Heya guys and girls, I'm new to the forum and riding. Just got my first bike which is a 2007 GS 500F.
I love the bike, I'm kinda concerned with the idle speed when choking to start the bike. It runs at about 5000 rpm.
if I don't stand there constantly adjusting it back and forth to keep it running till it warms the bike will run at that rpm.
Seems there is no such thing as half choke when first cranking the bike, only full choke will keep it running till somewhat warm.
Does anyone think this is hard on that bike to run that high of rpm? Any info would be appreciated.

Cold start using full choke every time. As soon as it starts immediately back off the choke keeping it within 2-3k rpm. That's the procedure in the owners manual and also what I do. Yes, you have to adjust it a few times as it warms, really not a big deal

ok glad to hear Mitch.Good to know this is normal. Thanks again.

My '98 was like that. If I nudged the choke down a little bit from full, the revs just dropped off as if there was no choke at all. I learned to live with it. I would leave the choke on full for about a mile. After that, there was enough heat in the engine for it to hold its own until the whole bike got up to temperature.

Here's a video of me on my 98 (I miss that orange color) instinctively cutting off the choke when the revs got too high. It never harmed the engine. I rode that beauty all over PA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbfLXX4tFX0

Starting procedure As Written in the Owner's Manual

When the Engine is Cold:
1. Turn the choke lever all the way towards you. Close the throttle completely.
2. Push the electric starter button
3. Immediately after the engine starts, keep the engine speed at 2000 to 3000 r/min by varying the choke lever position.
4. Move the choke lever to the "OFF" position approximately 30 seconds after engine starts. It may be necessaary to use the choke longer than 30 seconds in extremely cold weather.

When the Engine is Warm:
Use of the choke should not be necessary. Open throttle 1/8 to 1/4 turn and push the electric starter button.

My Routine:
1. Put choke on full
2. Start bike and let it rev to whatever it wants to rev to.
3. Leave it revving its heart out while I put bag on bike, done jacket.
4. Gently tap the choke lever until the engine is revving around 2000rpm
5. Leave it rev like this while I put on helmet and gloves at a leisurely pace.
6. Ride off sedately and for the first couple of clicks
7. Turn choke all the way off.

Michael

thanks for all the info guys.My main concern was harming the engine. Love the vid Brian

If it's marble slab cold, you'll need full choke to get it to crank normally. Once the RPM gets that high, it's time to back it off.

I've found that for my 97 and my 07, after the RPM go that high, you can get it to idle normally (1.1-1.3K RPM) with about 10% choke and just leave it like that. If it's sputtering, give it some more choke. I prefer to let my bikes warm up while idling instead of revving them more than is necessary. I'm sure I'm just paranoid but hey...do what ya want!

And the higher the revs on starting, the higher the oil pressure and the more oil whizzing around and that's good. But the higher the revs, the more potential for wear and that's bad. Oh, bugger it, I'll just get on and ride!

Quote from: noworries on January 12, 2012, 05:23:56 AM
And the higher the revs on starting, the higher the oil pressure and the more oil whizzing around and that's good. But the higher the revs, the more potential for wear and that's bad. Oh, bugger it, I'll just get on and ride!

Yes, however...

The lower the temperature, the thicker the oil is and the longer it takes for the oil to circulate.

While I wouldn't red-line the motor from cold...my old neighbor (dumb old hag anyway) used to get in her car, every morning before she went to work, and REDLINE the thing for about a MINUTE to warm it up. Nothing like hearing the rev limiter on a 90's Honda sedan every morning at 7AM.

She had that car when she moved in...and when she moved away...7 years. So...maybe we're all just paranoid or...maybe Honda makes really good motors. 

Quote from: Kijona on January 15, 2012, 12:40:30 PM

Quote from: noworries on January 12, 2012, 05:23:56 AM
And the higher the revs on starting, the higher the oil pressure and the more oil whizzing around and that's good. But the higher the revs, the more potential for wear and that's bad. Oh, bugger it, I'll just get on and ride!

Yes, however...

The lower the temperature, the thicker the oil is and the longer it takes for the oil to circulate.

While I wouldn't red-line the motor from cold...my old neighbor (dumb old hag anyway) used to get in her car, every morning before she went to work, and REDLINE the thing for about a MINUTE to warm it up. Nothing like hearing the rev limiter on a 90's Honda sedan every morning at 7AM.

She had that car when she moved in...and when she moved away...7 years. So...maybe we're all just paranoid or...maybe Honda makes really good motors. 

Just because her car was running doesn't mean it was running well.

Quote from: BrianKD on January 15, 2012, 01:07:34 PM

Quote from: Kijona on January 15, 2012, 12:40:30 PM

Quote from: noworries on January 12, 2012, 05:23:56 AM
And the higher the revs on starting, the higher the oil pressure and the more oil whizzing around and that's good. But the higher the revs, the more potential for wear and that's bad. Oh, bugger it, I'll just get on and ride!

Yes, however...

The lower the temperature, the thicker the oil is and the longer it takes for the oil to circulate.

While I wouldn't red-line the motor from cold...my old neighbor (dumb old hag anyway) used to get in her car, every morning before she went to work, and REDLINE the thing for about a MINUTE to warm it up. Nothing like hearing the rev limiter on a 90's Honda sedan every morning at 7AM.

She had that car when she moved in...and when she moved away...7 years. So...maybe we're all just paranoid or...maybe Honda makes really good motors. 

Just because her car was running doesn't mean it was running well.

LOL Touche! But yeah...it survived at least 7 years like that. The point was that it was still running after taking that kind of abuse.