I have an '01 GS 500 with about 12,000+ miles on the odometer. I last had it into the shop for a tune-up, oil change, new brakes last Fall. The shop dropped it off the stand (which is the subject of a previous post) but they paid for all of the repairs ($1100) which included a new gas tank and speedometer.
Ever since I got my bike back, it has taken longer and longer to warm up. At first I just wrote it off to the winter temperatures, but now that it has warmed up considerably, the problem persists. In the morning before I get moving, I give it at least 5-8 minutes warm-up, following the mfgr's suggested choking procedures. However, if I open the choke all the way (lever to the front) after the bike is idling at 1100rpm, the rpms will drop below 1000 and the engine will kill if I come to a stop within 3 or 4 miles from home unless I keep the throttle open a wee bit to keep the idle up over 1500rpm. Re-starting is no problem. I have taken to leaving the choke slightly closed for the first few miles to prevent cut-out. After about 10 to 15 minutes of riding at freeway speed, the engine idles just fine at stops, no killing.
I have checked the plugs (fine), cleaned the air filter and adjusted the idle, all to no avail.
I this a choke or throttle adjusment problem, or do I need to have the carbs checked? Is there anyting simple I can do short of taking it in to the shop again. The problem is not fatal, just annoying. I also wonder if I am harming the motor by running it with the choke partially closed, aside from messing up my gas mileage.
Your wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

The GS does take quite a bit to warm up. In fact what you write sounds pretty similar to mine in cold weather. They probably adjusted idle somewhat lower than what you have been used to, so you notice the problem more.
If it annoys you, just increase idle a wee bit.

Running with a bit of choke for an extended period doesn't do any harm apart from a possible sooty plug (which will burn free again) and decrased mileage.

BTW, the GS's choke isn't. It's an additional jet that is opened to richen the mixture. Thus engaged is open, disengaged is closed.

i have an 01 and live in sacramento..

lets meet up.. we can figure it out.. I live near CSUS (La Riviera). I am off Howe.

Mine takes about 5 minutes to warm up + / - a few here and there..

All i can think of is that the carbs need the airscrews rotated. I have that done but i dont have a washer under the needles like im supposed to have (as per a post from piper a long time back).

Bring your bike over.. i got finals next week but i can try help something out this week. My finals end on next thursday. After that im free.

Quote from: stumpfw...if I open the choke all the way (lever to the front)

The choke is completely off with the lever all the way to the front. Pulling towards you opens the choke, adding more gas. Unless, Suzuki changed the choke between '94 and '01.

those symptoms sound really similar the the problems I had before I adjusted the valve clearances on my bike...  do you notice decreased power on the freeway as well?  top speed a lot of times being around 90 indicated, can't make it up hills at high speeds w/out downshifting?

something to consider.

Sorry to Necro-bump,

But I was wondering if Senior Micro ever figured out what the problem/fix was.

I just bought a '97 GS500E that runs beautifully except for an inordinate warm-up time.  I find that between five and ten minutes of riding I can't leave the choke open or the bike will idle too high, but if I close it all the way it'll die whenever I stop.  My current solution (when I don't have time to let her warm up for 15 minutes) is to ride the throttle a little coming into and during stops.  This works, but it'd be nice not to have to worry about it. As a relativley new rider I'm doing my best to ride safely and sometimes that means forgetting to rev the throttle a little when I'm stopping suddenly.

Of course if an 18-wheeler was bearing down from behind escape might be a little slow.
So I was just wondering if this or a similar question had been answered around here.

Cheers.

My guess on the original post was valve clearances.. the GS is supposed to have them adjusted every 4K miles. How many miles on your '97, last time the carbs were cleaned, last time the valves were adjusted, etc?

Also, have you rejetted? Cuz if you rejet to cure the stock lean condition, your warmup times will decrease drastically.

geez.....  my bike takes about 10 sec to start, this was on a 34 degree morning...  and about another 1 minute before it was warmed up...  this is what it took to warm up on a warm day too...  then i was off, no sputtering or nuttin!!  i wonder how my SV1000s will start now....  trying to get that bad boy to start might take a while longer..

Uhh... the SV is FI... which means it should start right up..?

man if i wasnt so stupid i wouldve remembered that!!!!!!

im thinking too much of the GS still!!

Quote from: AWRobinson on November 06, 2006, 12:28:04 PM
Sorry to Necro-bump

Wow, you ain't kiddin'!

Quote from: AWRobinson on November 06, 2006, 12:28:04 PM
I find that between five and ten minutes of riding I can't leave the choke open or the bike will idle too high, but if I close it all the way it'll die whenever I stop.

Close the choke after no more than 1 and a half minutes.

And, set your idle when you get to your destination to: 1200+/-100 rpm's.

Quote from: AWRobinson on November 06, 2006, 12:28:04 PM
My current solution (when I don't have time to let her warm up for 15 minutes) is to ride the throttle a little coming into and during stops.  This works, but it'd be nice not to have to worry about it.

This is a little "feature" of our bike.  Because we have to set the idle when warm, it will be too low when cold...we have to compensate by using the throttle.

Quote from: AWRobinson on November 06, 2006, 12:28:04 PM
As a relativley new rider I'm doing my best to ride safely and sometimes that means forgetting to rev the throttle a little when I'm stopping suddenly.

You may have to set the idle a little higher for the meanwhile.

My GS was a nightmare from the factory.  Forget cold weather riding, the thing would buck, kick, scream and die.  I rejetted and it has been a whole new bike.  On a 30-some degree day, it only requires about 30 secconds of choke. 

Rejet!

-Turd.

my bike takes about 5-8 minutes to warm up. I'm rejetted to 142.5 mains, 40 pilot, 2.5 turns out and Yoshi full exhaust.

I keep my idle at 1500 and if I close my choke before its warmed up it will drop to 1100, which sounds like it's struggling. But after about 5 minutes it stays at a happy 1500. I figured it was just one of my bike's quirks 

Quote from: tussey on November 06, 2006, 10:12:21 PM
I keep my idle at 1500 and if I close my choke before its warmed up it will drop to 1100, which sounds like it's struggling. But after about 5 minutes it stays at a happy 1500. I figured it was just one of my bike's quirks 

This is exactly how my bike runs.  Sounds normal for an air cooled twin with questionable carbs, eh?

-Turd.

Quote from: Turd Ferguson on November 06, 2006, 10:23:29 PM

Quote from: tussey on November 06, 2006, 10:12:21 PM
I keep my idle at 1500 and if I close my choke before its warmed up it will drop to 1100, which sounds like it's struggling. But after about 5 minutes it stays at a happy 1500. I figured it was just one of my bike's quirks 

This is exactly how my bike runs.  Sounds normal for an air cooled twin with questionable carbs, eh?

-Turd.

Mine too, pretty much exactly.  I've got 40 pilots, 1 washer and stock mains.

Hey thanks for the advice, I'll talk to the previous owner and see when/if/how it was rejetted.  I know the carbs were cleaned shortly before I came into possesion of the bike. 

Rode all day today and had a great ride except for rush hour traffic which got a little hairy.  The learning curve around here (LA) is pretty steep.

i take 1 min to warm up, my idle is set to 1100/1200....  i rejetted i got 122 or 23 mains...  from DynoJet stage 1 kit

    I had a 1980 GS450ST-the predecessor to the GS500-that had the same problem. All I had to do was shim the needle valves inj the carbs, and no more problem.It really didn;t lower my mpg a measureable amount either.

    jon in the flooding pacific nw