She almost didn't start this morning....

[jbeaber]

My bike definitely scared me this morning.  I went to start her up after letting her sit outside for the weekend.  It doesn't get too cold out her ein the winter, but it does get chilly at night.  My bike also isn't wild about sitting, being an 89 GS with 53K on it. 
So, I went to start it.  Nothing happened the first couple times, beyond it trying (full choke), but not turning over.  Then, when I let go of the start button, I heard a metallic clang, a bit loud.  Tried again, same result.  Tried one more time, backfired loud enough to activate car alarms in my complex.  Touched the button one more time, the bike fired up beautifully.  I let it run for a minute, then killed the engine and started it again.  Fired up immediately.
So, any ideas on what the metallic clang was?  Why do bikes/cars backfire? 
I may start that new bike hunt a little earlier than plannned...

[NightRyder]

The metallic clang was the little guy you had finally woken up smashing his wrench on the gears. It backfires because he oils them right after and it burns off the excess.

or maybe not.

Probably it is a bit flooded and had to have time to get going. If you don't understand that.. well I'll have to think of a better way to put it. Maybe check your spark plugs to see if they are real dirty. (this would mean, clean them, and try to fix why they got so dirty.) The metallic clang could be some harmless valve-cam-somethingelse shifting into place. Mine will make strange noises untill it gets just a bit warmed up. (say <1 min.)

[jbeaber]

The bike has performed perfectly since that morning.  I think it was largely a case of the bike making sure I know that it doesn't like to be left outside in the cold and not used for a weekend.  Fortunately I just signed a rental lease on a nice house with a garage. Yea!!

[pandy]

Congrats on the house...and make sure you treat her right! We KNOW how persnickity (sp?) our GS's are 

This is the Vicoden speaking...you are going to make up words now...(edit by scratch)muwahahaha!

[pandy]

Congrats on the house...and make sure you treat her right! We KNOW how persnickity (sp?) our GS's are 

This is the Vicoden speaking...you are going to make up words now...(edit by scratch)muwahahaha!

Where's that "report the moderator to the moderators" button!? 

[jardisan]

My bike did the exact same thing the other day...almost. It made all the same noises complete with 2-3 rifleshot backfires, but I couldn't get it started. No amount of swearing helped either! I had to drive the cage to work, but when I got home I tried it again and fired right up. Must be the curse of the '89s.

[pandy]

My bike did the exact same thing the other day...almost. It made all the same noises complete with 2-3 rifleshot backfires, but I couldn't get it started. No amount of swearing helped either! I had to drive the cage to work, but when I got home I tried it again and fired right up. Must be the curse of the '89s.

Well, I know the '92's have it, too....I think it's more of a general GS curse (shhhhhh....don't tell ratbike I said that, or he'll NEVER start for me again....)