Difficulty starting 1999 SV650X.

Firstly can I say that I am a new member and I have been on enough forums to realise that posting a topic asking questions on your first post is pretty poor form! However in my defence I am pretty much entirely clueless when it comes to motorbikes so the chances of me being able to contribute anything worthwhile to ongoing topics are pretty slim I have been reading this forum for the last few months and picked up some good advice, so now I've taken the plunge to register I do intend to stick around!

So I've been riding motorbikes for five years, up until May this year this was entirely on a CBF125 (well, 2 CBF125s since the first one got nicked and burnt out by some kids!) the great thing about a CBF125 is it is almost entirely idiot proof. As long as I remembered to put petrol in it and occasionally put air in the tires and adjust the chain then I couldn't really go wrong. Come rain or shine just press start and it would go.

Now I have my first grown up bike - a 1999 SV650X which I bought in June.

After the first two weeks the battery died, but it looked pretty old so I bought a new one. No problems again until the start of this month when two Monday mornings in a row it was completely dead. Since then I've been using an Optimate to charge it a couple of times a week. Last week I took it to the garage and they replaced the RR unit (which I suspected was the problem after reading about it on here, which the garage confirmed after testing)

This Monday morning it was slightly chilly and it took about 5 goes to get started. Now I am nervous that as it gets colder and colder I'm going to get more and more mornings where it struggles and maybe even won't start at all. I hate getting the bus to work!

To get to my point I was wondering if some more experienced riders than me can suggest the best ways to help make things easier on a freezing morning?

The bike is kept outside chained up under a car port. Can't really use the optimate with the battery on so I've decided the first thing to do is take it off every Sunday morning to charge to put back on Sunday evening.

What else makes a real difference? Should I replace the spark plugs? Filter? Oil? Can anyone suggest the most effective things to look at upgrading/replacing ie cost/benefit wise? Spark plugs are pretty cheap but do new ones make much difference?

My toolkit is inadequate but I can cobble together the basics. Very little gear and even less idea But I'm not an idiot and I think I can follow clear instructions.

Any advice is much appreciated and I apologise for the essay!

[andrewsmith]

Are you using the choke lever on the left handlebar?

[Biker Biggles]

You could pull the plugs and check them.They dont tend to need replacing often,but will tell you if the bike is running rich or lean.Do a search on here for choke plungers and get to know how to service these as they can cause poor running on the carb bikes.Buy a cheap multimeter to check the battery and charging system.The sv needs a well charged battery to start reliably in colder weather,but it will often be a bit iffy just after starting until the pump fills the carbs fully.

As for oil/filter,change both if you dont know how long since last done and check the oil level very regularly.They can use a bit and running low on oil causes terminal problems very quickly.

1. If you're unsure of the service history, get it serviced. New plugs/oil/filters/coolant make a world of difference to starting.

2. Battery. Cheap batteries in the SV won't do. I'd only go with a good named brand, Yuasa or Motobatt or similar. I use motobatt batteries exclusively these days, because you get a chunk more cranking amps, which helps.

3. Plug leads. The SV is notorious for the front plug getting waterlogged or damp due to its location. Ensure the drain hole in the cylinder head on the right hand side is clear, and maybe get some WD40 or similar in there as well.

4. Choke plungers, as above. Known problem, well worth checking they move freely.

5. Choke. I found the SV i had, you needed to get the choke almost exactly right to start. Crank it over from zero choke, and slowly pull the lever back til it starts to catch. Then start to open the throttle if required.

Hope some, or all of this helps.

[johnnyrod]

Are the carb heaters working?

[daveangel]

Have you got the lead with the Optimate that you can connect to the + & - terminals on the battery with the white 2 pin plug to connect to the Optimate? You can run the lead through to under the pillion seat and you just have to lift the pillion seat off and plug in to the Optimate, saves dismantling the bike to take the battery off.

Set the choke about halfway initially, once the cooler/cold mornings are back you'll need it full on. A service and check over will help a lot if you don't know when it last got one.

Wow thanks for all the excellent advice!

I am using the choke. I always just used the choke full on to start, opening the throttle while pressing start. I have since read that this isn't really ideal and I have this week been using no throttle and slowly using the choke as I press start until it goes. Seems to work really well.

I did buy a Yuasa battery. Thought it was worth spending the extra on at the time. Glad I made that decision.

I have already tried out leaving the optimate under the rear seat and it does fit. My issue is I live in a shared house and the lead will have to go through the letter box which other people in the house use. Some ******** is bound to come home drunk and trip over it so it's just not practical unfortunately!

Not really too keen to put it in for a service just yet. Since buying it I've bought a new battery and when I had the RR replaced he also did the rear brake pad too. Sick of paying other people to sort it out when really it shouldn't be that complicated! Although did have an argument with the bloke who owns the garage - he was adament that if you want it done properly take it to a professionla. Well he would say that wouldn't he! It's not like I'm performing open heart surgery!

Plug leads, choke plungers and carb heaters I have absolutely no idea what they are I will use the search function and add it to the list! Hopefully I can get all this sorted before the end of October. Thanks again all for your advice.