Bought my first bike, Intruder 125, wont start, me = sad :(

[Guest]

First of all, hello everybody, a quick into: I'm just starting out biking having done my CBT about a month ago and picked out a 54 Intruder 125 as my first bike. Bike looks gorgeous and for my first two trips out, it was just fine.

Yesterday, I took the bike out and as soon as I'd gotten round the first corner, it lost all power and just died on me. I was running it on choke jus for the first few minutes instead of letting it sit and get warmed up on choke (since this is what the previous owner had been doing) I'm not sure if thats the right thing to do or not. After that, it would run for a while if it was just standing on choke, I let it warm up for a few minutes on the side of the road, but as soon as I tried to put it into first and give it some throttle it would die. I ended up having to push it back home.

Now it won't start regardless of choke. The battery is good I think because the lights all work fine, horns fine, indicators are fine. I can hear the starting motor (I think?) turning over, trying to start the engine, but it just doesnt catch, even with full choke.

I know nothing about bikes and am really frustrated with this, I just bought the thing and it was working fine

Anyone have any idea how to go about fixing this? I have no bike tools or experience, but am willing to try any simple fixes which you guys can come up with.

And failing that there are no simple fixes, I live in Queniborough in Leicester, anybody know of any bike garages nearby?

[Guest]

you bought it, run it twice and now its not running...

have you put fuel in it....

bikes dont come with a full tank... this happened to a mate of mine... so your not the first

pop into newbies so we can all have a good look at ya....

hi and welcome

[Guest]

you bought it, run it twioce and now its not running...

have you put fuel in it....

bikes dont come with a full tank... this happened to a mate of mine... so your not the first

Well I haven't no, but I can see and hear plenty sloshing around so should start up in Reserve atleast right?

[Guest]

Well I haven't no, but I can see and hear plenty sloshing around so should start up in Reserve atleast right?

ok so you have fuel...

you may not be leaving on choke for long enough... and are you sure you're on reserve..

might be best to fill her up, and see if the problem is solved...

[cypek]

If it doesn't start now at all check if your kill switch isn't on by accident. Also like WF says, there may be not enough petrol. Check if your tap can be set on reserve or just fill her up

[Guest]

Well I haven't no, but I can see and hear plenty sloshing around so should start up in Reserve atleast right?

ok so you have fuel...

you may not be leaving on choke for long enough... and are you sure you're on reserve..

might be best to fill her up, and see if the problem is solved...

Will do. How long should she be left on choke before I try to start? And how long should the bike be allowed to run on choke? Also, is it ok to drive the bike on choke instead of sitting and waiting for it to warm up?

Sorry about the lots of questions, but I have no idea about any of this

[Guest]

How long should she be left on choke before I try to start? And how long should the bike be allowed to run on choke? Also, is it ok to drive the bike on choke instead of sitting and waiting for it to warm up?

Sorry about the lots of questions, but I have no idea about any of this

I start mine on choke, then put my lid and gloves on, you can ride it on choke just need a bit more clutch control as the bike will be in higher revs so will pull. best to let it sit for a few mins reduce the choke slightly, if she runs ok reduce some more.. if she stalls then use more choke.. and you ride a bike...

[Guest]

Well, you don't leave it on choke BEFORE you press start...

Try starting it with no choke for a while (but don't kill the battery). Sounds to me like the engine is just flooded.

Check connections on the battery

Try bump starting the bike

Its not advised to ride the bike on choke (althought you can), you should let it sit and warm up on choke for a few minutes, then set off. It it feels like its not warm enough while you're riding, just keep the revs up a bit

[Guest]

Ah yes, being a "cage" driver, I accidentally mixed up drive and ride

When starting the bike, should the fuel tap be on Prime/Reserve/Full (or whatever the other option)?

Also, when filling up, what position should the fuel tap be on? These may all sound like stupid questions, but I honestly have no clue.

[Guest]

Fuel tap should always be "On". Unless the bike dies cos it runs low on petrol, when you change it to "Reserve", and then get to a petrol station. Always remember to change it back to "On" after filling up. Why you ask?

Because if you leave it on reserve, when your bike runs out of petrol, you won't have had ANY warning

[Guest]

full or reserve depending on the level of fuel... doesnt matter for filling up, just remember to take it off reserve if its been put on it.

helps if you fill tank full, reset trip to 000000 and then make a mental note of mileage when you switch to reserve and then reset trip at each fill up...

[Mightycaz]

I had an intruder too!!

When you say it is dying, is it slowly losing revs and then cutting out? Mine used to do it all the time! There is a rev screw on the left hand side of the engine just above the spark plug, you want it to be idleing at about 1500 (you'll have to guess as there is no rev meter!) In the morning I would normally start mine with the choke on and leave it to warm up whilst I had a fag and a cuppa before setting off, I also got pretty good at changing the idle whilst sat at traffic lights as if it was cold/damp it would die when I stopped.....

[Guest]

Well I've only been out on it twice, but yet it just lost all power and gave up on me. That mighta been my fault for letting it slip into low revs while it was still cold though. I have been fiddling with that screw and I think I may have it a tad high, but since I have no way of knowing for sure, I'm gonna leave it for now. And from now, Im gonna let it warm up before setting off. Seems the sensible thing to do.

Anywho, as for an update, bike still won't start with the ignition switch. However, I managed to bump start it with ridiculous ease. Rode around the driveway in first and second gear, seems fine. Seems like it could idle in neutral indefinitely. What does this mean? And what should I check/clean/lubricate/ to get it to start with the ignition switch again?

Thanks for the help guys, only found out how to bump start from reading this forum.

[Guest]

So I took the spark plugs out for a nice clean and stuck em back. They were a bit oily and the tips were black on both of them. Is this normal? After cleaning and sticking em back in, still no starting.

I am noticing however that if I keep trying to start with the ignition switch, pretty soon, the usual noise that happens when you press the switch just becomes a buzz instead of that "coughing" noise. Does this suggest a dead/dying battery? Would bump starting and riding around on the bike recharge the battery or would leaving the bike idling in neutral charge it too?

[Mightycaz]

Sounds like the battery is out, bumping it would work but not idling. I'm pretty sure you need to be in gear for the battery to charge (someone will confirm) I had to get a new relay for mine once, it was doing what your seems to be doing, turning over but not firing. Might be best to take it to a garage and have somebody give it a once over to see how it is! Where are you from? I found a local guy to me who works out of a lock up in a small industrial estate who would do any work for less than half price than a "proper" garage. Front fork seals changed by this guy £50 at Bill Smiths £179.99.

[mealexme]

I found a local guy to me who works out of a lock up in a small industrial estate who would do any work for less than half price than a "proper" garage. Front fork seals changed by this guy £50 at Bill Smiths £179.99.

WOW!

Also, (im no expert, infact im pretty new at this too, but) if your horn is working fine, so are your lights and indicator, i dont think the battery is dead?

Sounds like the battery is out, bumping it would work but not idling. I'm pretty sure you need to be in gear for the battery to charge

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure you need to be in gear for the battery to charge

nope, if the engine is running at enough revs to create a charge through the alternator larger than that which it need to work the engine it will charge the battery.. i.e standing still

[Mightycaz]

Yeah but the only way to get the revvs high enough to engage the altinator is to sit there for 30 mins revvin it, Just go out for a half hour ride and see how it does then. If not get yourself an optimate, about £60 but will come in usefull for years to come!

[Guest]

Yeah but the only way to get the revvs high enough to engage the altinator is to sit there for 30 mins revvin it, Just go out for a half hour ride and see how it does then. If not get yourself an optimate, about £60 but will come in usefull for years to come!

or turn up the idle whilst you have a brew, but a ride is often the best scenario, charger is better as it doesnt waste fuel, and you cant stall it miles from home without enough power to restart...

[Guest]

Haha problem solved Took the bike out for a 10mile trip on some A roads, completely not realising that if the thing stalled and didnt start, I would be a long way away from home. Thankfully, I only stalled turning for the petrol bunk 3 minutes from my house and by then it was the end of the trip anyway and the battery had enough juice to start me up immediately

Thanks for your help fellas, its all good.

Edit: Also, consciously tried out counter steering for the first time, this is a LOT of fun. Even on a low cruiser!