Bike doesn't like the cold.

Has anyone experienced this before?

During the summer the bike starts fine, 1st time regardless of how long I leave it for.
However in the winter I need to start it everyday otherwise it tries to start (turns over) but eventually the battery dies. The cure is to put it on charge for half an hour and then it starts.
On an icy morning I can gurantee it won't start.
Once it is going its fine.
I've put up with this for the past 3 years and I've had enough now. 2 days ago it was cold and damp enough for it to do it for the first time since about April.
It's a curvy 01 SV650.
I've tested the charging circuit and that is fine and I've also had 2 new batteries.
Any help would be apreciatated.
Chris

Originally Posted by thornton_chris

Has anyone experienced this before?

During the summer the bike starts fine, 1st time regardless of how long I leave it for.
However in the winter I need to start it everyday otherwise it tries to start (turns over) but eventually the battery dies. The cure is to put it on charge for half an hour and then it starts.
On an icy morning I can gurantee it won't start.
Once it is going its fine.
I've put up with this for the past 3 years and I've had enough now. 2 days ago it was cold and damp enough for it to do it for the first time since about April.
It's a curvy 01 SV650.
I've tested the charging circuit and that is fine and I've also had 2 new batteries.
Any help would be apreciatated.
Chris

Chris, some SV's suffer from carb icing, could well be this. I'm just down the road mate in Northampton

Also mate, check your plugs, rain etc on them may be a problem with the bike not firing.

[Biker Biggles]

Sounds like a lack of welly in the battery issue.So you have checked the right bits and got new batteries?Is the battery a good quality one,and the correct one for the bike?SVs need a lot of cranking power to start,and any deficiancy here will show up as soon as the weather turns cold and damp.Also check the wiring.Battery connections,starter circuit and earth wires to frame and engine.How old are the plugs?All these things need to be spot on in winter.Finally get a trickle charger to keep battery in top nick.

[embee]

How do you use the choke?

I've always found full choke and NO THROTTLE will start it immediately every time from cold, then back off the choke as much as you can as soon as possible while maintaining a decent fast idle, say between 1500-2000. Ride off gently as soon as you can, don't leave it warming-up.

With a lot of carb bikes, I've found if you touch the throttle at all with the choke applied, it won't start.

When the engine is warm, no choke and just a touch of throttle.

I only do without the choke from cold if the weather is really warm, if it'll start from cold easily without choke then it's probably too rich