Why wont my R65 start?

[Bonzo]

Well, if its been in the garage and on the Optimate everythings fine, but often when I try to start it after its been sitting outside work all day its a little temperamental. I have to catch it right. Too much throttle can flood it, not enough and it wont catch and then it just drains the battery .

Bought new HT leads & plugs last year & not done many miles, so I know theyre OK.

The starter motors seems OK, but maybe it doesnt give a big enough jolt. Can I assume because the Optimate says the battery is good when left on to charge that the battery is actually good? Ill happily get a new battery if it needs it. This ones about 3 years old now but like I say, the Optimate says its good. Maybe I need to invest in one of them expensive sealed Motorworks babys.



Any ideas?

 

[ebbo]

I used to have an R100 that could be a pig when cold, I found if I kept on cranking the starter after it first fired, it would hesitate, then fire again more strongly and then keep going

Very nice bike by the way

 

[Bonzo]

I used to have an R100 that could be a pig when cold, I found if I kept on cranking the starter after it first fired, it would hesitate, then fire again more strongly and then keep going

Very nice bike by the way

Cheers ebbo

Yep, it hesitate and then tries sgsin and so on until the battery gives up the ghost. Think Ill pop over to Motorworks for one of them Odyssey's.

 

[Hustler]

My 50P says the problem is the battery.
I replaced the battery on my Hornet earlier this year although the Optimate said it was fine but it let me down a couple of times so it got replaced.
I read somewhere, maybe here, the reasons why an Optimate will say it's fine when it isn't but I can't find the link now, sorry.
Hopefully a battery expert will be along with an explanation shortly.

 

[Bonzo]

Well, Ive ordered an Odyssey now anyway, so Ill see how it goes. The more I think about it its obviously the battery. Drop in temperature etc.

Thanks for your comments people.

 

[Bonzo]

Just showing off now

 

[Bonzo]

Odyssey battery ordered midnight Wednesday, delivered lunchtime Friday in Isle of Man.

Nicely packaged too.

Well done Motorworks