Cold (no)starts

[PneumaticPanther]

I just bought a 2000 GS500E and I haven't noticed any major problems so far (throttle cable is a bit sticky, but no big deal).  Tonight I went out to the lot to put a new parking tag on it, and decided I'd fire it up to take a look at the throttle cable.  Well, it wouldn't start.  It turned over, and would occasionally release a resounding backfire, but it didn't catch.  The bike had been ridden only 4 times in the last year, but I think most of the old fuel is out of its system.  I think (hope) it's just a bad battery and there's not enough spark to ignite it when its cold.  When I bought the bike the owner jump started it with his running car (I just read in another post how this could possibly cause damage to the electrical system).  When the bike hasn't been run but is at normal daytime temperatures (~70 degrees) it starts up fine without choke so long as its in neutral (clutched in it's more difficult for the starter to turn it over).  Is there anything here that doesn't mesh with the "bad battery" theory?  Should I be worried about the fact that the owner jumped it with his running car?

[Mat]

mine doesn't like to start without help much below 35 but when its warm it starts just fine

when its cold it takes a lot more power to start a bike then when its warm
and when its cold the battery doesn't produce as much power either

[mp183]

Don't worry about the running car thing.  I did it and it's no problem.
I know others that have done it also.  If your battery is really bad that is the only way it will start.  It will not start if the car is not running.
I don't know where this thing got started, 12 volt is 12 volt.  Your system will not pull anymore amps than it needs.

[Killermarmot]

I just bought a 2000 GS500E and I haven't noticed any major problems so far (throttle cable is a bit sticky, but no big deal).  Tonight I went out to the lot to put a new parking tag on it, and decided I'd fire it up to take a look at the throttle cable.  Well, it wouldn't start.  It turned over, and would occasionally release a resounding backfire, but it didn't catch.  The bike had been ridden only 4 times in the last year, but I think most of the old fuel is out of its system.  I think (hope) it's just a bad battery and there's not enough spark to ignite it when its cold.  When I bought the bike the owner jump started it with his running car (I just read in another post how this could possibly cause damage to the electrical system).  When the bike hasn't been run but is at normal daytime temperatures (~70 degrees) it starts up fine without choke so long as its in neutral (clutched in it's more difficult for the starter to turn it over).  Is there anything here that doesn't mesh with the "bad battery" theory?  Should I be worried about the fact that the owner jumped it with his running car?

Pretty simple way to check both things. Put a charger on the battery till it reads fully chraged. Then start the bike, use a multimeter (if you don't have one radio shack has em for about 20 bucks) and test the voltage off the battery. At idle it should be around 12.7 or so. Rev the bike anything over 1500-2000 rpm and you should read about 14.5-14.8 volts it varies a bit with each RPM but as long as it's over 13.5V your charging system is fine. and your battery should be fine. Don't forget to check the fluid level in your battery (a very often over looked thing element)

[makenzie71]

I wouldnt worry about it.  Your battery probably isnt't up to the task of cold cranking.  My TL does the same thing.

[ducati_nolan]

Dose it crank over and not fire or dose it not want to crank? If it's turning over slowly then you probally have a bat problem. If it cranks fine but won't fire when cold then your choke/enrichiner may not be working properly. If the plugs are old, they should be cleaned or replaced as well.
Have fun