Motorcycle Repair: 1981 cx500 starting, air fuel mixture, cx500

Question
hi. i have a 1981 cx500 bought new. after sitting for over 5 days, it will only run on one cylinder for a few minutes then the 2nd will finally fire. is this common for this bike? thanks, jim.

Answer
No Jim, that's not normal.  It sounds like the choke system on one carbs isn't wroking right.  The air fuel mixture is too lean when the engine is cold but as the engine warms up the air fuel mixture comes into an acceptable range and the plug starts to fire off the mixture in the cylinder.  You need to determine why the choke isn't working.  It could be adjustment, or plugged jets.

Regards
Rich