Planning ahead - how does the Valk start in cold weather?

[Hellcat]

December's a long way away, but the Valk just became my only bike, and I commute year round by bike unless there's ice and snow. How do you winter riders keep this carburated monster starting below 30 degrees? My last bike was fuel injected and didn't have any issues starting as low as 20 degrees, but my last last bike was carburated and would fail me around about 27 degrees. Got stranded at work once - no fun.

[9Ball]

below about 40 degrees the enrichener (not really a choke) will be your friend.  MAke sure you know that it engages when it's pushed to it's limit, not the first stop.

[R J]

There is a lever on the left handle bar.  Push it till ya can’t force it no more and hit the starter,  She should come awake.

On mine if you tap or blip the throttle right away, it will die.

Let it run for about a minute and raise that lever back to it’s original starting point.

When you push the choke on, you will hit resistance at the point it is going to enrich (choke) the carbs.    Push it some more.  That lever should be pointed straight across the tank to the throttle grip, if it looks like it is pointed above that grip, it is not fully engaged……

I have started mine at 5 below with no pain.   Below that is becomes more reluctant to starting,   I blame it on the battery not having enough poop to give the plugs the needed spark to fire & run.

[Hellcat]

You have started a carbureted bike at 5 below with no problems?   

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Just make sure you know how to operate the choke lever correctly.
You need to forcebly move it to the choke position,not just half way.
I start my bike a few times during the winter,in sub zero temps,and it starts up just like when warm.

[john]

like a champ ...   

[FLAVALK]

I've had my bike for 9-years and never used the choke....oh yeah, I am in Florida...never mind   

[Rocketman]

the methods listed above will work fine, but my preferred method is to move south till you stop seeing cold temps.

[Bugslayer]

You'll have no problem. She'll start fine. 

[Cliff]

I have ridden to work on many a 20 degree morning and the Valk starts fine even when it is that frigid.  Yes the choke is a must.  The first winter I didn't realize the first stop wasn't the final stop.  Then It really got cold and starting was a bear but if I palyed the throttle I could get it started and warmed up.  Then one afternoon I was working the choke while watching the carbs,, (LOL) Low and behold when I hit what I thought was the first stop I had only taken up the slack and the choke hadn't even begun to move.  Then when I pushed harder all the way down with the lever (as also described in one of the previous replies) I could see the the mechanical action on the carbs.  The next cold morning the startup was sweet!!! As were the rest of the frigid starts. Don't let the fear of cold starts worry you >>>> those worries would be unfounded!

[f-Stop]

Being from Central Texas I rarely use the choke (cold here is in the 40's) nevertheless, wouldn't a block heater come in handy for ya'll in the cooler climates?  I have one on my Dodge diesel and have used it once or twice when the temps have actually dropped into the 20's...starts right up.

BTW, you good folks from the north would love to see what happens here when we actually do get a freeze...schools close, government offices shut down and driving on the roads is like bumper cars at the midway.  We hunker down in our homes and start fires in our little fire places.  It's really kind of fun!
The trade off - 20+ days in triple digits...and counting!

[txredneckmedic]

Only suggestion I have is a slightly thinner oil. I know in mine I usually run a heavier weight oil during the summer (doesnt get colder than 100 here for a good portion of the year)