Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Idles speed

I've got a brand new 08 America and to me the idle speed seems far to low (as set from the dealer), what should the idle speed be? Off a closed thottle the bike really jolts and sometimes when slowing at a junction (to almost a dead stop) the engine will just cut out. I've adjusted the idle up a bit and the results so far have been positive, so far no cutting out and the throttle contlol is much better. I've been riding a 700 V twin which idles between 950 and 1000rpm and the Triumph sounds fast compared to it, being a vertical twin i know makes a difference but just wondered what it should be.

If it's a carburettor equipped 865 cc engine, around 1100 at hot idle would be good. Although this may sound too high, it's my opinion you need that little extra amount of fuel without a throttle twist for hot engine start ups.

Around 900 sounds much better, but seems to give me hard starting during hot engine starts.

If yours is like mine, you'll notice a variance in idle that I believe to be due to the temperature of the engine at any given time.

Your right it does vary a bit, mine is EFI tho, but the idle should still be around the same, shouldn't it?

The book says 1000 +- 50 when warm and the choke is off.