It was fine up until the last week, but now my wee 34k RR-A seems to be having trouble cold starting and wondered if anyone else has had the same problem? The engine turns over and I can smell the fuel, but it doesn't fire up. After a few leans on the starter switch the bike will eventually fire into life and then run perfectly. No loss in power, hesitation or stammering. Once it's on, it's on. Once warm, if I stop it then it starts again no problem. The bike is serviced regularly. Last service 500miles ago. It has a PCV I fitted about 4 years ago, so I don't think an ECU reset will work? The only thing I can think of as being different is the heatwave we have at the moment.
Don’t say that Jon, mines taking a little bit more to start but I need new plugs. Did your starter motor go around that mileage?
It turns over fine. Not too fast, not too slow. Just lots of nope nope nope nope as the motor is spinning until it it eventually goes yup!
have you tried starting it with jump leads, If the battery is slowing down a bit it will take more time to start,
The battery isn't slowing. At least not until after the 6th time leaning on the start button (it still started in the end) I suspect it may be leaking injectors. Tonight I left it with the ignition on to prime the rial and then sit for 15-20s before trying to start it. It started on the first button. It still took longer than normal, but at least I didn't have to crank it over and over like I did this morning.
check the battery. Even if the volts read ok and it shows fully charged, it ages and looses storage capacity at CCa below 90A you are on starting problem territory depending how cold it is
Would it not be sluggish turning over if the battery was the issue? It's been starting better now the weather has cooled off a little bit. I've only had issues with it before when it was cold cold. Like 0C cold (I think everyone has the same at those temps) When it's freezing temps I let it sit with the lights on to warm up the battery a bit (it's lithium) and then start it with 1mm of throttle and it fires up no problem. These issues the last week sounds like there's no spark, but it cranks the motor no problem. Ambient is hot. Like 21C in the morning and 27-31 in the evening when cold starting it
I disn't realize it was lithium battery. What you mention about the cold weather performance is true. With a lead battery that's is getting low on capacity, you can stil crank the engine without it sounding sluggish but it does turn it slower. Enough to make cold start a potential issue hence my comment in my reply. You think in less warm temperatures, it is okay. In warmer weather when you have the issue you said you can smell the fuel. To me that is not a good sign and the engine may be floodding. Either caused by keeping the throttle open when cranking or faulty air temperature sensor. On the electrical side, very warm & dry weather could expose problems with the aging wiring & electricals (cracked insulation). So another area to check. If you list the mods on your bike, hopefully a member in similar situation or similar experience can give you more help
Cheers Bonjo Other then the obligatory slip-on (Akra race), K&N and PCV, it's stock in the motor area. I didn't even do the flapper mod. My first thought was the aging PCV, so I asked my mechanic if it being faulty or not getting power to it could cause the problem, but they said it would still start but it would run rough.
