Wondering were I should start with this problem.
I have a 200ES 1984 Big red.
If is close to being or is slightly below freezing it is very tough to start.

Even with a brand new plug, clean fuel/new fuel and new carb.
It does have good blue spark. Once I get it running and it warms up, it runs fine no backfiring or hesitation. Good acceleration. Idles fine also.

Here are a few things I think I should check, if there is something I miss please let me know.

1. Check the timing
2 Adjust the valves
3 Use premium fuel.

 

46 view with no responses.... I guess the things I listed are all that I need to look at with a problem of not wanting to start in colder weather...

 

You are running the wrong jets for winter. When the weather gets cold the air gets more dense and leans out the carb. If you live somewhere where it gets cold and stays cold you may wanna invest in some bigger jets for the winter months and put the ones you have now back in when it warms up. If you live somewhere like Arkansas (like me) where it gets cool and occasionally cold you have 3 choices.
1) Put a can of starting fluid in the trunk and use it when its cold.
2)Run the air screw in 1/8-1/4 turn during winter it just affects idle mix so if you can start your bike w/o throttle (you should be able to) it will make the mix slightly richer to aid starting. It will use slightly more fuel at idle but will not use any extra fuel once you get the engine off of idle.
3) Ignore it (most common)

 

Contrary to popular belief, using premium fuel will NOT make it start easier, in fact, it would make it start harder in cold weather. Premium fuel burns slower, and slightly cooler, to fight the conditions that cause preignition or ping. A high compression motor needs premium, because it is designed to use it, the higher comp creates higher temps that can cause a low octane fuel to ingite before the spark. Hondas run fairly low comp, around 8:1, anything over 87 octane is a waste. I would try the jetting in cold weather, another thing Honda does is jet lean for emmissions, which makes them cold blooded as hell, every Honda ATV and motorcycle I have owned has been terribly cold blooded. Go up one size on the pilot jet, this will richen up the idle circuit and make cold starts easier, that, and opening up the idle mix a 1/4 turn or so as suggested. Main jets will not affect cold starting, you don't get into the main until you are above 1/4 throttle anyway, so only the pilot and the mix screw will affect starting.

 

Much appreciated guys.............Thank You........