Difficult starting in the morning.

[BCBlueR]

Just bought an '02 R1150R a month ago with 9300 miles on it. This is my 1st oilhead. The bike start easily when warm, but is hard to start when cold (mornings). Is this normal? Bike has new plugs and running 10w50 semi-syn.

[boxermania]

The "choke" (actually it is a hand accelerator) on the left handlebar has two positions: the middle position, with a detent and the second position, all the way up, that has to be held there while starting, otherwise it will spring back to the middle (detent) position.

Once the bike warms up, one to two minutes, (depending on the weather) push the choke from the middle position all the way down to the off position.

[CycleRob]

BCBlueR,

There's 2 main causes for your problem.
1-Oxygenated fuel (Ethanol) is less ignitable.
2-Your battery is on the way out.
3-Both 1 and 2 above.

As the battery ages, it's CCA (ColdCrankingAmps) slowly decreases. That decrease gives a slightly slower cranking speed and less power to the ignition system, both of which cause either a longer cranking time or a no start.

Here's a somewhat easy test for a weak battery. On the coldest morning, one that you know can cause a no start, hook up jumper cables to a non running car battery. If it starts easily, your bike's battery is the hard cold-start cause.

After you remove the plastic starter cover, you can connect the jumpers to the top solenoid terminal where the fat red battery cable connects to the copper stud.

.

[R1150Rclean]

Just bought an '02 R1150R a month ago with 9300 miles on it. This is my 1st oilhead. The bike start easily when warm, but is hard to start when cold (mornings). Is this normal? Bike has new plugs and running 10w50 semi-syn.

Have you charged the battery for 24 hr? I know with the BMW battery charger and BMW gel battery the charger green light has to be ON steady (not blinking) to indicate a full charge. A good charge makes all the difference. Short rides (15 min.) do not allow the battery to get charged. And how old is the battery?

The other starting factor is that I have found premium fuel to not start as easily as mid grade.

And the bike should be on non-syn oil until 12k to allow for proper break in.

[BCBlueR]

Just bought an '02 R1150R a month ago with 9300 miles on it. This is my 1st oilhead. The bike start easily when warm, but is hard to start when cold (mornings). Is this normal? Bike has new plugs and running 10w50 semi-syn.

Have you charged the battery for 24 hr? I know with the BMW battery charger and BMW gel battery the charger green light has to be ON steady (not blinking) to indicate a full charge. A good charge makes all the difference. Short rides (15 min.) do not allow the battery to get charged. And how old is the battery?

The other starting factor is that I have found premium fuel to not start as easily as mid grade.

And the bike should be on non-syn oil until 12k to allow for proper break in.

Believe battery is 8yrs old and I run premium. Will try mid-range and a good charge. Thanks
Robert

[boxermania]

If the battery is 8 years old it must be the original one......I would say it is definitely in it's last legs and probably sppining the motor slowly in the morning when the oil is cold.

[Xdot]

I'm just glad it isn't a kickstart or we'd all be walking.