hard to start in cold weather below 30 degrees

[dobrya1]

My 1998 Magna VF750 is very hard to start when the temp is below 30.
will the shim kit help this problem. everything is stock except for a K&N\
air filter element. Choke is working ,plugs are new.

[Magnum Magna]

Below 30 degrees, I don't want to even look at the bike.   

Does it turn over easily?  Is your battery strong?

[roboto65]

Well it won,t hurt but probably not going to help much...  I use the choke and a little gas on those mornings may even have to rev it a little to keep it going. Mine needs this and after a few seconds then she will idle along on choke for a minute !!!!!   

[TLRam1]

Your choke cable may not be working properly. I had that problem but my choke cable was difficult to pull to "full choke" mode. I lubed but was a short term fix so replaced cable. Shouldn't have much of an issue otherwise.

[Greg Cothern]

With K&N you would benefit from the shims......For cold starts, I always pull full choke, open throttle about 1/4 crank till starts.  Then bring up to 2000 rpms or so, push choke off as soon as possible and keep running at the higher revs for a minute or two then bring down to an idle.  Not had any issues using this method in the past.

[Slydynbye]

Is it Cranking real slow and hard? Could be time for a new battery. Or a little heat in the Garage.

[TLRam1]

Sounds like battery time.

[Damn Yankee]

Even after running the choke for about 20-30 sec, you're still going to be running rough for the first quarter mile, but after that she runs pretty smooth...Just can't be in a big hurry. (Heck, I just go to work on mine!)

[ezrydr]

Why would you want to start it at that temperature?  I mean, you couldn't possibly intend to RIDE it under those conditions.  Man, that's COLD!

In the immortal words of Jerry Clower:  "There ain't no sense in that." 

[Charles S Otwell]

Just slightly changing the subject, has anyone ever tried throwing an electric blanket over your bike at night to keep it warmed up? I know I"ve ask this before but I didn't get an answer  so I thought I'd try again ( optimist)

[Magnum Magna]

That should work if you have a traditional motorcycle cover over the blanket to hold the heat in.  Hardware stores use to sale a heating strip that was used to wrap outside exposed pluming pipes.