Cold blooded

New to The forum so please be gentle with me. becoming a better mechanic over the last couple of months since I got my bike. I got a 1981 XJ650 Maxim and I love I love this bike I mean I really love it!
I have one problem I can't quite wrap my mind around...... You have to use a choke to start it even when it's about 85 degrees and it'll take a couple of minutes to get warmed up enough to drive and if I hold the throttle steady over that period of 2 minutes it will slowly increase without me moving the throttle to increase probably about 2,000 RPM and then finally it comes online like it's like one cylinder come online at a time or something I can't figure out what that indicates should tell me.
Thanks;! This form is already been valuable to me it's great I'm glad you're here thanks

 

My XJ650 is the same way, carburetors meter fuel better when they're hot. For the first few minutes it wants to die at idle unless I blip the throttle and once it's good and hot idles like a rock at ~1050rpm.

 

If the carbs are clean and properly set up, and the valve clearances are correct, the bike should fire without choke (really enrichment) at 85 degrees F, and you should be able to pull onto the road right away. The engine speed increasing as the engine warms up is normal. That's a sign that you can begin backing-off the enrichment.

What work have you done to it since you've bought it?

Please edit your signature to include the year and model of your XJ. They are all similar, but not the same.

 

Hey thanks for the thoughtful reply. I'll figure out in a minute how to change the signature you're talking about
but my bikes in 1981 XJ650 Maxim and it wasn't in showroom condition when I got it but it was wasn't far away from it 25000 on the odometer I'm the third owner and the second owner had it garaged since 1989 when he wasn't using it I paid 1500 bucks for the bike which I really think it could have been priced higher than that it came with some extras with windshield extra seats other stuff everything works..... everything... But she seems kind of astounding for a bike that old tires were good shape I do have an oil leak on the overhead cam covers but I'm getting ready to check timing in a few days when it's not 115° outside

once it gets warmed up it just screams screams

I have change the oil and filter first put in all synthetic pear synthetic oil, I just put new shocks on it on the back, and I'm getting ready to do the front forks they see a little squishy so I'm going to replace the seals the oil and seals in the front forks and I momentarily replace the seat with a with a bobber sheet but it was a low budget cheapest seat off eBay and it was so uncomfortable it was crazy so I'm going to I want to eventually get a single seat for but I know I'm going to spend some money on a decent seat

 

Yeah mine just screams when it warms... What I really amazed about is that on the highway it's fine it feels like a it feels like a bigger bike underneath you when you're on the interstate it could use another gear I think on top but I'm just not used to riding a high Rev engine like this thing so just kind of crazy right now but anyway it's it's so solid on the freeway it's crazy not shaky not t flaky like I would think of 650 would be

 

Synthetic oil is like poison to these engines the tolerance are very loose compared to newer engines and this can wipe out the starter clutch. Shell Rotella 15w40 diesel oil is a better choice as it has a high zinc content . As to having to use choke one thing the float bowls has a small jet in bottom this can get plugged up , it may only be on one carb . You will need to pull carbs and remove float bowls , spray cab cleaner into the jet pointed away from you till it sprays out of the jet .

 

Choosing the Correct Oil for a Wet Clutch Motorcycle

 

When you're taking the forks apart do yourself a favor and swap in some Progressive Suspension springs, they ride so much better than the OEM.

 

Maybe. IF the stock springs still measure within the specified length, then they will be just as good as a new set. The stock fork springs are progressively wound.