I hate my gs500f at the moment **UPDATE**

[Skeets]

So yesterday it got really cold and the bike decided to not start on me. But 3 hours later when my brother came home it started.


I don't understand.

It tries to start but doesn't.

The bike only has 5000 miles on it, and I bought it new.

I don't think it's a low battery because if you let it sit for a few hours it will come on but only if you have the choke off, and then it dies because it needs choke.


Idk what to do. Please help, I've missed 2 tests because of this damn machine.

**Update**

YOU SHOULD REALLY TAKE CARE OF YOUR BATTERY.

So since my bike didnt work I had to walk to school. Everything was fine and I got to school. If you didn't know I am 5"10 110lbs, and a senior in highschool. Well I had to walk home from school and while in the middle of almost being to my home, I was robbed at knife point for my cell phone. I'm fine, and I even got a new phone that day!

If I woulda had my bike, none of this would happened...but it did...soo now the good part

I went to K-mart and got a battery tenderizer for motorcycles. I then took out my battery and put it on over night. Put it in the morning and BAM it started right up.

It's been working fine now, and I've been switching bikes with my brother (ninja250) because he has a long trip and it will charge my battery.

Thanks for all your help, you guys (and girls) are the best!

[fred]

Be sure it isn't the battery. It is very easy to check the battery, so you should start there first.

[natedawg120]

yeah check the battery.  Also have you ever tried giving it a little throttle while cranking with the choke on; on cold days (under 30F) I had to do this or mine would try to start but never succeed.

[Skeets]

I would also like to add it's very very very hard to move if its not in nuetral. I tried putting it in first and pulling in clutch and it was almost impossible!!!!

[beRto]

I would also like to add it's very very very hard to move if its not in nuetral. I tried putting it in first and pulling in clutch and it was almost impossible!!!!

Have you tried adjusting the clutch? This FAQ thread had lots of pictures on the process:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20468.0

[fred]

I would also like to add it's very very very hard to move if its not in nuetral. I tried putting it in first and pulling in clutch and it was almost impossible!!!!

It is a wet clutch and when the bike is cold, this is totally normal. Doesn't hurt to check your clutch cable adjustment since it is so easy, but don't expect to be able to put it in gear and roll the bike around with the clutch on when it is cold. Hopefully you're not trying to start it while in gear, this could cause problems, especially in really cold weather. I'd still bet on your battery being the problem. Batteries function less well in the cold, so it is possible that a marginal battery could show the first signs of failure only when it is cold...

[beRto]

I would also like to add it's very very very hard to move if its not in nuetral. I tried putting it in first and pulling in clutch and it was almost impossible!!!!

It is a wet clutch and when the bike is cold, this is totally normal. Doesn't hurt to check your clutch cable adjustment since it is so easy, but don't expect to be able to put it in gear and roll the bike around with the clutch on when it is cold.

I agree that the bike will be more difficult to move in gear than in neutral (when cold). However, I don't think that Skeet's scenario is normal because it should not be "almost impossible to move", even if the bike is cold.

Hopefully you're not trying to start it while in gear, this could cause problems, especially in really cold weather.

Not sure about this. As long as the clutch lever is pulled in, I don't see this as a problem. Of course, if it's physically in gear the starter should not engage at all because of the clutch lever safety switch.

I'd still bet on your battery being the problem. Batteries function less well in the cold, so it is possible that a marginal battery could show the first signs of failure only when it is cold...

Agreed - a battery load test would be a good idea.

[Skeets]

So a new battery or what?? My dad said that he's jump start me with his car tonight....How much would a new battery be?


(yes I know, jumping is bad, but i'll do it without his car on.

[beRto]

So a new battery or what?? My dad said that he's jump start me with his car tonight....How much would a new battery be?


(yes I know, jumping is bad, but i'll do it without his car on.

What kind of riding do you do? Is it short commutes to school and back? Maybe you're battery is not getting a chance to recharge. If that's the case, you may want to consider using a Battery Tender when you park the bike at home.

A jump start is a good idea. If the bike starts easily with the jump, you will need to look more closely at your battery. You do not necessarily need to buy a new battery immediately. You should have it tested at the shop first - they will tell you if it just needs a charge or if it should be replaced.

It's probably cheaper in the USA, but in Canada a new battery will cost about $50 (including acid and the first charge).

[fred]

I got my battery in LA and it was around $50... I agree with beRto, get the bike jump started and if that works, go get the battery tested...

[Skeets]

My brother just advised me that I'm one stupid person. Seeing it is winter, I have only made rides from school to home. Thus being only .6 miles, my bike hasnt had enough time to fully charge causing my battery to die. My brother is going now as I type to get a tenderizer. I feel really stupid right now as I pretty much lost all confidence in my bike, and it's my fault!

[jchc413]

My brother is going now as I type to get a tenderizer. I feel really stupid right now as I pretty much lost all confidence in my bike, and it's my fault!

So are you cooking some meat or something?  Tenderizer=for meat, tender= for battery

[loudog]

My brother just advised me that I'm one stupid person. Seeing it is winter, I have only made rides from school to home. Thus being only .6 miles, my bike hasnt had enough time to fully charge causing my battery to die. My brother is going now as I type to get a tenderizer. I feel really stupid right now as I pretty much lost all confidence in my bike, and it's my fault!

No worries. I bet all of us have had a similar experience. I've overlooked simple things on many occassions  

[Juan1]

Half a mile?  How about buying a cheap bicycle.

[fred]

Yeah, a half mile is a pretty short way to be driving anything... When I was an undergrad at UCSD I had to park my car a mile and a half away from the dorm....

[Roadstergal]

I have only made rides from school to home. Thus being only .6 miles

Dude, it has to take you longer to gear up than to make the ride!  Ja, bicycle or walk.

Hopefully you're not trying to start it while in gear, this could cause problems, especially in really cold weather.

Not sure about this. As long as the clutch lever is pulled in, I don't see this as a problem.

Wet clutch + cold, viscous oil = drag = starter is going to be moving the bike a bit as well as the engine.

[natedawg120]

yeah .6 will do it, battery runs dead.  I only have to drive 1.7 miles to work however when it isn't snowy and i'm not being a puss about rain I will take the moto and its about a 20 or 27 mile ride, depending on the path chosen at the fork in the road

EDIT: After a week of being mostly lazy i had to bump start because i did the same thing, i just made it a point to take the long way home and test the battery to make sure it checked out (poor mans charger )

[beRto]

Wet clutch + cold, viscous oil = drag = starter is going to be moving the bike a bit as well as the engine.

I understand the issue, I'm just not convinced this will necessarily lead to long term damage. If the starter motor cannot provide enough torque to turn over the engine (and move the bike, in this case), it will stall.

Sure,  continuous attempts to start the bike under these conditions would drain the battery. Beyond that, I don't see what would get damaged? I know that a starter motor can provide a lot of torque, but I think that the mechanical starting components would have been designed to handle a stall condition.

I'm willing to accept that I may be wrong, and am open to discussion and possible correction.

[Paulcet]

I know that a starter motor can provide a lot of torque, but I think that the mechanical starting components would have been designed to handle a stall condition.

You're right about the mechanical components.  But electrically, a stalled motor carries infinite current. -Bad, bad!

[beRto]

I know that a starter motor can provide a lot of torque, but I think that the mechanical starting components would have been designed to handle a stall condition.

You're right about the mechanical components.  But electrically, a stalled motor carries infinite current. -Bad, bad!

Sure, a motor draws peak current when stalled, but it's not infinite.