1982 gs 650 l

[shawn]

Can someone give me the proper way to start this particular bike? I just bought it as a starter bike and I got it started once and for some reason I cannot now. The battery is working just fine. I just needs the steps to a successful start so that i can assure myself that I am doing it right.

[Bribird]

Pull in clutch lever, turn kill switch to on/run, make sure key is turned on. If it is cold you may need to pull the choke, push start button. If it has not been riden in awhile you made need to switch the fuel petcock to prime(as soon as it starts switch it back to run...or res if you are low on gas).

hope this helps

[shawn]

Thanks

Started right up thx! What should I put the petcock switch back to after I have run it for awhile?

[scrapper]

Should be pointed down and it is vacuum operated then. I think prime is back and reserve is forward. I hope that is right.

[runlevelfour]

Shawn is correct.

Petcock straight down = normal (on or off)
forward = reserve (used it a few times when learning the mileage/tank lol)
backward = prime

Relative to you sitting on the bike, of course.

[Nessism]

You shouldn't have to use Prime unless the bike has sat for several days and all the fuel has evaporated out of the carbs. Under normal usage just leave the petcock in the ON, or Res posisiton as needed.

[shawn]

Start

On that same line of starting the bike, what position should the choke lever be in? All the way on the "S" (Start) side or in the middle?

[waterman]

My 650 likes to have about a half open choke. If trying to start when it is below 30 degrees, I may go to full choke but only until it fires and then start tapering off. In warm weather, one third choke usually.

My 550 will only start reliably with nearly full choke. Then it takes a while before I can back off, otherwise it will stall out.

Each bike is different, try and find what your bike likes.