Cold this morning.  Ran the battery out using electric starter, and had to jump it using a car. Kind of defeats the purpose.  Very annoying.  Tried with choke  half on, and full.  Fired right up when hooked up to the car battery (with motor running).  Bike has new battery, good-looking plugs, fresh gas, ridden yesterday.  Cold morning but not even that cold about 40*.   I have had to do this a few times.  Makes me want to buy a fuel injected bike.  My friends with carbureted SV's  don't have this problem, but I've heard of this with the GS's.  Any tips, thoughts?  Also, very annoying.

I have been having similar problems: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=44632.0

The general consensus is to use a battery tender and DO NOT jump the bike using a car.  I may have other issues (still trying to figure out what the problem(s) might be, but the cold evening exasperated the problem with the temperature and probably condensation (since I store my bike outside in central NJ, exposed to the elements).

Are you sure your battery is good? I know it is new, but that doesn't always guarantee that it is ok. Also, what killed your old battery? Was it just old or do you have some electrical problem? Does your bike charge the battery well? Does it draw power even when it is off?

I bought the battery for good measure after buying the bike.  It ran down after cranking the motor SEVERAL times~1 minute.  This would wear that little battery down.  After riding the bike a little it definitely recharges, and fires right back up (quite easily with the motor warm).  It's got to be a finicky fuel/air issue, or not quite enough juice to produce adequate spark after turning over so many times/both.  K&N filter (with restrictor) Vance & Hines Exhaust  Rejtted Primaries -I was told (seems to want a little more richness though).  Why on earth would I not want to jump it off a car?  They both have 12v systems.

P.S.  I do store it outside as well (covered when it rains) and it was kind of moisty out this morning.

Yeah be careful jumping the bike with a car.  I actually melted a winding in the starter (ended up just cutting out that winding and all is well).  Pic of the winding pulled up and ready to be cut off.  < http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s95/ddphoc/DSCI0002.jpg >

I had/have the same problem being really finiky when cold...been contemplating keeping a small can of carb cleaner to use as starting fluid.  Spray in airbox for 1 second and crank.  It works, and I'm fairly certain it wont hurt the motor as it all should be used up in the first or second cycle.  Or we need to mod the head to accept those shotgunshell starters that they used on those old big rotarys....I can see it now 7:30 am rolls around and BAM BAM.   

Damn Jeff D.  Who would think you could cook it like that!  I'm gonna get a rechargeable jumper and try the starter fluid as well. 

I've always had the cold-start issue with my bike, ever since I got it. I think it's a fairly common problem with GS's. I always hooked it up to a spare battery on cold mornings with full choke on. Yea it's annoying, but it saves on your main battery and the starter.

Quote from: JeffD on October 15, 2008, 12:20:52 PM
Yeah be careful jumping the bike with a car.  I actually melted a winding in the starter (ended up just cutting out that winding and all is well).  Pic of the winding pulled up and ready to be cut off.  < http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s95/ddphoc/DSCI0002.jpg >

I had/have the same problem being really finiky when cold...been contemplating keeping a small can of carb cleaner to use as starting fluid.  Spray in airbox for 1 second and crank.  It works, and I'm fairly certain it wont hurt the motor as it all should be used up in the first or second cycle.  Or we need to mod the head to accept those shotgunshell starters that they used on those old big rotarys....I can see it now 7:30 am rolls around and BAM BAM.   

The GS engine is so small I bet you could get away with something smaller than a shotgun shell... Perhaps those .22 blanks they use for concrete nailers...

These rinky dinky little mc batteries easily become cold soaked overnite = less available 'starting power' .

I got into the habit of putting the battery on a charger for 15 mins or so just before starting on cold mornings.

Not so much of a problem since I re-jetted.  Also I make sure I don't let the bike sit more than a couple days without running it.

Winter time I'll often take the battery indoors to keep it warm for tomorrow.

Someday I'll do that headlight cut out switch. maybe.

Has anyone considered changing to slightly thinner oil for possible easier tunover, like cars? Do they sell 5w-40?

Quote from: X-ray on October 16, 2008, 06:41:27 PM
Has anyone considered changing to slightly thinner oil for possible easier tunover, like cars? Do they sell 5w-40?

I think 5w40 is available but I also believe anything under 10w will be classified "Energy Conserving" and that's not what you want to put in your bike since the additives may make your clutch slip.

just wondering if you're opening the throttle a little when cranking or not.  It will crank a lot faster, I assume because air is allowed to move more freely now, producing less vacuum since the throttle plate isn't in the way. Sometimes my battery is so dead (I realize that your battery is in better shape and maybe you shouldn't have to do this) it won't turn it over at all, but with a little open throttle I can get it started. And if that doesn't work... the 'ol roll start down the driveway always does! 

I was just at harbor Freight and picked up a knock off of the battery tender on sale for $5.99. 

They call it an automatic battery float charger and it says that is is not a trickle charger but is meant to keep batterys topped off in motorcycles, atv's boats etc. 

here is a link if anybody is interested http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

and a link to the instruction manual/technical info. http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/42000-42999/42292.PDF

and a link if you want a free set of screw drivers while you are there  http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/emails/42/RetailT/42_retailT.html

I'm having issues as well with the starting. Yesterday, I took the bike out for the first time in about three weeks. Put some fresh gas (1/2 tank) but the idle seemed off. Kept dying at red lights and stops. It did this even after twenty miles of riding. We tweaked the idle screw and it got a little better. When we got home about 40miles altogether took a look at the fuel from the carbs looked good ( a little smutz but miniscule). Then, took out the spark plugs and they were I believe at 27 and my friend gapped them to what the manual said. Seemed to be quite a bit better on idle in the garage. Today, I took the bike in to work had to warm up for a bit but none of the problems of yesterday. Got off at 3 this morning and nothing no lights nada. Got a jump from security took several attempts it did not want to warm up it was 65 degrees out. Got it going, went about an 1/8 of a mile dies again. Give it a push pop the clutch did a few laps in the parking lot and attempted again. Quite a bit of sputtering until I got to I-4 drove at 70mph for about 20min. Pulled into the driveway left the bike running until I could run in the house and open the garage. Put him in gear and dead wouldn't start. Pushed it into the garage and put a charger on it.

Is this my battery or something else? Just doesn't seem like it's cold enough here in Fl to be having "cold" start issues.

Sorry bout the novel!

Mary S.

maybe when you parked you turned the key past "lock" position into "P" which leaves the parkiing lights on all day.

not that I know from personal experience or anything.

Yeah I don't think anyone ever does that dohabee.  I certainly havn't...  Twice...  in one week...   

Could very well be! Charged up the battery today. Maybe a day or so before I can ride. When pushing it up into the garage and the jump start managed to hurt my twice surgically repaired knee. Ortho said if I had another pain would need another surgery yipee.

Will keep ya updated!

Mary S.