02 R1, Trouble starting Bike ???

If you're 02 R1 has trouble starting cold READ THIS !!! It's worth your time! Ever since I bought my R1 in April my bike has been a rough starter. Meaning... when I would try and start the bike cold it would take 2-3 pushes of the start button in order to get it running. I'd hit the start button the first time and it would attempt to start for about 4-6 seconds, then I'd release the button. Then I'd hit the button again for another 4-6 seconds, each time ensuring that the fuel pump completed it's priming cycle (or whatever it does). Finally the 3rd time the bike would start. I was talking to "ANUBIS" and he tells me that he is going to mechanics school for motorcycles. So I tell him he needs to fix my bike over the internet. He asks what's going on, so I tell him the above written scenario. He says, "try pulling your clutch in when you start your bike." (thinking to myself, "yeah right") I tell him Ok, be right back. WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT IT STARTED WITH THE VERY FIRST ATTEMPT !!!! My man "ANUBIS" fixed my freaking R1 over the internet!!!!!! The reason why I tell this story is because I know I am not the only guy out there with this problem. If you are having similar problems try pulling your clutch in when you start the bike. It worked for me! AND A HUGE THANKS to ANUBIS !!!! YOU ARE AWESOME !!! Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd, if you are having this same problem and you try pulling in your clutch and starting your bike and it works for you too then please post in this thread so others will see that I'm not smoking crack !!! Thanks !!

Could be that your clutch plates are sticking due to thicker cold engine oil. Pulling in the clutch disengages the plates enabling easier starting of your engine. Is the problem more pronounced in colder weather?

AWESOME, thanks for the tip man. i have this EXACT problem myself. will try the clutch trick

Originally posted by d207gp Could be that your clutch plates are sticking due to thicker cold engine oil. Pulling in the clutch disengages the plates enabling easier starting of your engine. Is the problem more pronounced in colder weather? My starting problem seemed to be in any weather. As long as the bike sat for about 2 hours or more it would have a tough time starting. Of course when it was warm (meaning I just got done riding it) it would start right up. Your theory is exactly what Anubis told me. I had posted this issue before but I got a bunch of suggestions that weren't easy fixes. I'm just hoping this trick works for a lot of guys with the same problem. It took away a lot of my stress when it worked for me !! cyberena, Let me know if it fixes your starting problem too !! I'm anxious to see if it works for you too !!!

No luck here. I have only had my 02' for two weeks now and have noticed the same problem. It always starts on the thrid try when it is cold. I just tried it with the clutch pulled in and it did not make any difference. The temp is in the 30's in the garage right now.

Originally posted by Spike13 No luck here. I have only had my 02' for two weeks now and have noticed the same problem. It always starts on the thrid try when it is cold. I just tried it with the clutch pulled in and it did not make any difference. The temp is in the 30's in the garage right now. Try pumping the clutch about 4-6 times.. then pulling it in and starting it. That's what I do everytime. Although I wasn't told to do that I just did it the first time and it worked so I do that everytime now. Also, what kind of Oil are you using???

Hey Spike....what type of oil are you running? If it's thicker oil....your engine will probably have a harder time starting...Also....flick your throttle a bit as you're cranking it to send a little more fuel into the combustion chamber....If nothing works...shoot me an email.

Yamalube 10w40. I will try again in about another hour...should be completly cooled down by then. I will try pumping the cluch a few times before starting. I really want this to work!!! It is very annoying to have a brand new bike and have to start it 3 times before it will run. I never had this problem on the 01' but then it had a manual choke. My friend has a feul injected GSXR-600 and he has a manual choke...

I reckon perhaps that when the bike is cold it doesn't have enough torque initially to deal with both turning the engine and the gearbox at the same time. Pulling in the clutch would release the load that any spinning gears in an oil bath would create. Thus helping the engine to turn a little more easily. This would exist until such time as the engine management fuelling maps could accomodate the meagre amount of load asked of it. Maybe only a few seconds once the sensors and management have sorted themselves out. Sounds like an unsorted factory bug if you ask me, might need an ECU remap ??? ANdre:hellobye

so went and tried pulling the clutch in and out 4-6 times, then held on to the clutch, and tried to start her up. the first time no luck, but second time it came on almost instantly. normally it takes 3 times, and normally 2nd time not so instantly so it appears it may have had some effect, but still hard to tell until after more trial and error. the second time it came on, i was actually NOT holding on the clutch, i wonder if thats the way to do it? anyone with tips?

Very well put andre73....except for one thing. I have always been misleaded by this point until recently. How many people actually think that the crankshaft sits in the oil? Probably about 80% of people think that. Wrong. The crankshaft actually sits above the oil in the crankcase. The plates will still stick together regardless of this just from the oil that is left on them. As far as a remap...wouldn't hurt at all. I know my bike came from the factory running lean. I put on a devil pipe and that made it even leaner although it still runs good mind you the back fires during downshifting and deceleration. The second time Spike, your plates were pretty much seperated and free flowing. This could also be a combustion problem. Maybe your bike is running too lean. The best way to find out is an EGA machine or a dyno.

Damn Anubis you weren't lying to me you really are learning something.:lol :lol Keep up the good work The more knowledge on this board the better.:fact

After letting the bike cool down for about 2 hours I tried the suggestion of pumping the clutch 6 times and then holding it in while starting and for the first time ever it started on the first try when it was cold!!! Thanks for the tips! I will keep trying and let you know how it is working...

I had the same problem. No start on first crank attempt. Then release the start button and try again and it starts right up. Anoyed the **** out of me for three months. Then at about 3000 miles the problem vanished. No explaination. It just starts right up from first crank now. :confused:

So I tried the clutch thing again this morning, it was REALLY cold this morning, and normally under this kind of circumstance, it takes at least 3 5second tries or so. anyways, the engine just started LIKE THAT to my amazement, i didnt even get a chance to turn the throttle while starting it up before it already was turned on. i usually can take my time at turning the throttle cause the damm engine wont start till the 3rd try, so when i hit the start switch, it was just like VROMMM...... i being lost in confusion, threw the throttle a couple times anyways just cause im so used to hearing it when i turn it on :yesnod zoomed off like i had a bad ass bike, instead of a bike that seems to have a hard ass time starting like a car that has 150,000 miles on it or something. :no

Originally posted by 02BlueR1 I had the same problem. No start on first crank attempt. Then release the start button and try again and it starts right up. Anoyed the **** out of me for three months. Then at about 3000 miles the problem vanished. No explaination. It just starts right up from first crank now. :confused: Could it be that the additional mileage has caused enough wear to the plates so that they don't stick any more? BTW thanks for the information TS02R1 and ANUBIS!

No problem gents... I'll be sure to share my knowledge as I start to learn more and more stuff. In about 6 months or so..I'll be in the Yamaha course...12 weeks. Later

I'm glad it worked for a couple more guys. Hopefully we can keep this tip alive. This is one of the greatest tips I've been given yet. Thanks Anubis !!!

I've notice the same thing on my bike. But it usually starts on the second try. This is only when it's bone cold at 4:30 AM leaving for work. Any other time my baby fires on first try. This morning I tried pulling in the clutch lever 4-6 times, then holding in clutch lever and hit start button and wha-la...fired up on first try.:D I'll just make it a habit to do everytime I start it now.:thumbup

i havent cranked the bike in days, and yesterday, i go out after reading this volaaaaaa ****er cranks the first time. I couldnt believe it. It use to take me twice, and it was alittle embarrassing around folks, bc its fairly a new bike!! thanks anubis

No problems here. I've had the bike "NEW" since April and I have 2100 miles. Starts the first try everytime..............db :thumbup

Yeah, thanks for rubbing it in. For all of us with the "hidden" turbo nitros flux capacitor plutonium package, well...... we need to pull our clutch in to start our bikes !!! :lol

Originally posted by TS02R1 Yeah, thanks for rubbing it in. For all of us with the "hidden" turbo nitros flux capacitor plutonium package, well...... we need to pull our clutch in to start our bikes !!! :lol :lol

Originally posted by TS02R1 Yeah, thanks for rubbing it in. For all of us with the "hidden" turbo nitros flux capacitor plutonium package, well...... we need to pull our clutch in to start our bikes !!! :lol Uh........Yeah.......

so a couple weeks ago i'm out riding with my buddy. we had just stopped at Fuddruckers for dinner and were heading home. stopped at the gas station and filled up, go to start the bike and it cranks over... and over... and over... no start. i try again... and again... and again... and nothing, not even a sputter. let it sit for a minute, and try again... nothing. put it in nuteral... nothing. roll it to a parking space since i might be there for a while, try again... nothing. sit for about 5 minutes and try again and it fires right up. several days go by with no problems whatsoever so i think maybe the neutral/sidestand switch might be getting dirty and think nothing of it. i go to get on my bike to go to work last wednesday and it won't start. tried starting it for an hour (yes, the battery ran down so i put a charger on it). absolutely would not start. the bike has 21,000 mile on it and i still hadn't changed the plugs so i figured maybe new plugs would help. i go buy new plugs, put them in, it fires right up. fixed. ummm... nope. same problem this morning. still thinking maybe it's the clutch/sidestand switch thing, i try all combinations of clutch pulled in, in gear, in neutral... nothing. battery is again starting to die so i hook up the heavy duty car charger and this time i put it on the 10AMP start assist setting (it also has 60AMP). fires right up. so i'm thinking i need a new battery. things in common: it was below 50 degrees all 3 times i've had starting trouble. all three times i've noticed the digital display blank out after a couple starting attempts, like i've run the battery down too much. my thinking is that the FI computer requires more voltage to function than previous carburated bikes. and since cold reduces a battery's output, if the battery is already wearing out, i may not have enough juice for the computer to operate while the starter is cranking. i've ruled out "jetting". had the problem before the powercommander, and after, and with the powercommander unplugged. so i don't think fuel mixture has anything to do with it. if it's not the batter, i can only think i have a bad computer that is affected by the cold. anyone have any experience EFI and low batteries and know if EFI units don't function with a worn battery?

I have had that problem o my 01 as well it there a long term fix like a thinner oil or what?

What gear do you leave your bike in while parked? Why would you not have the clutch in while attempting to start your bike? (Compare to 5 speed automobile)

Anibus do you go to AMI? I have the same strting problem with my 00 r1 but i live in Miami where the coldest it gets is like 75

Pump the clutch and pull in the clutch while starting method won't work for me. Still take at least 2 cranks to get her starts on cold day. I'm going to try applying a little throttle during starting to see if it works.

My lazy arse didn't take the time to read all the replies so this may have already been mentioned. I used to think I had the problem as well but then someone on this board mentioned that after turning the ignition on give the bike 3 - 5 seconds for the fuel injection to do it's thing, then try hitting start. So now if my bike has been sitting for a day or longer, I turn the key, wait a few seconds then hit the start button and it starts everytime now on the fisrt attempt. That was some damn good advice I got off the forum as well. Thanks.

I have a 2000 (Carb) and I tried the clutch thing that didnt work. i just have to gas it and it comes on after like 2 times... Now my next question. i am about to turn 10K miles on it. Is there a 10,000 mile service that needs to be done to the bike? If so, what does it entail? Thanks

Tried it by pulling and releasing the clutch a few times and now starts first time every time. Good work boys:thumbup

I ride my bike every day to work and back with over 6000 miles in 3 months riai hail snow i ride and just like to say thanks it starts every time now from Irish:beer

My bike starts in Two tries when the engine is cold......no matter what ....here and there....one shot. I was told by someone who works at Riva Yamaha in FL....that it has to do with the fuel injectors in the bike so they dont get build up or clogged or whatever....the way they are set up so no fuel sits in them when the bike is parked.... I dont know....but they allllllways do a good job on my bike an everything is allways done correctly.....as well as warrenty issues never being a problem.....so maybe they are correct on this too.....

and here I was thinking you had to pull the clutch in to start the bike anywayz....;)

what about when you try to start the bike and on your gauges where your temp is, it has the letters Hi.....Mine has troubled starting and when it does start it displays those letters....I bought a new battery and it still does it.........ANY HELP

what about when you try to start the bike and on your gauges where your temp is, it has the letters Hi.....Mine has troubled starting and when it does start it displays those letters....I bought a new battery and it still does it.........ANY HELP i remember thread about that somewhere here. cant remember what cause was.

well any help on mine would be great.....i tried the clutch thing and that doesn't work....also read in the manual about it being flooded and what to do to fix that and it didn't work.....so any help would be nice

is your coolant really that hot or will it still read Hi when its been sitting for a while?

no the bike can be completely cold and when you TRY to start it, it won't start and where the temp is it reads Hi.....and then it goes to Lo....but the bike never starts unless it is jumped off.....it has a brand new battery also

I'm having a similar issue.. Anytime it's cold overnight (under 50 degrees) The bike won't start. I will turn over very slowly and sometimes will stop turning over. Unless I open the trottle it'll turn over faster. I'll sit there for 20 - 30 minutes trying to start it and it won't fire.. I end up just getting the smell of gas to.. Last 2 times this happend I just drove to work, but will come home in the afternoon and the bike fires right up like nothing.. I'll try and remember this clutch trick next time it happens, and then post up.. Sucks to cause if I hold the starter down to long it'll stop itself and my clusters trip meter resets itself.. :( Now I just have to wait for the next cold night.. Also I had never pulled my clutch in to start the bike before..

Try jumper cables to another battery (your car battery is ok, just leave the car off) and see if it will start. Sounds like your battery may just be getting too weak. Your cluster resets because while running the starter, the voltage is dropping below what the cluster needs. And If your cluster doesn't have enough, your ignition and FI systems don't have enough either. This was the R1's first generation of FI. It had bugs. The power requirements being one of them. This is the only bike I've ridden that, when the battery is too low to spin the starter, can't be bump started (push the bike, pop the clutch) because the ignition/FI system needs so much power to function.

02 R1 it takes me twice first time of the day I tried pulling in the clucth and it still took 2 times, I will try pulling the cluch lever 4-6 times tomorow and see if it makes a difference.

Does any one know if adding an aftermarket ECU or power commander etc fixes this problem?

When I first got my 03, I thought I had a cold start problem... Then from listening to the fuel pump of the bike, I noticed that it primes itself for a few seconds first, and I wasnt letting it complete that process.... Yea, I am stupid...

I'm having a similar issue.. Anytime it's cold overnight (under 50 degrees) The bike won't start. I will turn over very slowly and sometimes will stop turning over. Unless I open the trottle it'll turn over faster. I'll sit there for 20 - 30 minutes trying to start it and it won't fire.. I end up just getting the smell of gas to.. Last 2 times this happend I just drove to work, but will come home in the afternoon and the bike fires right up like nothing.. I'll try and remember this clutch trick next time it happens, and then post up.. Sucks to cause if I hold the starter down to long it'll stop itself and my clusters trip meter resets itself.. :( Now I just have to wait for the next cold night.. Also I had never pulled my clutch in to start the bike before.. I am with you my old bike had the same problem hence the reason I sold it the new 03 hasn't had this happen yet. Basically I thought it was the battery so I put a new on in fixed it for a week then it happened again out of the blue. Starts in the morning then later on it just cranks and cranks never fires. Some one help these guys I sold a bike because of this I just got tired of it...

this is for wes314 . i have that same problem where my bike won't start for a few cycles. i have a 03 r1 with a power commander 3. i reset my pump and altered it to run a little richer, also am running a different map to go with my exhaust, and it didn't fix the problem. i talked to a few other people about it. the best advice that i have is the fast idel unit. it sticks and the slide does not come all the way back. remove it, strip it lube it up and return. watch for losing coolant as it has 2 coolant pipes attached to it. i haven't done this yet, but do plan to. good luck