Winter, Bike won't start

[JonR1]

I've been starting the bike up atleast twice a week since about a month ago when it's way too cold to go riding. Anyhoo, it's been pretty cold lately, usually on the -5 to -8 Celcius. Last night, I was going to start the bike, guess what.....bike won't start. Battery was ok, all lights are on, i hear the ticking sound, choke, tried to start, but she won't fire up. Anyone have this problem? how do ya rectify this problem... Thanks

[Limited R1]

Just starting the bike is no good , it doesn't charge good till over 2000 rpm. Best bet is to get a battery tender (smart charger) this will keep your battery charged fully and will shut off when batery is full and come on when it needs a little charge. Cost about $35.

[yzfgirl]

Yup! That clicking sound you here is the little starter solenoid thingy. Not enough battery power to make it go. Charge the battery back up and you're good. And the guys are right, just starting it up without running it doesn't do the job. You need about a 30 minute ride each time you start it up. That should be enough. Atleast in my experience.

[skyshot44]

That ticking sound is because your battery is dead.. not completely, but not enough to run the starter.

[JonR1]

hehehe..I knew that. Yeah i'll do that when I get home.

Thanks a lot folks....

[r1matty]

Sounds like you should be winterizing your ride, if it weren't so goddamn cold here too id have winterized mine by now too. I dont know how cold you guys get there, but it might be a good idea to test your antifreeze and put your battery inside (on a piece of wood, not on cement) plus add some fuel stabilizer. I think theres a bunch of good threads on the subject if you're going to go that route.

[r1-superstar]

Just because you start and run the bike, that does not mean that the battery is charging. At idle, the battery gets a very small amount of charge. Combine that with starting the bike, zero long rides at high rpm's and running for a long period. Your battery will die. Perhaps a battery tender, (trickle charger) will cure the problem.

[JonR1]

R1matty,

I winterized my bike last year...never had a problem come spring. Put the battery back on, then fired her up.
I'm gonna charge it tonight when I get home....and put fuel stabilizer. arrgghhhh...hate this winter crap.

Thanks for the info peeps...

[r1matty]

I think I am just going to put in some fuel stabilizer and pull the battery. I lucked out this year, my buddy is taking a motorcycle mechanics course at Fairview College in Alberta and he is going to do a bunch of work for me.

Change all fluids
replace fork seals
polish frame and outer rim lips
trade my worn out rubber for brand new
run it on a dyno
polish swingarm

The best part is ----- he can do it all for free!!!
I asked him to design some type of plate flip up device if he can do that too.

He wanted to do some kind of big bore kit, but i dont think i have that kind of money to spend.
Anything else you guys can think of i should get done?

Yeah, the stickers are coming off too.

[r1matty]

my pic didnt work