Takes forever to warm up

[rizer]

Hey guys, I just got a 2002 GS500 and it's a great bike overall. My only complaint is that it takes forever to warm up. This morning I had it idle for 2 minutes with the choke open and then rode all the way to work and it still wouldn't accelerate properly without the choke on. It feels like it's gonna go and then the power dies so I either stall or have to open the throttle really wide just to get going (but that's really jerky and not fun).

Eventually it warms up and runs great, I'm just wondering if it's normal to take up to 10 minutes to get to running temps on a 25C day? Would modding the jets for a richer carb help with this?

Thanks!

[jestercinti]

You are running lean.

Tt should not take that long to warm up.  Bone stock, mine took about 2 minutes tops with weather cooler than you.  Did you do anything like change the air cleaner or exhaust that would mean that you are running unusually lean?  Does the engine pop and backfire a lot?

Start with a carb clean, change plugs, and check air filter.  Also, check exhaust header bolts.  If they get loose, there goes your mixture.  Also, check the intake boots from the carbs to the intake.  Make sure the clamps are tight.  That also causes extra lean mixtures.

[rizer]

I can do oil/plugs today, but is a carb clean something I can do myself? This is my first bike, I just have general car knowledge.

I really just wanted to know if something was wrong. Now that I do I'll check all that stuff you mentioned and see if it helps. Also the engine doesn't knock or misfire, it runs great. It just has no power when it isn't 100% warm.

Thanks

[craigs449]

How many miles?  Is it hard to keep running at first when it is cold?  If so, my bet is the valves are out of spec.

[rizer]

About 20k miles. It isn't hard to keep running on idle. Like I said, it just starts to die when you try to put load on it. And only in low RPM, if I let it rip I can get the bike going it's just really jumpy.

[jestercinti]

Check valves.  Good call on that!

If you know how to work on cars, the GS is a cinch.  Get a Clymer or a Haynes manual.  Definitely worth it.  The carbs are 3 circuit (main jet, pilot jet, mid-main jet).  The engine was last majorly overhauled in the 1980s.  Very simple to work on.

[rizer]

Cool, thanks again guys I'll let you know how it runs after I do some maintenance. I don't think it's had anything done to it this season to be honest.