idle question...

[JunoAF]

Hey all, quick question for you guys. Dont worry, bike rides fine but there are some things that I would like to fix that way its more convenient for me. on idle, i always have to start it with the choke out. It starts up and naturally, i fight the choke all the way down to its normal idle temp. By fighting i mean after a couple seconds, the idle begins to climb where i slowly let the choke back in. This is a constant battle that I have to fight every time I start the bike up from a cold start. Is there anyway to fix this? Is it a carberator problem? Carb synch problem? oh, i have an old 1988 Ninja 600R. Thanks all!

[JunoAF]

bump for good measure

[butcher bergs]

Sounds normal to me.

I have to start my 2003 with at least 3/4 choke and decrease from there in a similar manner.

It's a 1988 carbed bike, not sure what more you expect as far as stone-cold starts.

[Ericthejet]

I have the 1984 Ninja 900 and my bike does the same thing.
Once started on the choke I need to "tap" it every few seconds backwards to start to close it off. After a span of about 45 seconds, maybe more, the choke is nearly closed.

My idle typically is about 1200 rpms.

Choke plungers do get dirty and over time you may notice a difference.
This is my 7th season with the Ninja and this year I've noticed my cold start procedures are just a bit different due to a somewhat fussier choke.

[richw]

If the bike has cooled down and the choke (dribbler) is needed then that is how God intended.

If you need the choke once the bike is hot then there is a problem


EEEPAH EEEEPAh EPA has the lower jets in carb bikes way to lean so the choke is needed more than old days.. They barely would run thus EFI

Carb
Clean sync float levels all might make it worse. I would see if I could still get a Jet kit for that bike. Pull the carbs clean and put in the kit check float level be happy. If you have a pipe you really need this.

If you cant then if they are Mikunis then you can look up Sudco chain idle and airjet I think.

More power crisper reactions and better gas mileage all await

[Stoneman]

I'd go along with most of what's been said. I had a coupla 84-85 Kwak (GPz) 750's that did the same thing. It was almost like a crap shoot as to where I hadta leave the choke and for how long. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd start fucking with the carbs all that much on an old dog like that. You may end up opening up a can of worms you'd really rather not deal with. Other than that, do the typical: check & clean the air filter, check the plugs and replace if necessary, check the choke cable...

Do you have an aftermarket exhaust or air filter on it?

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I had an 87ZX750 that did the same thing. It required less choke fiddling once I went from stock exhaust to the V&H 4:1 (courtesy of the a-hole that rear-ended me on 114 in Salem), no idea why, but it still happened. Like the previous posters, I considered it normal for a 20yo carb'd bike.

[6 Fingered Man]

Any one notice a common problem here?

They are all Kawasakis. Sell that turd and get a Honda!

[Stoneman]

Any one notice a common problem here?

They are all Kawasakis. Sell that turd and get a Honda!

Ya prick-o'-misery! They're all TWENTY YEAR OLD Kwak's we're talkin' about!

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Any one notice a common problem here?

They are all Kawasakis. Sell that turd and get a Honda!

Read the post in my email without reading who posted it, just something that happens because of the way the notifications show up in my email. Yet somehow, I knew who it was going to be that posted it... :

[OreoGaborio]

That's just how chokes work. As the engine warms up you need less & less.

If it ain't broke...


Shit, that's how my Aprilia works & it's injected... the ECU doesn't have an automatic high idle though so you've got a thing that looks like a choke on the handlebar. Does the same thing. Idles, then when the temp gets up to about 40*C the RPM's go up... turn it down a little... then again when it creeps up to 45-50... turn it down... then by the time it reaches 55-60 the "choke" is all the way off.

[6 Fingered Man]

Ya prick-o'-misery! They're all TWENTY YEAR OLD Kwak's we're talkin' about!

jump on my 20 year old hawk, check out how it idles and starts with no choke Man i love that honda wing. just looks so great.

Did you know kawasaki started by building wooden ships? i think they use that technology on there bikes now...

[richw]

Jet kits

[JunoAF]

ahhh ok so basically i should just deal with it. Not that im saying its a bad thing or complaining at all but it would bo SOOOOOOOOOOO nice to just fire it up with the choke out. ya know? Maybe it is a kawi problem but im gonna say its because its a 21 year old bike lol. Think a jet kit would really help?

Edit: No, the bike is completely stock

[dave1450cc]

It's normal.

The way to eliminate the need for a choke is fuel injection, i.e. get a new bike. Even with EFI, the ECM's (computers) control the fuel/air intake during the warm up. But at least you wouldn't have to fight it.

A jet kit isn't going change the need for choke...

[butcher bergs]

but it would bo SOOOOOOOOOOO nice to just fire it up with the choke out. ya know?

Then you have two choices:

1) never let the block cool off

2) purchase a machine with fuel injection

[richw]

Jet kits always contain pilot jet and air screww adjustments exactly where the choke is needed excessively

ALso general service of 20 year old carbs somewhat obvious

[Lethal_Threat]

My old Honda needs its choke pretty desperately when cold too. It is to be expected out of 20+ year old bikes.

[Stoneman]

That's just how chokes work. As the engine warms up you need less & less.

If it ain't broke...


Shit, that's how my Aprilia works & it's injected... the ECU doesn't have an automatic high idle though so you've got a thing that looks like a choke on the handlebar. Does the same thing. Idles, then when the temp gets up to about 40*C the RPM's go up... turn it down a little... then again when it creeps up to 45-50... turn it down... then by the time it reaches 55-60 the "choke" is all the way off.

jump on my 20 year old hawk, check out how it idles and starts with no choke Man i love that honda wing. just looks so great.

Did you know kawasaki started by building wooden ships? i think they use that technology on there bikes now...

ahhh ok so basically i should just deal with it. Not that im saying its a bad thing or complaining at all but it would bo SOOOOOOOOOOO nice to just fire it up with the choke out. ya know? Maybe it is a kawi problem but im gonna say its because its a 21 year old bike lol. Think a jet kit would really help?

Edit: No, the bike is completely stock

It's normal.

The way to eliminate the need for a choke is fuel injection, i.e. get a new bike. Even with EFI, the ECM's (computers) control the fuel/air intake during the warm up. But at least you wouldn't have to fight it.

A jet kit isn't going change the need for choke...

Then you have two choices:

1) never let the block cool off

2) purchase a machine with fuel injection

My TL-R is FI, and it too still has a manual 'choke' (fast idle). I gotta nurse that thing 'down' until it reaches just about 100 degrees...

[JunoAF]

lol well at least i know now that its common. *whew* glad I didnt start replacing parts on the carbs! Thanks all for the advice. Its a beginner bike anyway, so theres no point in doing anything to it. Looking into an updated ZX-10R maybe for next summer? ah well, thanks for the add all!

[Ericthejet]

Any one notice a common problem here?

They are all Kawasakis. Sell that turd and get a Honda!

Pffft!