Using the Choke

[Northern DM]

Hello All,

I'm a total rookie with scooters. I never owned a motorcycle or any other powered vehicle (aside from a car). And I have a question about using the choke to start up. I have a 2002 BW'SR (Zuma).

I have read that I should open the choke when cold starting and let it run for 20-30 seconds before closing the choke. Before I ask my questions, just checking to see if I'm using the choke properly. To use the choke, I'm assuming this means pulling the lever all the way to the left to open and then pulling it back to the right to close. The choke is under the left handlebar.

Here are my questions:
1) Do I need to open the choke before starting or as the scooter starts?
2) What happens if I leave the choke fully open when driving?
3) And what is a choke anyway?

Yeah, dumb questions but I figure better to ask then play around and do some damage.

Tony

[Surfinglbi23]

Hmmm

1. You need to open the choke before starting but if its warm out, you may not need it.

2. You don't want to leave the choke on while riding, it puts an undue strain on the motor and some motors will cough and quit, plus you could foul a plug.

3. A choke richens the fuel mixture on startup because when the motor is cold or the air is too cold, a leaner fuel/air mixture is harder to burn and the starter (combustion) will be much easier on a richer mixture. As you turn that lever, you are physically richening the mixture. Modern motors are fuel injected (for the most part) and do not need to use this feature as the ECU chip takes care of it.

Hope this helps.

[mikal]

Most Zumas have an electic style choke.

[speedfreak76]

Most Zumas have an electic style choke.
I think he has a prebug, which has manual...

Hmmm... A Saskatchewanian.... I used to live in Regina.... ...stupid. :)

What Surfinglbi23 said is correct. ..#1..

[Surfinglbi23]

Yea I think he was referring to a Prebug, which has a manual choke