Difficulty Starting

[He Man]

If i let my bike sit for 2-3 days, the bike is almost impossible ot start, takes about 15 seocnds worth of turning over before it comes to life. It is 20 degrees outside though. The plugs are only 2,000 miles old so i havent pulled them for inspection yet.

I am running a RB3 unit, and i thought id just ask others before i start removing it since its pretty time consuming. Any ideas?

[ScottRNelson]

According to your signature, you have a 20006, right? 

My 1997 M900 was always difficult to start when cold.  The owner's manual said to not hold the starter on longer than five seconds.  If it took longer, I would turn the key back off for about ten seconds before giving it another try.  The colder the weather the longer it took to get the thing running, but it always eventually started.

Sometimes I would wait for the afternoon when things would warm up a bit before starting the bike.  If you have to ride in the cold, you could always put a shop light next to the engine near the intakes while it sits in the cold to help keep things warm.

I've tried to just accept it as evidence that motorcycles shouldn't be ridden in cold weather.

[He Man]

According to your signature, you have a 20006, right? 

My 1997 M900 was always difficult to start when cold.  The owner's manual said to not hold the starter on longer than five seconds.  If it took longer, I would turn the key back off for about ten seconds before giving it another try.  The colder the weather the longer it took to get the thing running, but it always eventually started.

Sometimes I would wait for the afternoon when things would warm up a bit before starting the bike.  If you have to ride in the cold, you could always put a shop light next to the engine near the intakes while it sits in the cold to help keep things warm.

I've tried to just accept it as evidence that motorcycles shouldn't be ridden in cold weather.

yea, 20006, didnt you know about the special editions? ill fix that right now,

but your 1997 M900 was carbed. Mine is FI, its a whole different ball game. my 95 900 would NEVER start in 20 degree weather. it turn over once, get stuck and die. The newer FI bikes also automatically turn the engine over for about 10-15 seconds after you hit the starter button (without holding it down) so the only way to kill that sequence is to hit the kill switch. my bike turns over on a dime in the 40s and high 30s. and all of a sudden it barely starts in the 20s.

[ScottRNelson]

So you have clear evidence that you shouldn't be riding when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.  Your bike is just trying to help you out.

Does ANYBODY think the automatic start function of the newer Ducatis is a good thing?  I'm glad none of my bikes do that.

[He Man]

So you have clear evidence that you shouldn't be riding when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.  Your bike is just trying to help you out.

Does ANYBODY think the automatic start function of the newer Ducatis is a good thing?  I'm glad none of my bikes do that.

Im not sure if the auto continuous start is a good thing or not. I happen to like it. I dont even have a fast idle lever. I have heard of the Power commander not being able to function well with the stepper motor so cold starting is an issue. Not sure if this is the same story with the Rapid Bike 3 units.

As for clear evidence, i rode last year down to 15s,(never doing that again), and 25-30 regularly. it would take 5-6 cranks to start, but never a whole 15 second sequence and then some. So again, not sure if its the rapid bike module or not.... Maybe its my battery. I dont understand your point about a motorcycle that shouldnt be ridden in cold weather, whats wrong with riding a bike in the cold?

Can anyone with an RB3 unit chime in here?

[Howie]

Try letting the fuel pump prime before hitting the starter button.  If the weather is cold, all the way on the fast idle lever.

[He Man]

Try letting the fuel pump prime before hitting the starter button.  If the weather is cold, all the way on the fast idle lever.

Will do the first thing, but theres no fast idle lever.

[BastrdHK]

The battery is doing its job if its turning the engine over for 15sec. at a time.  You just aren't getting detonation in the cylinder.  Fuel may not be atomizing correctly out of the injectors at that temp.  Could also be the computer not mixing the fuel/air ratio correctly do to some funky interference with the RB3 module.  I know you don't have a fast idle lever, but have you tried cracking the throttle(slightly, like 1/16th of a turn) as you crank?  It helps my FI '01 900 on the cold days.

[Howie]

Will do the first thing, but theres no fast idle lever.

Doh!  SR1000   How does it run when it starts?

[He Man]

I know you don't have a fast idle lever, but have you tried cracking the throttle(slightly, like 1/16th of a turn) as you crank?  It helps my FI '01 900 on the cold days.

It kills it instantly. It worked on my carbed 900 like a dream, i was the only one who could start it because of that lol. I think cracking the throttle interrupts the stepper motor process or something?? i might just be full of shit though im nto sure lol.

Howie, the bike runs like a dream after it starts, i can ride it at 2700rpm with out buckling everywhere (as long as i dont get on the throttle, then its signature ducati low gearing buckle). and if i hammer it, 2nd gear wheelies arent any issue at all.

Previously, i had a hot udder problem, the cat was burning red hot inside the udder so i bumped down the fuel mix 3 points across the board and the glowing went away.

[Capo]

It would appear that the device you have fitted (and the adjustment thereof) is responsible for the poor starting.

[ellingly]

Yeah, my S2R1000 (2006 model too) starts beautifully even at -10°C (14°F). In which case I think the RB3 might be the issue.