Cold starting issues - spark plugs? 99 naked SV

I seem to be another SV victim to this problem - if only my mate told before I brought the SV 8 months ago that winter would be like this.

Basically the bike doesn't like the cold or when it is cold and damp. Got a new battery and a trickle charger which all seems to work fine.

Go to turn over in morning - whatever choke/no choke combo i use it takes a while to start (if it does that is). Last two days I have had real problems getting the thing started to ride home from work.

Commute in is about 30 miles so should be no condensation. Using 99 RON fuel - still no joy.

I am wondering if I need to change the plugs? They were done about 7 months ago and I've probably done about 3-4000 miles since then. The bike seems to like to "burn" oil when on the side stand - if you give a bit of throttle once on the stand for a few mins you get a nice cloud of smoke! - no loss of coolant so can only think it's an oil burning prob.

Anyway - long and short is that I am thinking if the plugs are dirty I should prob get some new ones and then I will get a better ignition?

Last stupid question (I have loads) - what are the best plugs to get for my 99 naked SV

Irridium plugs are good this time of year, NGK CR8EIX.

cheers - will give that a go tomorrow!

Lets go back to that "oil burning" issue. I can assume you see smoke coming from the exhaust? Does this only occur when the engine has just been started up, or does it happen all the time? Is there an odour to the smoke? What colour is it?

Cheers. Yeah - only happens when it's just started and has been on side stand. A hand full of revs and a huge plume of smoke comes out. It's not white - no chance of water mixing (infact my water level never seems to drop) but it's not quite dark eiether - slightly blue in colour.

Once I have ridden to the end of the road there doesn't seem to be an issue. she does like an oil drink - about 300ml every 3 weeks or so.

cheers

pb

[mister c]

That sounds like quite an issue. My 99 starts up 1st time in the mornings. I would tend to think that you may have a valve oil seal issue. Once the bike is left stood, say overnight, then the oil works it's way onto the tops of the pistons through the valve stem oil seals. When you start it in the morning the oil is being burnt with the petrol, thus making it hard to start & smoke until the oil has cleared.
I check my oil regularly & have to say I dont have to top up between services. How many miles has the bike done?

[Viney]

Doris has the grand sum of 60000 miles on her. She drinks, well i buy a 4L bottle of oil and by the time i have used the whole bottle (after an oil change) she will need changing again, so i suppose thats 1.3L in 5000 miles. She had an issue with starting a couple of weeks back (1st time in 8 years i may add) I put new plugs in, changed the oil and cleaned out the carbs/choke plungers and now it starts 1st turn of the engine. A decent service is in order. I use std fuel, and std NGK plugs.

The bike popping out white smoke could also be unburnt fuel which would make me think the choke plungers need cleaning or the choke cable needs replacing.

I would just whack a new set of plugs in to start with.

Originally Posted by mister c

That sounds like quite an issue. My 99 starts up 1st time in the mornings. I would tend to think that you may have a valve oil seal issue. Once the bike is left stood, say overnight, then the oil works it's way onto the tops of the pistons through the valve stem oil seals. When you start it in the morning the oil is being burnt with the petrol, thus making it hard to start & smoke until the oil has cleared.
I check my oil regularly & have to say I dont have to top up between services. How many miles has the bike done?

+1

Yup she has done about 22,000 miles. had a full service about 7-8 months ago and has done about 3-4000 since then. Hope it's not a dodgy seal as that sounds expensive