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1700 rmp idle?

  • Thread starter Thread starter goggleboy
  • Start date Start date
G

goggleboy

Guest
My old man used to ride motorcycles a lot when he was younger,
and hes been helping me with my GS. One day I was tinkering and
the idle was higher than what I thought normal idle was (1100ish)
He told me it wasnt a big deal and that a bike idleing at around 1700
would have more response and its "right there". However I know that
it would sip more gas. What do you guys think about running a higher idle?
Is it just pointless? pros cons on running different idles?
 
I see no reason to idle higher than 1300 tops unless its a high idle on startup in cold climates. otherwise, I dont know why you'd do that.
 
I usually try to run the lowest speed possible that will idle smoothly and give good response off-idle.
On my 850s, that is right in the factory-specified range of 1000-1100 rpm.

The picture in your sig is kinda small, but it still looks like a 4-cylinder bike.
It should also idle in the 1000-1100 range just fine.
Smaller bikes, especially the two-cylinder ones, like a faster idle, maybe as much as 1400,
but the bigger ones do well at the lower speeds.

You get bigger and add a couple of cylinders, you can go even lower. My Wing idles very nicely at 600. :D

.
 
Running a bit richer on the idle circuit helps with response off idle, and warms up much more quickly as well. Just another something that might help a bit.
 
Dogma said:
Running a bit richer on the idle circuit helps with response off idle, and warms up much more quickly as well. Just another something that might help a bit.
Click to expand...

Not really warming up quicker, it only gets to where it runs without choke quicker, because it's partially enriched all the time after that, which is very inefficient.

A high idle speed is not necessary on a well tuned engine. Neither is an overly rich mixture. If you need either for good throttle response, smoothness, or any other reason there is a problem somewhere else.
 
Sounds like yet another poorly maintained GS, sucking false air due to leaking intake boots and/or their O-rings. PO sounds like a politician, spinning the fault claiming it's a good thing.
 
Nessism said:
Sounds like yet another poorly maintained GS, sucking false air due to leaking intake boots and/or their O-rings. PO sounds like a politician, spinning the fault claiming it's a good thing.
Click to expand...

nah, I have new intake boots and orings. Its just the idle-adjust itself.
 
goggleboy said:
nah, I have new intake boots and orings. Its just the idle-adjust itself.
Click to expand...

My bad, didn't read your first post close enough.:o

I can't think of one positive benefit of a high idle.
 
No need for anything over 1100 in my opinion. For instance.. A bike with bad carb syncing will shutter and sputter at lower rpms and smooth out a bit at higher rpms. The soultion for such a condition isnt to run at high rpms, its to properly sync the carbs and fine tune with the air screws.
 
Last edited:
speed racer tune on a street bike that's ok

speed racer tune on a street bike that's ok

I have the idle set no lower than 2300 for my 2 valve race bike. the throttle response IS "right there" no timing advancer movement, staticly set at 38 degrees BTDC

I have a 16 valve race bike I have set at 1700 rpm's and it does have a operational timing advancer set at stock setting . lower idle than that had created a flow glut when throttle is opened. so raising the idle creates more velocity as a starting point and the engine responds much more quickly

My street bike is set up more like 1000rpm. Personally I like a relaxed low idle on the streets. Idling that high sitting through a 3 minute traffic light cycle would drive me crazy.

His bike his CHOICE of idle speed, if he likes the excited idle, GREAT. I see it as just personal preference. not a big deal at all- just annoying (to me).

My expert opinion - for what it is worth- it is a simple harmless performance enhancement. probably the number 1 simplist way to jump a stock bike's performance feel. Just next to 1 tooth smaller C/S sprocket change. basicly the same thing, excessive rpms at slower speeds.
 
Another reason to set a high idle is hot cams with high lift and long duration. Typically on racebikes.

My 1150 has cams with very long duration and this gives the engine an aggressive character on low rpms because the intake and exhaust overlaps with each other quite a bit.

To prevent this, I have my idle set a bit higher at around 1600rpm.

But for your stock street bike with the original carbs, I don't really see a point in raising it that high.
 
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