Bandit 12 won't run on choke.

[TheGazWaz]

Afternoon all,

I’ve now got my Bandit 1200 and I absolutely love it. I have one small issue that’s not too bad at the moment but when the cold weather kicks in it’s going to give me hassle.

The bike refuses to start with the choke on in any position. Before I got the bike it had been standing for a couple of months. Once it’s warmed up it runs perfectly but even after warming up applying any choke bogs it down.

Any Ideas? It’s a 53 with 21k on the clock. The only mod on the bike is an aftermarket can. Not sure what it is but it sounds beautiful.

Cheers all

Gaz

[RhynoCZ]

I would suggest to check the choke cable and cable adjustment. Then, if that's alright, I'd actually take the carbs out and check them.

Are you sure the choke is not stuck? I'd check one spark plug, just to make sure it's not running too rich all the time.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[nisp]

"Once it’s warmed up it runs perfectly. But even after warming up applying any choke bogs it down."

why would you use the choke on a warmed engine?
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Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[TheGazWaz]

[RhynoCZ]

[Acerman]

You have to check whats really happening on the carb when you pull the choke, just follow the cable. No changes no choke!

[Old Git Racing]

It's doing what it should do. I think you might be looking for a problem that doesn't exist. Just ride it if it's ok as normal and if there is a problem when cold weather comes sort it then. I reckon it will be ok.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[weasley]

[TheGazWaz]

Thanks for all your replies. I stand corrected on the Choke facts. I love this place. Font of all knowledge.

When I start it from cold it takes a few starts and I have to hold the throttle open a tad to keep it at around 2k until it's warm enough to support itself. It's only a matter of a couple of minutes but surly this is the job of the choke.

I need to check but I have to assume the choke is activating because there is a response from the engine when doing so. Negative response though that is it's still doing something.

I so love this bike though. Coming from an RF600 to this is heaven. Not knocking my RF but everything about the Bandit 1200 is better imo.

Cheers again

Gaz

[talkToTheHat]

does the choke actually choke, or is it an enrichener or fast idle?

My 535 has an enrichener, mislabeld as choke, applying it when everything properly warm causes engine to stall.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[TheGazWaz]

[MCN.]

The choke on a B12 is a valve that opens an extra circuit that pulls a stream of fuel from the float chamber. It doesn't choke anything. But yeah it should die when the choke is applied when hot.

[nisp]

sounds like the choke is doing its job, it's probably a worn fast idle control cam on the carb bank (so you actually hold the throttle open a bit instead of the choke).

look at hynes, adjust, should be golden
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Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[Kickstart]

Hi

Has the bike been set up for the pipe change? Is the air filter clean / standard?

While when warm I would expect the choke to stall the engine (on my Bandit 12 when standard, leaving the choke on from cold would have the bike stall at the first real junction from home - about 200~300 yards away)

All the best

K
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[talkToTheHat]

So an enrichener design then...

As such it is usually a sign the engine is warm if it stalls on choke and this is often the usual test to see if the choke works.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[TheGazWaz]

All starting to make sense. If I start it from cold with no choke it will fire up but I have to give it a little throttle and hold it for 30 seconds or so.

I just remember on my RF600 it like to start from choke no mater what the weather was doing. Diferent/older tech I suppose.

Can I assume then that when the weather does get cold the choke will work/be need to start the bike?

Cheers

Gary

[talkToTheHat]

You'll probably need choke when its proper cold. I've never needed it in summer, but in the depths of winter some of mine have needed a good few minutes of warming up on gradually decreasing choke and the tiniest bit of throttle before they would run smoothly.
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Bandit. does. everything.