2006 Katana 600 takes a long time to warm up

[nvan]

First let me say that I've only been riding about a year for recreation mostly. I have a 2006 Katana 600. My problem is that I need to leave the choke on for about my first 15 minutes of riding or else it will die. At stop lights or even while driving slow, the engine is reving loudly (4-5 rpms) and I feel like it's going to take off on its own. Any suggestions?

[Cheriff]

Something isnt right... Certainly not for Santa Monica weather.

As a general rule, riding with the choke on is a bad thing.. Either a sign of a carb problem or it will lead to a carb problem.

If it is revved up to 4-5k at a stop light, maybe it is time to turn the choke off... Or am I missing something?

[cintidude04]

As a general rule, riding with the choke on is a bad thing..

If it is revved up to 4-5k at a stop light, maybe it is time to turn the choke off... Or am I missing something?

+1

[Kreylyn]

That "choke" lever isn't a choke, it adds fuel to the mix.

If your bike won't run without it after 1 min... your fuel mix is too lean.

This could be the a/f settings, a vacuum/air leak, clogged or dirty carbs, or a bad air filter/NOT OEM filter.

On the rare side, you could have an electrical issue causing weak spark. This option would be the absolute very last almost NOT possible situation due to the bike being practically new.

Krey

[Irish]

Something isnt right... Certainly not for Santa Monica weather.

As a general rule, riding with the choke on is a bad thing.. Either a sign of a carb problem or it will lead to a carb problem.

If it is revved up to 4-5k at a stop light, maybe it is time to turn the choke off... Or am I missing something?

+2