EV - cold start. FI why need throttle?

[SemperVee]

 My recent 03 EV is a joy to ride. But,
 Now that is had gotten cold it is harder to start when cold. Needs multiple attempts and help with catching the throttle?   Why I have fast throttle "choke" cable on FI is a bit vexing.  My 07 Norge has no issue with cold start.

Once warmed up it is find to restart with no throttle but really needs it with choke when cold? 

I  have gotten 30 mpg in town and 44 at mostly steady fwy speed.   Runs great thru all the gears  with no stumble and 1000 rpm idle.
 
Is this "Normal" cold starting on 98-04 1100  Fuel Injected Cali bikes?

[Walton]

Same with mine. Pretty sure these bikes need a high idle until warmed instead of a choke.

[guzzisteve]

Cause it gives it more fuel, just like the stepper motor does on Norge.

[michaell32]

Because the older Californias don't have an electronic throttle body or an idle air control valve. The "choke" cable holds the throttle open for you where more modern FI will open the throttle body automatically. I don't know much about the Norge FI system.

[Kev m]

Cause it gives it more fuel, just like the stepper motor does on Norge.

Pedantic input coming...

It's not about fuel. As you know a stepper motor on other EFI systems doesn't provide more fuel, it provides more AIR, which is what is actually needed.

More fuel is already being provided to help cold starts based on the engine temp sensor input.

But EFI motors are physically setup so the throttle plate(s) is at the proper setting for HOT IDLE. A cold motor can't run in a stable manner at the same minimum speed it can at operating temperature. So engines need some method of providing additional air for a higher idle speed.

A fast idle lever on an EFI motor first and foremost physically holds the throttle plate open to allow a faster idle speed to prevent stalling. Now it's true that the TPS normally doesn't know it's the lever cable and not the throttle cable that is holding the plate open, so it does introduce more fuel than it would with the plate closed, but ratio is only richer than normal IF the engine temp is still low. Otherwise it's the same ratio for that throttle position at the same ambient temperature.

More sophisticated EFI systems use a stepper motor to simply provide a bypass to the closed throttle plate for additional air thereby directly controlling idle speed by the ECU. And for the same reason, the ECU will hold a faster idle until the engine can operate smoothly at a slower idle speed.

[guzzisteve]

+1 Kev,                    the ECU map has a table in it for cold start to begin with that works of the temp sensor, sometimes it's not enough. A friend of mine with a hotrod motorcycle shop(works on most anything) has a Scura for race day. Beefed to the max, it didn't start for 8 tries. I fixed it w/TunerPro and now he can ride his bike to work, 1st time in 15yrs.
I just worked on an Aluminum that had no lever, the p/o must have deleted it. Bike started fine set at 3.66 degrees, 561mv. Must have enough in map to work. Idled fine at 1050.

[Vagrant]

Try different positions on cold start beginning with no lever. As Steve said kick the TPS up to 540.

[Mr Revhead]

I've never bothered with the fast idle lever on mine, it's a pain in the arse.
I have my idle set a little higher, around 11-1200, I like the slight boost in oil pressure at idle.
If its really cold (sub 10deg) Crank her up, slight "catch" on the throttle and hold the revs then after a couple of seconds it's fine.

If you haven't,  have you confirmed TPS and balance is set correctly? Also the injector trim? Most are set stupidly lean from factory

[SemperVee]

I've never bothered with the fast idle lever on mine, it's a pain in the arse.
I have my idle set a little higher, around 11-1200, I like the slight boost in oil pressure at idle.
If its really cold (sub 10deg) Crank her up, slight "catch" on the throttle and hold the revs then after a couple of seconds it's fine.

If you haven't,  have you confirmed TPS and balance is set correctly? Also the injector trim? Most are set stupidly lean from factory

I need to do that.  Have not since it has been running so well and it is completely different TPS/TBS than Guzzidiag with my Norge and Carbtune balancer.  Need to find procedure for that and a "slightly" less cold day to do it. Thanks for pointing that out.