), rarely do we see 33+
The coldest days in winter tend to get as low as -5 maybe -10 on a really cold day (15-25F).

In all but 4-6 weeks in the summer, I use full choke and no throttle. The bike gets up to about 2600 rpm for a minute and then I back it off slowly to make sure everything runs nicely.

I think you will find that the choke is quite stiff and only engages in the last inch of travel, if it is like my bike.

The only time I don't use the choke is if it has been running already that day and/or if it is above 28C (75F).

As for racing the engine. Bad idea. Oil has not had a chance to circulate yet. Increased wear would be the issue.

Cheers,

Glenn

[BF]

Gentlemen,
Can you please solve a problem, So many Valk owners  in Europe  have different views on starting a valkyrie
SO HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS

When the engine is cold do I:
Open the choke to half using no throttle,  warm her up and open the throttle gradually
Open the choke to half using a little throttle till warm and rev the engine gradually.
Open the choke fully using a little throttle/ half throttle.
Also, please confirm if revving the engine when cold can do damage.
Im a pretty new owner of a Valkyrie and it can take a little getting to know mechanically speaking
Appreciate a reply
Joe

You answered your own question already. 

[Chippy01]

When you say cold, I assume you mean first thing in the morning.

Full choke, no throttle, hit the starter. When she fires up the revs will run (as GJS says) to about 2,500.
What I do then is to start backing off on the choke slowly until the bike can idle on it's own without the choke. If the engine starts to stumble a bit, I'll give the throttle a slight blip.
In the dead of winter, it takes a bit longer to drop the choke.
If it's anyway hot out (midday onwards) like it's been recently, you shouldn't need much, if any, choke at all.
Racing a cold engine is not agood idea, that's why I drop the choke as soon as possible. Most engine wear occurs at start up. The oil needs to circulate to give proper protection.

[elpaso jo]

Thank you Guys
Its good to hear that the choke seems to be SPONGY while pushing on, mine is exactly like that, it must be the same on all Valkyris.
i only need to choke it if not driven for a while, in our winters in Ireland where its damp and cold she is hungry for Gas to start up.
What ye said makes a lot of sense.
Its great to get expert advice Thank you all again
Joe

[mirion]

I just want to state that all Valks are not the same, what works for one may not on another. I say this because I have a 1997 that I only choke below 50F and a 2000 that needs to be choked at 80F

[gordonv]

You mentioned spongy for the chock, and Glen mentioned that the chock doesn't start till the end of the slid. That is just the cable and linked taking up the slack, when it stops, you move it about another 1/2", below the halves line in the clamp. You think you are breaking it, but you aren't.

As for chock, for myself, I start the bike with the chock, cold in the morning, and after settling myself on the bike, I slowly drive out of my underground parking, down the road slowly to the corner 2 blocks away, and after turning onto the main street, I then back off the chock completly.

Sometimes I us a little throttle if it doesn't start right away. Then my second try is with the chock off, and blipping the throttle.


Like mirion said, what works for one, doesn't work for another. I don't like idling, but then I have the opportunity to ride slowly, and then I'm in the city, for about 2-4 min to get onto the hwy and off to work.