ok so the bike hasnt been run in two days because of bad weather.  it sits outside w/ a tarp over it and the tarp was blown off, possibly in the rain.  so anyway i go to start the bike tonite, full choke, and it just backfired really loud and that was it.  it didnt start up or anything.  so after regaining composure ( i thought i was being shot at ) i opened the throttle with the bike off, then let go and then started it.  started right up.   whats the deal? i kno next to nothing about bikes so i dont know where to begin.  then later i went into the store for 10-15 min and came back out.  tried starting with choke off, cause i thought it would still be warm enough, and it didnt even turn over.  as soon as i hit the button all my indicator lights and my headlight went out and didnt come on again.  so i turned it off and waited a few seconds and tried again, started right up.  whats the deal??  could this be my battery? i noticed when i start my bike first time of the day it takes awhile to start up..

I'll bet it's just moisture playing games with your electrics.  The backfire could have happened because the cylinders filled with air/fuel vapor, the spark didn't light the mixture that time around, the vapor got shoved out into the exhaust pipe, and then the next cylinder-full came out burnt and hot and ignited the unburnt "cloud".

If the backfire came up through your carbs instead of out the pipe, the sequence would be different and you'd be looking at a mis-timed spark or something.  Either way, it could just be moisture causing problems at a connection somewhere.

The second time around sounds like another moisture-related switch and/or fuse and/or battery cable contact problem.

See if any of the symptons recur after the bike has had a chance to dry out really well.

I agree with Kerry. From your wording I gather that the engine runs ok when it does start, therefore, I would rule out the engine, fuel, air systems.

My first wild guess is your ignition sw.  Did it get soaked in the rain?

The first electrical load down stream from the ignition switch is the lights.
Since they are erratic that would point to a fault somewhere upstream from them.  That would include the battery, fuse, ignition switch and associated wiring.

Like Kerry said, let it dry out and see what happens.

thanks for the suggestions.  also i was wondering if the battery gets 'recharged' when the bike is running, like a car battery?

Yes, the battery gets recharged while the bike is running, but not while idleing. It needs to have the RPMs in the 4k range. Then there is this...

John said:

Quote
The first electrical load down stream from the ignition switch is the lights.
Since they are erratic that would point to a fault somewhere upstream from them. That would include the battery, fuse, ignition switch and associated wiring.

As for the down stream/up stream... well... I dono... It's a circuit right? so If any part of it is broken, then nothing should work. So don't count out the rest of the electronics. (please correct my if I'm wrong)
Cheers
-Denis S.
PS-John I mean no disrespect...

Quote from: dsmirnov83Yes, the battery gets recharged while the bike is running, but not while idleing. It needs to have the RPMs in the 4k range.

Actually, while my engine is running the voltage regulator keeps the voltage to the system above 14V.  I measured mine and it ranges from 14.7V to 14.9V from idle up to 5K rpm.  So mine is charging regardless of rpm.

Quote from: dsmirnov83
As for the down stream/up stream... well... I dono... It's a circuit right? so If any part of it is broken, then nothing should work. So don't count out the rest of the electronics. (please correct my if I'm wrong)
Cheers
-Denis S.
PS-John I mean no disrespect...[/quote}

No problem Denis, some time I don't get my point across very well.

Your right, actually it takes six switch closures to operate the start relay. If any one of them fails the start relay will not operate.  

However the lights are a branch off of the start relay operate path just after (downstream) the ignition switch and therefore are an indication of how well things are operating upstream (battery, fuse, ignition switch and associated wiring).  If the lights are working consistently, then you know the upstream stuff is OK.


When I say upstream I mean toward the battery. Downstream means toward ground.

could it also be that my battery was just really low?