Starting Question

[Verrarck]

Been spending time at friends place, and the bike is spending its life outside.

Its been cold lately and when I start the bike in the mornings it seems to turn over pretty slowly and makes me wonder if the battery going to die on me, but it gets better as the day heats up.

Is this normal?

 

[Billythebiker]

Seems the same as mine, never had a problem with it not starting as yet! 8)

 

[Verrarck]

Cool, thanks... Since I'm not the only one, I guess its not that bad after all.

 

[Billythebiker]

The Rocket shares it's starter motor with Land Rover and if it's good enough for them it's good enough for us! :wink:

 

[Jimmy Rocket]

What, you don't sleep with your Rocket like the rest of us? :shock:

 

[Verrarck]

What, you don't sleep with your Rocket like the rest of us? :shock:

I was, but my current digs are kinda limited on space; so some one has to sleep in the cold....

 

[M Riley]

Mine is garaged, and it does the same - seems to drag a bit early, but always starts.

 

[CaptainCaeruleus]

Here in the wilds of south central PA, we have been in the 30s at night.. If you ride every day, no prob... Let it sit a week while I'm in DC working all week, then we have slow crank... Have to try 2-3 times and then starts.... So I guess it would be sort of normal.... My bike is kept covered in a detached non-heated garage...

Mike...

 

[night rider]

Cold start

Same as ..... Capt C said.

I ride all year long, up here in the north (NJ-USA) and the winters are cold.
If my Rocket sits in the cold shed for a few days at temps below 29*F it will turn over very slowly. If this happens I don't continue cranking but do a few short bursts on the starter followed with a longer crank, then it will finally start. Sometimes I will turn the key on & off a few times before cranking just to make sure the fuel rail is primed and all servos have moved to their correct position. I do leave a "Battery Tender" hook up at all times. Don't leave a trickle type charger connected all the time as you could fry the battery.
Chriss