My “Choke” is actually a “starting enrichment circuit”, in the manual, it’s sometimes called a choke, but usually called an “SE Valve”. I’m not totally clear on the details, but it seems to pull up more gas (when open) rather then restrict air (when closed), but same result in the end.
ETA, but yes, I pull it out when I start the engine.
Not that this has anything to do with you troubles (although the symptoms sound eerily familiar), but my NT650 is horribly cold-blooded, and it has a twin-cable throttle set up. I actually have to twist the throttle in the *opposite direction *and hold it when firing it up cold to get it to run at all.
The return cable does not seem to want to adjust properly. Once warm, all is good, but its a pain in the ass 'cause I don’t ride it too much, and always a bitch to get running.
Here is another horror story: The tank on this bike had some gunk in it when I bought it, and ruined the petcock and the strainer inside the tank. It would allow a tiny trickle of fuel to flow to the pump, but not enough to keep it running. So, it would fire, sputter and quit. Let it sit a few minutes and repeat. Maddening! Worse, that damn petcock was around $75! :eek:
Good luck and keep fighting the good fight!