Hi people,

I'm doing a big trip and this is starting to worry me. Every now and then my bike is really hard to start. When I start the ignition, it just tries to start, but doesn't. Slowly, after 10 long tries, it eventually and slowly, starts. Sometimes I need to go downhill to bumpstart it. The battery is not flat, but it doesn't take much more tries.... Normally it starts in 1 go even after not being used for weeks.
So, what could be wrong? The battery is charging, I drive a lot because I'm travelling a few 100km a day. The battery is 5years old, but normally starts in 1 go. Except... Sometimes (once every 10 days or so) not.
I'm getting a new battery anyway now, but will this be the solution? I'm travelling in the middle of nowhere so I must be sure.
Last service: 3000km ago. New oil, spark plug, etc.

It's difficult to give you an answer, and it's not easy to understand what you mean by 'slowly', is the motor turning over slowly? or taking many turns before starting ?

I have had problems in the past with the HT Lead connection into the Coil, a little damp can make starting a longer process (the bike needs to turn over more before starting). Easily resolved by tightening the HT lead up and the application of some WD40 around the join.

If the power output from the battery isn't turning the motor fast enough, then you are right to look at the battery - 5 years is a good age for a battery anyway, and well worth the investment in a new one before your trip.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

I have similar problem but only when the bike falls on side and I try to start it after that... it won't even if I crank it for 10 seconds. I turn off igniton and turn it back on and it starts right away.
I think its something to do with fuel, cause if you turn the ignition then fuelpump pumps pressure up for injector.

Try to turn off ignition and turn it on again. If it starts right away or better, then I guess its fuel pump.

The engine is turning over slowly and it takes a loooong time. But, only in like 5% of starting it cold. Never ever had a warm start problem. Tomorrow I get myself a new battery and check the connection too. But it's really hard to find the problem this way.
My bike did fall over the last time, but that's not that often the case.

If it's not the battery, it could well be a poor connection on one or both battery terminals especially if it's intermittent? Anyhow, if you fit the new battery and check/clean the terminals/connections when you fit it you'll be covering both bases.

If the bike falls over the lean angle cut-out will operate. The bike will not restart (no matter how long you try) until the cut-out system has been reset. It is reset by turning the ignition on and off.

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Oh thanks. That explains it alot, never heard of it before.

As well as checking the battery connections, check the earth strap is clean and not corroded where it attaches to the engine block.

This is because your fall sensor is active. So yiu turn the ignition off. fall / tilt sensor resets and starts