The bike has always ran strong, but I sold it to my sons friend and he has been learning how to ride it and doing great. It would start and run strong like always and all of a sudden now it wont start unless I give it a handful of gas. Once it starts she idles and runs strong. Once I shut it down and then try to start it right back up it will start, but if I let it sit for a few minutes or more it wont start without a fist full of gas. I changed out the plugs and still the something. Anyone please have any ideas what could be going on. I am by no means a mechanic, but am puzzled as to how all of a sudden this is happening. I feel just terrible as the kid just bought the bike from me last week. Anyway, hopefully one of you has an idea on what it could be to help me out so I can get this bad boy to start regular again. Thanks.

 

My bike did pretty much exactly the same thing. Mine turned out to be a broken choke cable.
So maybe its in the choke circuit somewhere

 

Thanks Hamlin... How did you figure out that it was the choke cable?

 

I was having issues with cold applying the choke didn't have any affect. I wrongly assumed that the clamp on carbs that holds the choke cable had come loose. So I removed the fairings, tank, etc. only to find that I was wrong, the clamp was sitting there, holding the cable just as it should. So with everything apart, I moved the choke lever and the cable didn't move. So I tugged slightly and the cable just pulled right on out.

 

Ok Thanks... Ill check that, but not sure thats what it is. Thanks for your help and time.

 

But that kept the bike from starting?

 

It did. When the bike is tuned properly, it is very hard to start without applying choke, (lever on the left handle, operated by the thumb) when cold. I had to crank and crank before it would do anything. It would finally start, run like garbage until it warmed up and then be ok.

 

Ok, so I just went out to the garage and tried to start the bike with the choke on. It wont turn over... so I turned the choke off hit the start button and with a little gas she fired right up.. let it idle for a second and turned the choke on and it cut right out. Tried this a few times with the same result. I have it running and idling right now with no problem. Any thoughts?

 

This was all while she was cold and haven't tried to start it today.

 

Let it warm up and see what it see what the RPM is. it should be around 1,200. if it's other than that, then the idle needs to be adjusted. That would be a 1st step.