Due to nasty weather and being lazy on my part, I haven't ridden my bike in about a month and a half. I went to start it up for a quick ride last weekend and it's not turning over at all.
I don't believe it's a battery issue, my headlight comes on at a nice strong light; it makes a rrr-rrrr sound like it's trying to start up, but nothing beyond that.
Anyone have any quick suggestions as to what I should look for? It's a 2004 Ninja 250 and I unfortunatly am not that well versed in the mechanical side of it yet.
Problems starting up
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badinfluence63
- Legendary 300
- Posts: 427
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:19 pm
- Sex: Male
- My Motorcycle: '98Ultra w/sc '01 Ultra and 1983FLHS
Start from simpliest and work your way up. is it EFI or carb? If its a carb can you spray a squirt or 2 of carb start in the carb then try it.
Not familiar with EFI yet.
Just because the headlites come on is no quarantee the battery is good enough. Throw a 2 amp trickle on it for a day or half a day. The gauge on the front of the battery charger (if not a small one) will tell you where you are battery power wise.
Hustle out and purchase the shop manual, bike specific for it at the Kawasaki shop before its not available anymore. While you may never be destined to rebuild motors or sesat valves, you'll be surprised th ahndy dandy factoids you'll pick up. You may even save a damsel in distress.
Not familiar with EFI yet.
Just because the headlites come on is no quarantee the battery is good enough. Throw a 2 amp trickle on it for a day or half a day. The gauge on the front of the battery charger (if not a small one) will tell you where you are battery power wise.
Hustle out and purchase the shop manual, bike specific for it at the Kawasaki shop before its not available anymore. While you may never be destined to rebuild motors or sesat valves, you'll be surprised th ahndy dandy factoids you'll pick up. You may even save a damsel in distress.
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coffee_brake
- Legendary 300
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:17 pm
- Sex: Male
- Location: Augusta, GA
BI63 is right on--my bet's the battery.
Have you maintained it? Unless it is one of the newer sealed batteries, you have to go out to the bike once a month and add distilled water to the battery cells and keep it filled up. If you don't ride it for a week or more, you should put it on a trickle charger (these can be had for $35 or less, and they are GOLD).
If you have a strong headlight, your battery can probably be saved if you don't try and try and try to start this bike. Stop, fill and charge the battery, and it will probably be good for a while longer.
If a battery is completely discharged, it won't take a charge, not even if you jump it off, and you'll have to buy a new one. Also, if you jump off a completely dead battery (like I did once), you stand to damage the electrical system on the bike (I got lucky and learned my lesson for just the price of a battery and not the whole charging system).
Good luck, keep us posted...
Have you maintained it? Unless it is one of the newer sealed batteries, you have to go out to the bike once a month and add distilled water to the battery cells and keep it filled up. If you don't ride it for a week or more, you should put it on a trickle charger (these can be had for $35 or less, and they are GOLD).
If you have a strong headlight, your battery can probably be saved if you don't try and try and try to start this bike. Stop, fill and charge the battery, and it will probably be good for a while longer.
If a battery is completely discharged, it won't take a charge, not even if you jump it off, and you'll have to buy a new one. Also, if you jump off a completely dead battery (like I did once), you stand to damage the electrical system on the bike (I got lucky and learned my lesson for just the price of a battery and not the whole charging system).
Good luck, keep us posted...
Jenn S.
AMA #658162
2005 Concours
2001 Vmax
1992 CB750
AMA #658162
2005 Concours
2001 Vmax
1992 CB750