Another Choke Question

[LPC2104]

Ok, I searched and found some stuff but it's taking forever.  I think it's a lot easier if I ask.  Through my search, I learned that the GS chokes can be a PITA.  I have a '90 and it takes a long time to warm up.  Usually, I open the choke all the way and let it run for about 10 minutes (temp is 40ish).  If I close the choke, the bike dies.  I got sick of doing this and started riding for the first few minutes with the choke 1/2 way open until I felt comfortable it wouldn't stall at a light.  From searching, I learned that I shouldn't be riding with the choke on.  I'd love to eliminate the slow start-up and riding for 5-10 minutes with 1/2 choke but I don't know how.  Is it normal for it to take this long to warm up?

I've read I should check the "float".

Maybe clean the carbs?

Anyone have any ideas?  I hate sitting in the parking lot ten minutes after work letting my bike warm up.  Thanks in advance.

[ajgs500]

Riding with the choke on for the first few minutes isnt going to hurt anything.  I do it all the time.  Rejetting the bike will help the bike warm up fast.  Run a search for REJET/ING or check the FAQ's for advice.

[scratch]

Full choke for 10 minutes is going to foul your plugs, and that also may be why it wont hold an idle, or takes so long to warm up.  What's your idle at when fully warm?  It should be 1200-1300rpm's, after a 10-15 minute ride.

[LPC2104]

Full choke for 10 minutes is going to foul your plugs, and that also may be why it wont hold an idle, or takes so long to warm up.  What's your idle at when fully warm?  It should be 1200-1300rpm's, after a 10-15 minute ride.

My idle hovers around 1300 and 1500 but that's after I've been riding for a bit.  I might be doing something wrong when I warm it up in the morning so I'll try next week and report what I find out.  It's been raining here all week and I can't (won't) ride in the rain yet.  Here how I warm it up and I think I was doing it wrong.  Basically, I would go out and start the bike choke open.  Come back inside and finish getting dressed, put on my boots, gloves, jacket, and helmet, then I release the choke about 1/2 way and go to work.  After about 10 minutes of riding I close the choke. 

Last week, somewhere in the middle of this procedure, I start the bike, go inside to get dressed come back out and it stalled.  I'm thinking I screwed up the plugs.  I'm an idiot when it comes to mechanic stuff but I can learn.  Are you refering to the spark plugs when you say "foul your plugs"?  If so, how hard is it to check them?  I can do a search and look but I already know they should be tan.  Thanks in advance.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

d3

[LimaXray]

+1 on you're using your choke too much

this is what I do in 60-70 degree weather:
Start up the bike on full choke
throw on my jacket
by this time the bike will be screaming at 4k+ RPM
I take off some choke so it idles at ~2k
put my helmet on and strap it up
once again the bike will be idling higher
lower the choke some more so it's back at ~2k
pull my gloves on and hop on the bike
take the choke off completely
back rest of the way out of the garage
hop back off, close the garage door
hop back on, and ride off

yeah I really have this all planned out, I'm a freak like that, but it seems to work well. 

Full choke for too long will definately foul your plugs, spark plugs don't like rich mixtures.  If you're having so much trouble keeping idle, maybe your carbs are in need of servicing.  It wouldn't hurt to give them a good work over by cleaning them, rejetting them, etc.