Newbie question

Yeah, as soon as these festivities were over, I was going to wait for a dry day and take Optimus (my bike) out to get some Silkolene. You know where I can get some isopropanol? And I live a SV's push away from a Shell station (I have learnt this the hard way); I use V-Power too most of the time

Hmm, if your having problems then with carb icing while using v-power, try using silkolene pro fst. You might want to see if you can the the carb balancing checked and amended aswell

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by allantheboss

So,
Curvy - Slightly smoother on throttle, and can be started on a dead battery
Pointy - Better at cold starting

I never had any trouble starting my curvey in the cold....

Now I might have my science wrong, but I was under the impression that carb icing was caused by the venturi effect of cold damp air being accelerated as it passed through the carb jets, which I would imagine means you may not suffer from it when you are trying to start the bike.

I rode in some serous sub zero temperatures on my curvey I only used to get carb icing once I got into the ride. Never when I started it and I'm talking -7 and colder temperatures.

You can always jump start a pointy off of another power source if the battery is to flat to prime the fuel rail, but you'd have to have a seriously flat battery to not be able to do so.

Sid Squid is right, by the best example bike you can find for the budget you have. In real terms there f*ck all difference between them IMHO.

I own one already! But thanks. Either way, I have trouble starting in the cold. Ill get some Silkolene. I will probably only have my curvy for another winter, until my restriction comes off, I'm 21, insurance isn't a byatch, and student loans will buy me a new bike!

Fizzwheel, what do you think all the problems people have with cold-starting is then?

they forget to use the choke is the main problem i think, my curvy starts first time everytime

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Now I might have my science wrong, but I was under the impression that carb icing was caused by the venturi effect of cold damp air being accelerated as it passed through the carb jets, which I would imagine means you may not suffer from it when you are trying to start the bike.

Sorta... The acceleration of air around any disturbance in a carb lowers pressure causing vapour to condense. Fuel absorbs energy (heat) during phase change which lowers the charge temperature by as much as 20C and causes further condensation (double whammy) and freezing of water vapour.

....

Carb icing is not just a winter phenomenon. It also occurs at temperatures around 20C and high relative humidity.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by allantheboss

Fizzwheel, what do you think all the problems people have with cold-starting is then?

I dont think the cold starting issues are as bad as are being made out to be.

As long as you keep your bike well maintained and looked after you should never have any trouble with it, cold starting or otherwise, if you let things slide and dont keep on top of the maintenance then as sure as eggs are eggs at some point something may well go wrong. Of course theres always the unexpected sudden failure that you cant plan or account for.

If you are having cold starting problems its more than likely down to :

1. A battery near the end of its servicable life
2. A charging circuit that isnt charging which means your battery isnt fully charged.
3. A stuck or seized choke plungers.

I dont think its correct to label curvies as "bikes that suffer from cold starting problems" because in my experience its simply not true.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Now I might have my science wrong, but I was under the impression that carb icing was caused by the venturi effect of cold damp air being accelerated as it passed through the carb jets, which I would imagine means you may not suffer from it when you are trying to start the bike.

I rode in some serous sub zero temperatures on my curvey I only used to get carb icing once I got into the ride. Never when I started it and I'm talking -7 and colder temperatures.

Curvy frame is better bit of kit IMO. They only changed to pointy frame because it is cheap.

Either you buy around same price will have knackered running gear, shock that never worked from new and forks with less damping than a biro.

I prefer carbs, I think EFI is too complicated for good of maintenance. Carbed bikes start fine if they are healthy. And carb ice can be cured with a little isopropanol in the fuel.

[QUOTE=yorkie_chris;2134322]Curvy frame is better bit of kit IMO. They only changed to pointy frame because it is cheap.

QUOTE]
no doubt but it's also way stiffer and lighter i think so depends

[yorkie_chris]

Lighter? Says who.

Stiffness, what will be stiffer, U shape or round tube?