My 250 is extremely hard to start,it takes about 5 minutes to get it going.Once it starts it seems to be ok.What suggestions does anybody have?

Are you using the choke?

I too have a little trouble getting it going when it's under 60 degrees.

I have to start 'er quarter choke at 5% throttle while increasing choke to full,
all the while tapping the throttle a bit.
Once it's running for 5 to 10 seconds, she'll run and warm up in about 3 min at full choke.
Kinda gotta finesse her like a women, but once she's hot, ooooooo LOOKOUT! ;)

(BTW, I'm running 20-W50 Mobil 1 V Twin oil @ 2200mi.)

Yep. If the choke isn't on then that could be part of it. Also given that 250's have a carburetor they have a tendency to stay cold and not start as quickly.
Is your bike jetted?

Yep. If the choke isn't on then that could be part of it. Also given that 250's have a carburetor they have a tendency to stay cold and not start as quickly.
Is your bike jetted?


What is jetted?

Mine starts right away, no choke needed, but then again I'm in Phoenix.

Yes the choke is used and it is not jetted.It is just plain hard to get started.I have drilled out the covers and turned the idle air mixture screws which made a big improvement in keeping it running once it starts. I'm hoping someone out there has found a common problem and resolved it.

My bike used to be hard to start when cold outside, mornings especially. After I had it jetted, I haven't used the choke once.

Yes the choke is used and it is not jetted.It is just plain hard to get started.I have drilled out the covers and turned the idle air mixture screws which made a big improvement in keeping it running once it starts. I'm hoping someone out there has found a common problem and resolved it.

It seems to me that modifying the air mixture may have something to do with it. How well did it start before you turned those screws? If it was ok before and is having problems now, common sense says that's the problem.

Jetting is when you install aftermark jets into the carbuerator to increase or decrease the amount of fuel that gets shot into the carbs in relation to the throttle. That's my layman's understanding of it at least.

it has always been hard to start.It is an 04 we bought in july 08 with 18 miles on it.others are telling me to clean the carbs out because they are gummed up inside.

it has always been hard to start.It is an 04 we bought in july 08 with 18 miles on it.others are telling me to clean the carbs out because they are gummed up inside.

I had a jetted 04 and it was NEVER hard to start. Adjust the idle air mixture back to the stock settings, clean the carbs and have the bike jetted and it will be fine. At the very least clean your carbs. During the fall /winter months most of the time you will have to put the choke all the way on in order to get the bike to start up and sometimes even leave it half way on to get her to warm up fully after 10 mins.

Also if your bike only has 18 (???) miles on it, it's not even close to being broke in and so it's going to run a little rough. Break it in slowly and that will help.

Zmoe - Great description of what jetting is.

Carb bikes are always hard to start during cold season. I have full choke on when I start in the cold, then just close it completely when the engine is warm enough to stay on by itself.

It has 900+ miles on it now. What size over stock did you jet it to?

Jetting is when you install aftermark jets into the carbuerator to increase or decrease the amount of fuel that gets shot into the carbs in relation to the throttle. That's my layman's understanding of it at least.

Thank you.

One fo the mods that I see recommended often is shimming the needles. It will allow a little more fuel at lower RPM. THese bikes are a little lean on the low end from the factory.

Now that the temps are dropping Im having to use the choke more and warm up the bike longer.In the morning when I leave it is usually 50 deg or so.