CX500 GL500 650 Global

As I'm new still (but have learned a million things thanks the this site and CC), where I live has just started to get cool at night (mid 50's as a low) and I've just started my job again (teacher) so now I'm getting up and starting the bike early in the morning when it's still cold. It's pretty stubborn and doesn't like to start right away, where as last week when I'd start it, even after sitting for maybe 2 days without using it, it would still start right up on the 1st or 2nd try. Do I just need to find the right combo of throttle and choke for her? Starting it cold, but when it was in the sun (70-80 deg.) it only needs 1/2-3/4 choke, but the past couple of mornings I've put it on full choke, twisted the throttle a couple times, and it still took maybe 5-6 tries before she wanted to come to life. As I'm planning to ride until it either gets too cold to breathe, or until it snows, I'd like to know if there's any hints/tips for cold weather start-up?

Yes Kingston, some bikes are a bit stubborn in cold weather. Although 50 degrees should not be that clod if all is working at top form and the tune up is right. The oil your using can cause things to drag a little when its cold if it's to thick. Most of us use a good 10/40 W oil. Any thicker and it takes a bit to warm it up at cold start.

My 78 starts on the first click of the starter, where as my sons might take a couple hits of the button some times. A lot depends on the condition of every thing in the motor, including compression, valve adjustments, condition of the spark plugs, and most important of all, how well the carbs are tuned and how clean they are inside. After cleaning my sons 80 Customs carbs, it starts with about 1/8th chock and can be pushed back in after about 30 seconds of running. Before I did the carbs, it could take much more to start it after a day or more of sitting.

They all have their funny little needs sometimes. Just find the sweet spot if you know all the details are perfect, and you'll be fine.

BTW, when you pull the choke, you should be at about 2000 RPM.

Is that 200 rpm at full choke? It idles just above 1000 rpm once warmed, but with full choke it will rev itself up past 2000 all the way up to about 3500.

For what it's worth;
With fresh carb overhaul per LRCXed and Shep's recommendations, mine kicks off instantly with no more than 1/4 choke for warm weather - fast idle @ 2000 or so.
Prior to carb service, it was too lean > took more choke and sometimes extended crank, rough idle etc..

As per above.The colder it gets the thicker the oil is at starting.If the battery is weak it will take longer.If the carbs are not 100% this will add to the harder starting.If you are only doing short commutes it's worth buying a battery tender charger and giving the battery a top-up,

This is the type I use,

http://www.thefastone.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=551448

Again the carbs are paramount to the easy starting and running of these bikes.

One of my CX only like a about an 1/4 choke max and will choke if give it more.The other one,if left for a few days,likes a full pull on the choke as I hit the button but then have push the choke back down to a 1/4 almost immediately.

It does no harm to take the air filter out and give the the carbs a blast of Carb/Brake cleaner into the carbs from time to time until you can fully and completely clean them.This is the time of year to get it done as the colder weather approaches.

I spent some quality time this past weekend with my carbs at my kitchen table, followed all your advice and recommendations for cleaning. They weren't bad at all, but there were a couple of plugged holes. The jets themselves were very good, and the by-pass valve rubber was also in good shape. I put them back together and have been driving to work all week. It's been in the low 50's, high 40's in the morning, and after cleaning the old girl is firing up on the first try. I have to pull it to almost full choke but then it will start to die if I don't push the choke back in a little. thanks all!

kingston73 wrote:I spent some quality time this past weekend with my carbs at my kitchen table, followed all your advice and recommendations for cleaning. They weren't bad at all, but there were a couple of plugged holes. The jets themselves were very good, and the by-pass valve rubber was also in good shape. I put them back together and have been driving to work all week. It's been in the low 50's, high 40's in the morning, and after cleaning the old girl is firing up on the first try. I have to pull it to almost full choke but then it will start to die if I don't push the choke back in a little. thanks all!

I have to pull full choke and push back to about a 1/4 for a short while as you do on one of my CX.On the other it's about half and then push back full in.There are so many variables like the carbs wear/plugs/leads/battery/ignition that so long as they fire up on both cylinders pretty fast and I don't have to keep the choke out for any unusual length of time then I'm happy.Both my engines warm up pretty fast once riding

I would assume that the plugged holes were air passages. That can keep fuel from being drawn into the jets and starve it for fuel.
Good job on cleaning it.
Enjoy
Larry

With a CDI engine, a PERFECT battery is vital, as Shep says a trickle charger is what you need. What these bikes HATE is not being ridden. Leave them a couple of days and they can be swines to start, especially as it gets colder.

Ride them as often as you can, even if it's just for fun.

I've been riding it for a week since I took the carbs off and cleaned it, and I didn't really notice until today, my idle is different between a cold and hot engine. When I first start in the morning, after it's warmed a little and will idle off choke, it's right around 1100 or so, just over the 1000 mark. But after riding it for a while, when it's good and warmed up, it settles into an idle around 1500. Is this normal, or did I get something not right after cleaning? I don't want to just start turning idle adjustments and screws, because it does run very strong and the plugs are a good color, but if it's idling too high i'm wasting gas that I don't need to.