It's been cold here lately (35-50 F) and when I go to start the bike in the morning/afternoon it is now turning over many times before finally starting up. Also noticed the lights flicker and dim when idling at this stage. I put in a new Yuasa battery last winter and will check the charge soon, any other possibilities? I was thinking fuel, like maybe I could switch to PRIME while starting if this happens in a serious way. God knows I don't want to be stranded in the suburbs of Beaverton Oregon at 10pm in the rain.
PRIme won't help. Do you use full choke? (I ask because there are GSses that don't need choke when warm, so it'd be easy to forget.)
Thinner oil would help.
no not fuel...it's all charging system. They don't dig cold weather. Give your electrical systema tune up---clean all the terminals and make sure everything's nice and firmly seats...and it wouldn't hurt to run an extra ground to the frame.
Check the level on the battery electrolyte. You'd be surprised how quickly it can drop and how much of an effect it has on starting performance.
thanks guys. found a loose screw today at the positive battery terminal.