Author Topic: running in cooler weather (Read 9162 times)

rmx250 · « **on:** March 07, 2005, 11:14:58 AM »

My wife has an 03 B6 with just over 2500 miles. She finally got some gear so she can ride comfortably in cooler weather. Her bike is completely stock. It takes quite a while to warm up enough to be ridable and even longer to be able to take the choke off. With the choke on, it idles fast but stutters as soon as any throttle is applied. Is this just the nature of the inline air-cooled 4? I had an SV and just had to shim the needles and all was fine. Now I have a Vstrom with FI. Man, FI can be great or a big PIA.

Thanks,
Larry

Banditboy600 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2005, 12:53:36 PM »

Holeshot or Ivan's jet kit will solve the problem instantaneously. Worked wonders on my 02 B6. Hardly ever leave the choke on for more than a minute.

Red01 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2005, 07:16:31 PM »

The B6 is cold-blooded as jetted from the factory. A kit will cure it!

Noonie · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2005, 07:55:39 PM »

Funny, I live in Yorkshire UK and it's been a really cold few weeks, freezing temps, rain and snow etc.

I always have to start my B6 on the choke but it doesn't take long to warm up, maybe 5 minutes and I can set off with the choke off.
I believe the UK 600 bandits are fitted with carb heaters but I'm not sure if they're turned on (I know there should be a switch somewhere, according to the Haynes wiring diagram, I just can't find it! :razz:)

Red01 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2005, 08:51:21 PM »

IIRC, only the 1200 has the carb heaters in the UK.

rmx250 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2005, 11:32:23 AM »

Are there any other options other then a jet kit? I remember just shimming the needles in my SV did wonders. My wife is not looking for any real performance increase but just to get rid of the cold blooded nature of it.

Thanks,
Larry

DavesBandito · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2005, 12:47:33 AM »

Adding a single shim to each needle did the job for my 00 B6. I had a step-by-step w/Radio Shack part numbers ...piece of cake. Best .08 cent mod you can do.

tacoman · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2005, 04:04:31 PM »

I would really consider the jet kit w/ignition advancer. The bike gains much more low end under 4k rpm. In other words, its more rideable with easy warm up. I've preached before that stock I don't feel the B6 is a good beginner bike. There's no power under 4k rpm, especially cold. You really need to rev it and add to this the clutch is very short travel. You can guess what happens with this combo. The rider will rev it to avoid stalling and then pop the clutch. Instant wheelie and acceleration. Check out a stock B6 with a beginning rider, I guarantee you'll find scuffs on the engine cases from going down. If you need to get by on the cheap, one shim under each needle will solve cold start problems.

rmx250 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2005, 04:22:28 PM »

I jsut talked to Dale at Holeshot. I orderd a modified stage 1 kit. This will give me something to do while the weather is still cold. Plus it will make my wife happy!

Thanks for all the input.

Larry

tacoman · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2005, 05:50:41 PM »

Good choice! the kit doesn't make the bike a fire-breathing monster, it just smooths out the power band. Power is nice & mellow but still pulls well under 4k rpm, where newbies like to be.

rmx250 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2005, 12:57:01 PM »

My wife has actually been riding for quite a long time. (Since she was 14 or so) This is her first bike that is bigger then a 250. I can't believe she rode this bike since it was new without saying something. I am looking forward to doing the work.

Larry

FreediverGa · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2005, 01:47:14 PM »

I always hear people say that talk to Dale I always get a young lady that talks really low and I have asker to repeater herself all the time. I'm never able to talk to Dale directly to answer questions!

Red01 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2005, 07:49:09 PM »

I belive he's out of town at the moment, but when he's in, all you gotta do is ask to talk to him.

B6Matt · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2005, 01:05:34 AM »

When my carbs were stock jetted, I started the bike with 100% choke, then cut it back to about 80% choke to ride to the first traffic light about 1 mile away. If it started to idle fast during the first few miles, reduce choke down to about 50% or where the idle just drops down. After about 3 miles, 0% choke.

This worked down to about 20 deg. F.

Post Holeshot Stage 1, I start with about 75-85% choke, then drop to 50% after it's running, and 0% choke after about a mile or so.

FreediverGa · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2005, 02:11:38 AM »

I really wanted to to the holeshot stage 1 kit but after putting my scorpion s/o I went from 180-185 miles before having to switch to reserve to 161.
How much more would I lose after installing stage 1