Got a quick question for you guys. I wanted to ask about possible problems with my bike before i take it to a professional bike shop.  whenever i try to start the bike (choke on) it struggles to turn over but never does.  You can hear the characteristic noise of it trying but just cant d it.  I tried pulling the throttle a little and that really doesn't do anything.  Also I have heard a 'psst' sound coming from it also while it tried to turn over.  Having major trouble getting the dang thing to start.  I know its not the battery 1. because its a brand new gel battery and 2. after putting it on a trickle charger it didnt improve whatsoever.  One thing i have noticed is that the choke seems to be a little looser than when i first got it. not sure if that has something to do with it or its a whole different can of worms.  i have two brand new spark plugs that i haven't put on their yet but wanted to ask if that could even be a possibility before i put em on there. tell me what you think guys.  I really just dont want to go to a bike shop without any clue as to what the problem could possibly be and they end up doing a whole bunch of unnecessary stuff trying to steal my cash.

Pull the plugs and then try. Do you smell gas? has this been an on going problem? Also, where is your petcock set at?

I don't smell gas but granted it is garaged and the whole place smells like gas,lol. But now there is no wafting gas smell when i'm trying to start it. the petcock is turned to ON.  I didnt want to turn it to RESERVE and end up flooding something in the process.  It has been an on going problem for the last part of the winter. but i just assumed it was the cold weather.  i have another bike (yamaha virago) that wouldn't start up all winter long but as soon as it warmed up that baby came back to life.  I was hoping my GS would do the same thing....no such luck. Gonna try and pull the plugs and replace them with that i have and see how that does. wish me luck!

Sorry i meant Prime in stead of Reserve when talking about the petcock.

You mentioned 95 GS problems. What are the other 94 problems?

Quote from: burning1 on March 22, 2012, 07:58:09 PM
You mentioned 95 GS problems. What are the other 94 problems?

Check the battery with a multimeter - brand new doesn't guarantee that it's good. Or better yet, get it load tested. Then check the connections between the battery and the motor: engine ground, positive to starter, etc.

As far as the choke goes, watch the carbs when moving the lever back and forth. IIRC, there's a plunger that slides left & right on both carbs.

The only way the plugs would be wet with gas without the motor turning over is if your petcock is flooding the carbs (and then flooding the cylinders).