« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold  (Read 2940 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline SSG Snuggle Bunny

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23049
  • Reputation: +2233/-269
  • Voted Rookie-of-the-Year, 3 years running
Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« on: November 17, 2009, 05:37:23 PM »
Anyone who has ever tried to start a motorcycle on a cold day knows how difficult it can be.

Any hints on improving the process?

Would throwing an electric blanket set on low over the engine be helpful or harmful?
Logged
According to the Bible, "know" means "yes."

Offline rich_t

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7942
  • Reputation: +386/-429
  • TANSTAAFL
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2009, 05:40:01 PM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on November 17, 2009, 05:37:23 PM
Anyone who has ever tried to start a motorcycle on a cold day knows how difficult it can be.

Any hints on improving the process?

Would throwing an electric blanket set on low over the engine be helpful or harmful?

Get a can of ether. 
Logged
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline Chris

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1476
  • Reputation: +522/-16
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2009, 05:47:07 PM »
I never had a problem with just using the manual choke on my Honda.  I rode my motorcycle to work all winter and had no problems other than the cold temperatures sucking my battery dry.  An electric blanket sounds like a good idea.
« Last Edit: November 17, 2009, 05:48:56 PM by Chris »
Logged
This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

Offline SSG Snuggle Bunny

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23049
  • Reputation: +2233/-269
  • Voted Rookie-of-the-Year, 3 years running
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2009, 07:00:23 PM »
Quote from: rich_t on November 17, 2009, 05:40:01 PM
Get a can of ether. 
You can **** up an engine that way.

Most people garden hose that crap into their engines and precombust the living hell out of them. I can only imagine an engine as small as a cycles would just need a whiff.

Quote from: Chris on November 17, 2009, 05:47:07 PM
I never had a problem with just using the manual choke on my Honda.  I rode my motorcycle to work all winter and had no problems other than the cold temperatures sucking my battery dry.  An electric blanket sounds like a good idea.
Neighbor across the road says he leaves his battery on a trickle charge. He only rides on the weekends and I'm thinking the dis/re-connecting every day would be a pain in the ass.
Logged
According to the Bible, "know" means "yes."

Offline rich_t

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7942
  • Reputation: +386/-429
  • TANSTAAFL
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2009, 07:17:51 PM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on November 17, 2009, 07:00:23 PM
You can **** up an engine that way.

Most people garden hose that crap into their engines and precombust the living hell out of them. I can only imagine an engine as small as a cycles would just need a whiff.
Neighbor across the road says he leaves his battery on a trickle charge. He only rides on the weekends and I'm thinking the dis/re-connecting every day would be a pain in the ass.

Hell's bells dude...  I never said use the whole can or anything like that.  A short burst will do it.
« Last Edit: November 17, 2009, 07:21:18 PM by rich_t »
Logged
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline Odin's Hand

  • is your new god!
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5486
  • Reputation: +366/-25
  • Quarters Champion
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2009, 07:20:09 PM »
Logged
"Hell is full of good wishes and desires"~St. Bernhard of Clairvaux

"Brave men are found where brave men are honored."~Aristotle

"Generally speaking, the "Way of the Warrior" is resolute acceptance of death."~ Miyamoto Musashi

Offline rich_t

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7942
  • Reputation: +386/-429
  • TANSTAAFL
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2009, 07:23:05 PM »
Quote from: Odin's Hand on November 17, 2009, 07:20:09 PM
http://www.amazon.com/Kats-22200-Watt-Battery-Thermal/dp/B000I8XD9E/ref=tag_tdp_ptcn_edpp_url

That would not have worked on the last bike I owned.  Too hard to get to the battery to wrap the thing.

It was hard enough to get a battery charger hooked up.
Logged
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline Texacon

  • Super
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12311
  • Reputation: +1250/-55
  • All The Way!
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2009, 07:41:45 PM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on November 17, 2009, 07:00:23 PM
You can **** up an engine that way.

Most people garden hose that crap into their engines and precombust the living hell out of them. I can only imagine an engine as small as a cycles would just need a whiff.
Neighbor across the road says he leaves his battery on a trickle charge. He only rides on the weekends and I'm thinking the dis/re-connecting every day would be a pain in the ass.

MSB you can get little connectors that hang out of the battery box to hook up for a trickle charge.  You can also buy heated dipsticks but I don't know how well they work.

My Harley hasn't had a problem starting in the cold so maybe the air cooled motors work better in cold weather.  I know a couple of years ago out in Big Bend we had a freak cold snap .... 19 FRIGGEN DEGREES .... the only bike on the trip that had a problem was a water cooled BMW.  The Harley's were a little slow to crank but once they turned over a couple of times they fired right up.

KC
Logged
  Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day.  Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

*Stolen

Offline DixieBelle

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12143
  • Reputation: +512/-49
  • Still looking for my pony.....
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2009, 08:51:44 PM »
You guys said, "trickle", "dipstick" and "manual choke"  :evillaugh: :tongue: :innocent:
Logged
I can see November 2 from my house!!!

Spread my work ethic, not my wealth.

Forget change, bring back common sense.
-------------------------------------------------

No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline SSG Snuggle Bunny

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23049
  • Reputation: +2233/-269
  • Voted Rookie-of-the-Year, 3 years running
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2009, 07:13:48 AM »
Quote from: DixieBelle on November 17, 2009, 08:51:44 PM
You guys said, "trickle", "dipstick" and "manual choke"  :evillaugh: :tongue: :innocent:
Who let the skirt into our man-talk thread?
Logged
According to the Bible, "know" means "yes."

Offline DixieBelle

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12143
  • Reputation: +512/-49
  • Still looking for my pony.....
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2009, 08:08:09 AM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on November 18, 2009, 07:13:48 AM
Who let the skirt into our man-talk thread?
:rofl:

*now I have to go find a cheesecake picture to post......
Logged
I can see November 2 from my house!!!

Spread my work ethic, not my wealth.

Forget change, bring back common sense.
-------------------------------------------------

No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline Wineslob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14445
  • Reputation: +780/-193
  • Sucking the life out of Liberty
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2009, 10:31:15 AM »
Keep the bike in the garage. It helped with mine.
Logged
“The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

        -- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC (106-43 BC)

The unobtainable is unknown at Zombo.com



"Practice random violence and senseless acts of brutality"

If you want a gender neutral bathroom, go pee in the forest.

Offline Thor

  • General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!
  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13103
  • Reputation: +362/-297
  • Native Texan & US Navy (ret)
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2009, 12:20:43 PM »
I had a motorcycle when I lived in El Cajon, Ca. It would often get to around freezing or just below. I never had a problem with it starting when it was colder. Since you are, I'm thinking that it needs some attention. When was the last time you had it in for a tune up ?? When was the last time you had the carbs synchronized?? (assuming it's multiple carbs) What year is it and what model??

When I was up in MN, I had a 79 Olds Cutlass wagon. When it got to -38°F one day, that car groaned a little when it was so terribly cold, but it ultimately fired up. Other people were stranded because their cars wouldn't start., I kept that thing tuned up as much as possible, normally twice a year I would tune it up. (It had a rebuilt 69 Olds Rocket 350 in it)
Logged
"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

I AM your General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."-Thomas Jefferson

Offline Doc

  • General Malcontent and
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 830
  • Reputation: +2/-3
  • Sic transit gloria mundi
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2009, 02:38:29 PM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on November 17, 2009, 07:00:23 PM
Neighbor across the road says he leaves his battery on a trickle charge. He only rides on the weekends and I'm thinking the dis/re-connecting every day would be a pain in the ass.

If you use a trickle charger make sure that you get one that has the "float charge" capability built in, otherwise you will cook your battery eventually.......I have a Honda generator, and used small trickle chargers for years, and unless you put them on a timer, and only charge the battery for an hour or so a day, the battery will eventually sulphate or boil dry.

Float-type chargers are available from any good cycle shop, and run around forty dollars, but since batteries (for my generator at least) cost eighty, it is a bargain.  BTW, float chargers are designed to sense when the battery reaches full charge, at which point they reduce the output current to almost nothing just to maintain the charge......and can be left on the battery constantly.

doc

On Edit:  These chargers come with a pigtail that connects permanently to the battery, with a polarized plug that can simply be unplugged when you ride, and re connected when you park the bike.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2009, 02:56:20 PM by TVDOC »
Logged

Offline Odin's Hand

  • is your new god!
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5486
  • Reputation: +366/-25
  • Quarters Champion
Re: Motorcycles: They Don't Like the Cold
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2009, 02:48:04 PM »
Quote from: TVDOC on November 18, 2009, 02:38:29 PM
If you use a trickle charger make sure that you get one that has the "float charge" capability built in, otherwise you will cook your battery eventually.......I have a Honda generator, and used small trickle chargers for years, and unless you put them on a timer, and only charge the battery for an hour or so a day, the battery will eventually sulphate or boil dry.

Float-type chargers are available from any good cycle shop, and run around forty dollars, but since batteries (for my generator at least) cost eighty, it is a bargain.  BTW, float chargers are designed to sense when the battery reaches full charge, at which point they reduce the output current to almost nothing just to maintain the charge......and can be left on the battery constantly.

doc

Yep, you will smoke the cathode with electron bombardment as the spontaneity of the reaction increases relative to temperature.
Logged
"Hell is full of good wishes and desires"~St. Bernhard of Clairvaux

"Brave men are found where brave men are honored."~Aristotle

"Generally speaking, the "Way of the Warrior" is resolute acceptance of death."~ Miyamoto Musashi
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »