I don't know if this might be a stupid question but here it goes:

Everytime I startup my bike I ALWAYS have to start it with the choke about two thirds open. The bike wont start unless I do this. Is this normal? Also, How long should I wait before I know that the bike is warmed up? Thanks

 

Heh, everybody seems to have a slightly different startup ritual for their F3 (wonder if someone sacrifices a GSX-R to theirs before hitting the starter).

Depending on temperature or how long its been sitting, mine can vary slightly. Mostly with the choke amount. On really warm days or if I had ridden it before, she starts with 0 choke. When the temp got cooler, I'd have to use about 2/3rds choke. Right now with the temp in the 30s, full choke.

I leave the choke where I set it to get her started until the engine smoothes out and the idle RPMs jump up. Usually it'll hit 2.5k - 3k RPM and hold there depending on choke amount. Then I slowly ease the choke off. The RPMs will drop to normal idle, which for my bike is about 1.2k - 1.3k. Then I let her sit till I see the temp gauge move and I know she's ready to roll

 

+1 on these ladies being picky about start up.

i actually find it interesting about how mine starts up.
my routine goes as follows.

1) walk up to f3 and say "hello gorgeous"
2) i slowly circle her, running my hands up and down her plastics
3) i mount her, 2/3 choke in the winter, no throttle, and turn her on... no pun on that one.

works every time.

 

i love reading your posts lol

 

wheewww! i thought it was only my bike that did that. So do I have to wait for the temp gauge to move or can i just ride her as soon as the rpms jump?

 

when i get her started in cold weather, i usually wait until my temp maxes 270* on the f4i gauge which is about a minute or so. Otherwise mine has some weird sputtering with the choke on or when the bike isnt warm.

Here's a trick i found that works for me.
Turn the bike on then gear up to ride.
The amount of time it takes for me to gear up is the perfect amount of time for my bike to get warm.

Cheers?

 

Well I guess I'm old school automotive. Dealt with cars without a little light that turned off when it was warmed enough to drive off. That was the way I was always taught (and not to go by the light even if there was one)

 

Well the way I've been doing it is that as soon as the bike kind of jumps to about 3-4k rpm i lay off the choke put my helmet, jacket,facemask, gloves and ride off. I think the bike should be warmed up. Also ever since I replaced the oil cooler my bike is running much colder and the temp gauge takes a while to go up.

 

Exactly what I do each morning before the commute.