Beginner questions!

[Suzuki Stevo]

When it was chilly out (below 40 degrees F), I would use the choke to fire it then I could immediately turn it off.

If you only need the choke for an instant in -40° weather, you are probably on the rich side....IMHO

He did say "BELOW 40" not "40 Below."  My bike is the same way here in southern az.. anymore than 1/4 choke and it's at 4k with-in a couple seconds. even when it's 50 degrees out I barely have to choke it.  And honestly mine is running a little lean.

I posted "MINUS 40" as in "UNDER 40" <my bad<  and I have been jetting bikes since 1968 and if you can start a bike at that temp and it needs that little choke, it sounds fat to me. My '07 is jetted +1 pilot and +1 main with 3 turns on the screws and no way can I fire it off and walk away..even in 60° weather when cold, unless I baby sit the throttle for a few. Maybe that's it, do you jocky the throttle to keep it running or can you start it and walk away??

[007brendan]

+1 on rejetting.  I did +1 on the idle jet, added a washer, and 3 turns out on the mixture screw about a week ago.  Idles much better now.

[Elijafir]

I thought that you may have meant <40 when you put -40.. just wanted to make sure.  And, yeah, unless it's <50F here I can start my bike with 1/4 choke and walk away (but that idles a little low for a minute.. so half choke for a couple seconds then back it off.)  <50 I have to open the choke up about 3/4.  I have never used full choke on my bike.. not even at 35F.  And no I don't give it any throttle.. that's bad for it, right?  On hot days >90F I don't need any choke/throttle to start it.

[Suzuki Stevo]

I thought that you may have meant <40 when you put -40.. just wanted to make sure.  And, yeah, unless it's <50F here I can start my bike with 1/4 choke and walk away (but that idles a little low for a minute.. so half choke for a couple seconds then back it off.)  <50 I have to open the choke up about 3/4.  I have never used full choke on my bike.. not even at 35F.  And no I don't give it any throttle.. that's bad for it, right?  On hot days >90F I don't need any choke/throttle to start it.

My '07 only has 3,300 miles on it (I own 5 bikes) maybe it's still tight??  
EDIT: 1/4 choke...that sounds like what I do, when it's cold I can't turn off choke right away and start putting on gear. And I have to be there to adjust the choke down when the RPM takes off also.