Plugs are fouling

[Robdlouisville]

2000 st-1100 34,000 miles. I have owned it 9 months. I use it in the winter months, so she has not been sitting. Although my commute is only 15 miles a day round trip.
This weekend she was running rough. I removed the plugs to inspect. They were fouled. Black. I wonder if I am leaving the choke full open too long. I am not familiar with the large displacement engines. I am used to small v-twins.
I leave the choke open about 5 mins on cold starts.
If the choke isn't the problem. what should I look at first? Thank you all. Rob

 

[BuddingGeezer]

Try closing the choke in within 1 minute or less. 5 minutes choke on a 7 1/2 mile ride, yea that's TOO long.

 

[Robdlouisville]

OK - I am going to change the plugs and start a much abbreviated choke. Thank you

 

[bdalameda]

In most cases my St1100 will start without the choke at all. I just hit the starter no throttle and it will sit there and slowly idle as long as I don't give it any throttle. I let it idle until it will take throttle.

 

[Slydynbye]

I believe V4s need a higher idle to get good oil to the top end on a cold start. Probably not an issue on the ST but I play it safe. 1 minute choke while warming up as I gear up and then no choke at all works well for me. By the way I use the Iridium plugs.

 

[BruceP]

First SEAFOAM then choke for as little as possible as long as the idle is 1000 RPM.

 

[MDTurley]

I agree... seldom used the choke on my 1100
... as I didn't ride it much below 55F

And RPM needs to be 1100 not 800 for proper oil pressure

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

Doesn't the Owner's Manual say only 20 seconds of choke for a cold engine start? Plenty of stories over the years of STriders forgetting the choke's on and having the bike dying a ways down the road. Even a few minutes can really load up the plugs.

John (away from home and my manual)

 

[ST1100Y]

Try closing the choke in within 1 minute or less. 5 minutes choke on a 7 1/2 mile ride, yea that's TOO long.

+1
Mine would stall when having the choke much longer then 1 minute... cold start: full choke, once fired set it back to like 1/4 (~1500rpm) instantly, ride like 1km, choke off, keep max revs at ~2800 till engine has fully warmed (which probably isn't the case on a 7 mile run...)

 

[Digger1]

If you have a throttle lock, you can kill the choke almost immediately after starting, even when cold. If you want to walk away from the bike during warmup, just lock the throttle open enough to give you ~1200 rpm.

 

[Ian Robinson]

Hardly any choke needed and been riding all Winter ometimes sub zero. Suggest must be choke if not burning oil and air filter OK. Ian

 

[Robdlouisville]

Thank You everyone. RD

 

[Jim Van]

I have had my ST1100 for only about a year and a half now and have always used the choke during the first start of the day for about 30 seconds. But after reading these posts, I discovered it starts just fine without choking !! I have a throttle lock and after it starts, just give it some throttle to keep the revs up a bit. BY the time I get my earplugs ( I have a really quiet ST1100 on the road ) and helmet on, it takes the throttle just fine. There has to be less "washing" of the cylinders without using the choke and less chance of plug fouling - thanks for that info. about mostly not needing to use the choke.