Starting the bike first time in the spring

[Superzoom]

Hello All,

I would love some tips from everyone on the best way to start my '08 GS500E for the first time after winter.  I'm buying a barely used GS (82 kms!) which hasn't been driven since last year, and may or may not have been properly winterized.  I know the battery was left in the bike and is almost dead.  So I'm guessing the carbs weren't drained, and stabilizer may not have been added to the fuel.

With this in mind, what steps should I follow to start the bike?  Please tell me what to do with fuel petcock, choke and throttle.  The more specific you are the better, as I'm not familiar with the GS500, and had fuel injection on my last motorcycle (Harley Sportster).

Thank you!

[BaltimoreGS]

This is a rather subjective question so you will get a rather subjective answer.  There are varying degrees of pre-start prep that could be needed depending on a lot of unknown variables.  So...

Basics:
-Check to make sure there is oil in it
-Drain and replace old gas.  Can be done by removing hoses from petcock.
-Charge the battery.  If it won't hold a charge, replace it
-Unhook both spark plug wires/boots and run the starter until the oil light (red indicator) goes out
-Put spark plug boots back on
-Turn choke on, set fuel petcock to prime (PRI) position
-Crank it up and hope for the best

Other possible/optional steps:
-Pull both spark plugs and pour a little oil in the cylinders for lubrication on initial start
-Carbs clogged from old gas?  Pull carbs and clean
-Oil contaminated from condensation?  Change it

My 2 cents.

-Jessie

[mister]

I don't live in a climate that needs winterization. Sometimes it gets to freezing, but otherwise it stays just above.

So my only contribution is...

Please post a pic of your bike.

Michael

[PachmanP]

-Unhook both spark plug wires/boots and run the starter until the oil light (red indicator) goes out

Hrrm I never thought of that.  Seems like a pretty good idea though.

[BaltimoreGS]

-Unhook both spark plug wires/boots and run the starter until the oil light (red indicator) goes out

Hrrm I never thought of that.  Seems like a pretty good idea though.

That's sometimes referred to as "pre-oiling."  It is usually done when an engine has just been rebuilt to build up some oil pressure before initially starting but the theory should apply to an engine that's been sitting too.

-Jessie

[sledge]

Just charge the battery, fire it up and stop worrying.
If it struggles shoot some Easy-start down its throat. Yeah the engine will see most wear on startup but over its lifetime its going to see 1000s of `normal` cold starts starts. Trade that off against about 15-20  post winter lay-up starts......Is all that fuss and effort really going to make such a significant difference to its longevity?
I would be more concerned about my (so far unmentioned) tyre pressure/condition.

[XealotX]

I just started my '02 this afternoon after about 2 months of sitting on the battery tender. It was 27(F) degrees.

I checked the oil level & tire (tyre? ) pressure, put the fuel petcock in prime, hit the start switch for about 5 seconds and it started right up. Let it warm up for about 5 minutes while I put my cold weather gear on and commenced to freeze my a$$ off on a 25 mile ride.

Definitely second the vote for just getting on the thing and riding it.

P.S......Anyone who wants to say that riding at 27 degrees is nothing and that they normally ride in Antarctica in 48 below zero weather in a blizzard is only contributing to their own carpal tunnel syndrome.

[mister]

tire (tyre?

England and Australia and New Zealand spell it "tyre" while the USA and probably Canada spell it "Tire".

Both are correct. Use them as you will.

Michael

[Suzuki Stevo]

Just charge the battery, fire it up and stop worrying.

That is exactly what I did for years, long before I had a warm garage or Sta-Bil  
Draining the carbs is the most I have ever had to do to get ANY bike started after being in storage, don't over think the process  

EDIT: Hint, how many bikes do I own?

[Superzoom]

Thank you so much everyone.  I will take all your suggestions into consideration.

The reason I posted was because I tried to start the bike ('08, only 82 kms), but the battery pretty much died after about ten seconds of cranking.  This was with the fuel petcock in prime and the choke on.  Based on what I've read since posting, plus with the postings here, I think I just need to fully charge the battery.

I will post again if it still doesn't start with a charged battery.  Thanks again.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Thank you so much everyone.  I will take all your suggestions into consideration.

The reason I posted was because I tried to start the bike ('08, only 82 kms), but the battery pretty much died after about ten seconds of cranking.  This was with the fuel petcock in prime and the choke on.  Based on what I've read since posting, plus with the postings here, I think I just need to fully charge the battery.

I will post again if it still doesn't start with a charged battery.  Thanks again.

Charge it up, drain the gas in the bowls and it should fire right up, it's the small quantity's of gas that go bad first, like in the carburetor bowls because they are vented to the atmosphere.

[Superzoom]

Thanks!

One last question...  If my battery has been sitting for three or more months without use or charging, will it be irreparably damaged?  Or will it be almost as good as new with a charge?

[Suzuki Stevo]

Thanks!

One last question...  If my battery has been sitting for three or more months without use or charging, will it be irreparably damaged?  Or will it be almost as good as new with a charge?

Any voltage below 12.4V the damage from Sulfation starts... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfation

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html