Bike won't start

[Stef.]

Thanks for all you suggestions.

LumpyCam: I did use the throttle a bit and it did not work- unfortunately.

Liam: Thanks for all your suggestions. I had done most of them...apart the one with the mice...didn't even occur to me that they might nist in my bike!

The bike is currently under a cover and on a trickle charger- still outside but under the roof (open garage). I will get the battery tested in February/ March when I get thhe bike insured. I think I have a guarantee of 1 year on the battery so if something is wrong they should replace it. I want the Odysee one should I need it and if I have to pay a bit extra than this is fine with me.

Thanks again for all you advices. I have to say I find it slightly bizarre that for some of you it seems normal that your bikes do not start when it is cold outside while others seem to have no problems with their bikes even in winter. BigEasy - you are saying you never had a problem? Is you bike parked outside or in a garage?

Anyhow- thanks again- I will let you know at the end of February/March whether it started or not...
Stef.

[mogu83]

Stef,
I know this is off topic BUT. you mentioned taking the insurance off your bike during the winter months. I used to do that also until my insurance agent gave me a call. First your bike is unprotected from a fire/theft or a meteor hit, second if you get a few decent days you can't go for a ride. Seems like, at least my company, charges different rates for summer months and winter months and keeping the machine insured for the whole year isn't really that much more. They know that you won't be riding much and adjust the rates. For me the difference was the cost of a few tanks of gas, check it out.

Then you'll be ready for the early spring we're going to get next year.

[sky_sailor]

Being a fellow Canadian, I'm a little surprised that you can insure it by the season. My insurance company (Primmum, BTW) charges me over five months, but the bike is insured for twelve. Do NOT leave you bike uninsured over the winter.
Lyle

[LumpyCam]

LumpyCam: I did use the throttle a bit and it did not work- unfortunately.

Doh - I owe you a beer! Well it will be fun to pay up next season, but we have to get your bike going first.

This morning my bike was a little sluggish turning over for my daily commute, but as always a little (once in a while a lot) of gas got it fired up quick. It was 1.5ºc out. Since we're in the same city presumably our bikes are subjected to similar conditions, but my bike is in a garage and maybe that makes the difference? Moisture? Gremlins? Envious Harley owners pulling out your spark plugs?

In this province the mandatory Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) has flat rates for all months. You can, however, get storage insurance for those other months. But I'm with Harry, keep it insured and get out for some sprints when the spirit moves you. If you don't have a heated jacket yet pick one up and you'll never let your insurance expire again

[deilenberger]

I'll agree on year round insurance and riding. A Gerbing jacket liner makes me comfortable down to about 33F (which it was Saturday when I went out for a ride..) Just have to remember to let the tires warm up for quite a while before really getting into it (after 45 minutes of riding, my tires were up to about 60F.. they never got any warmer..) I don't ride in snow. Usually.

[Stef.]

Thanks for your suggestions re insurance. I have my bike twice per year off the insurance: winter and believe it or not but also July and part of August as I am travelling every summer for 6-8 weeks to Europe. We have the basic insurance with ICBC (no other choice here) and an additional insurance with a private insurer. It does indeed make a difference to go twice a year for about 4 months each time than having it insured the whole year around. I am not sure though whether my private theft/accident insurance is continuing for the whole year. (I think so- my hubby is doing this).
It is not a huge amount of money but frankly if you look after the penny the dollar looks after itself. Even if it is only a couple of tank fillings, well that it's still a couple tank fillings...

I have to also admit that if I would be insured over winter I would drive the bike all the time and sometimes this would perhaps not be the wisest decision.
Anyhow...can't wait to get it back on the road...

Best wishes for xmas to all of you and drive safely!
Stef.

[BigEasy]

[quote="Stef."]Thanks for all you suggestions.

BigEasy - you are saying you never had a problem? Is you bike parked outside or in a garage?

quote]

Stef, A wise engineer once told me " sentences begining with all, none and never are seldom ever true", haveing said that the R has never let me down, yet. My battery was getting a little weak back in the late summer so I swapped it out before the dreaded no start problem that many report. The bikes have the good fortune of staying in a garage, but it is not heated. My bass boat on the other hand does have to endure winter out of doors, and it pains me badly. I don't always remember to hook it up to the charger but typically a night on the charger before going fishing and it fires right up.

The other thing to point out, and I often have on this board when batteries are the topic, they are a wear component plain and simple. They make power via a chemical reaction and eventually the little atoms that change electrons to make energy get used up. Most everything I own that uses batteries (cars, trucks, bikes, boats) gets a new battery every 3 years, and I don't buy top of the line, just good quality because the price difference related to extended service is not worth it. One time I spent the money on Optimax batteries for my boat but I didn't see any enhanced performance for the price and they were showing signs of fatigue at the 3 year mark like lead acid batteries. That's significant (like $500.00 difference) when a boat takes 4 batteries to power.

The other thing to remember if your battery is less than 3 years old is that they aren't perfect 100% of the time. Some just fail before others. Just bide your time for spring and sort it out then, good roads. Keith

[Stef.]

Bigeasy- all what you said makes perfectly sense and I am fully understanding that batteries are wear and tear and they might go earlier, but...mine is just 7 months old and as said a couple of weeks back it did not give me the slightest problem before. Unfortunately I don't have a garage - it's parked under the roof though. (Carport) I was thinking though...even if I would insure it over the winter, once it gets cold I might have a reaccuring issue with my bike not starting due to battery problems. A brand new battery (Odysee?) might help but if it is the thickened oil or something else than in other words my bike is not usable in winter without a garage
Stef.

[hjsbmw]

I am fully understanding that batteries are wear and tear and they might go earlier, but...mine is just 7 months old and as said a couple of weeks back it did not give me the slightest problem before.

So, is this a battery issue now? You said in your first post that it makes the 'right sound'.
Anything but a strong turning over is not right. The click click you describe is only the final stage of bad. So if it turns over weakly it could be related to your battery. If it turns over strongly it's not your battery.

[Stef.]

hjsbmw- no I do not think it is a battery issues as stated in my first post. I had just replied to the suggestions that it "might" be the battery. It made as said all the right sounds and it is still pretty brandnew- so no...I hope not.
Time will tell.
BTW Merry xmas to all of you and thanks for being such a nice bunch of people!
Stef.

[AncientMariner]

Steph,

You've just got to get that bike running... or none of us will be able to settle down for a long winter's nap.

You say you have electric juice. Did you confirm there is gas in the tank? (I mean, without looking at the fuel guage.)

We're all pulling, i.e. pushing (virtually) for you.

Well, have a Merry Christmas any way.

Bruce

[Ric]

Come on Stef....even though these guys don't.....you know what you gotta do.
Pull it into the house !!!
It'll be nice and cozy there all winter with you wipping her down now & then.
Besides...you'll be able to grab a glass of wine and sit on it any time you want !!!
Do It ! Do it now !

[BigEasy]

Come on Stef....even though these guys don't.....you know what you gotta do.
Pull it into the house !!!
It'll be nice and cozy there all winter with you wipping her down now & then.
Besides...you'll be able to grab a glass of wine and sit on it any time you want !!!
Do It ! Do it now !

BRILLIANT!

[sky_sailor]

How many replies is thread really worth. She won't pull the battery and have it checked. So, let sleeping bikes lie. Maybe it'll start in the spring....maybe it wont. The soap opera continues.
It makes the right sounds....and it's pretty brandnew.....must be something else....right?
BTW, what is "pretty brandnew"?

[mogu83]

Threads like this happen when it's cold in our half of the world. Note the Aussies aren't beating it to death, their out riding.

Map of the world from Australia.

[PhilSB]

On my last ride out (while the weather was still warm) I thought my bike was a little reluctant to start but it did. When I stopped for petrol (gas) it wouldn't restart, "Oh dear" (loose translation) I thought. Anyway AA breakdown recovery came and quickly diagnosed a loose battery connection What a prat!!
That's my pennyworth, now I'm off to the pub for a pint.

We've had minus14C temps last week and 16inches of snow. And my bike is still covered in dead flies, I must get it washed sometime!!

Regards
Phil

[racerb]

How about it Ric 7 bikes.... You must have an L A mansion.. Double wide. 4 in the living room and one in each bedroom.

Just kidding. Only the HD's are house broke.

[gibbo111]

Too hot for me to ride now but I wont buy into this one!!!

[Ric]

How about it Ric 7 bikes.... You must have an L A mansion.. Double wide. 4 in the living room and one in each bedroom.

Just kidding. Only the HD's are house broke.

Ha !
I do have a large home and, my bikes have found their way in from time to time.
But....that's what being single will do for ya