| Author | Message | ||
     Cobradave93 |
What is the coldest temp that you guys have started your bikes without any trouble? My 06 XB12Ss doesn't want to fire when it is below freezing without hitting the throttle at the same time as the starter. Only mod is the race kit and the dealer has checked the bike many times. Am I just expecting too much from it or is there a problem? It's a different bike, but my Dad doesn't have this much trouble starting his Ultra Classic. | ||
| Jaimec |
I've got an '06 XB12Ss bone stock. If by "freezing" you mean "below 32 degrees Fahrenheit" then I've started mine PLENTY of times when the temperature was in the 20's without any issues. At the beginning of the winter I did have one issue; I hit the starter button and the bike just died... all lights out, no juice. Found out it's a common problem fixed by adding a couple of metal washers to the battery connections. Ever since I haven't had any issues at all. | ||
| Glitch |
Yeah, the 20's are as cold as I feel comfortable riding. Never had any issues with starting in cold weather, unless the battery wasn't at full charge. If you plan on doing winter riding, you may want to looking into a Battery Tender, cold starts are hard on a battery. | ||
| Cobradave93 |
Yes, under 30-32 degrees is when it starts to have trouble. Just was checked last week at dealer and hoped they found the problem. I tried to start it this morning to see if it would and it still would not fire without throttle. Temp was 21. | ||
| Cobradave93 |
Battery not the problem, starter cranks over great. | ||
| No_rice |
about 20 below give or take, my XB and my friends TL. it was a couple years ago so i cant remember the exact temp. we thought it was a heat wave. it had been alot colder previous to that. so we went for a ride. didnt really realize just how cold it was till we made it a block or two and went past the bank. it was showing the temp. talk about instantly freezing your butt off. we both looked at each other and and turned around to put them back away. they had been in a garage, but it wasnt a heated one. it started fine, but once running the idle was a little rough and i thought it might die, so i held the throttle for a short time. i have run it a fair amount of times when it is about zero and it doesnt start to bad. | ||
| Bueaddicted |
I've started mine without hitting the throttle when the temperature was 25F. I never hit the throttle - when its below freezing it just takes a few more turns than usual before it starts. Paul | ||
| Firewhirl |
17 degress with no problem. I did have a slight starting problem when the stator was going bad and the battery was not being fully charged. I never knew I had teh problem until teh stator went out along with the battery. I repalced the stator and battery and it made a big difference. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
at that temperature there is definite shrinkage! coldest ride for me was 18, and It was unbarable, lowest I will ride now is 25 | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
saintly rode from appleton buell 1100 miles to home in new york, first week of february this year. feb was the coldest month in many years in new york, he only added another 2000 miles to it. nuuttss! | ||
| Mattwhite |
I just ran mine at about 30 with no problem. Last fall I did a trip with it left outside soaked at about 55 degrees for several days. It needed a little throttle for about 30 seconds for the first start of the morning. I think a little higher idle would be good in those conditions. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
From about 30, down to single digit temps, our CityX needs a bit of throttle to start, and about 15 seconds afterwards to stay running. Buell *REALLY* needs a better cold idle program. | ||
| Jaimec |
Off the top of my head, it sounds like a LOT of the cold-weather starting problems I'm reading here would be solved by using a thinner viscosity oil in the winter. But then again, I ride all year round on Long Island, NY so what do I know about winter starting?  | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Nope, I run 10w40 rotella-t in the colder months. Run the same thing in my S3T. The S3T starts in sub-zero temps without any drama whatsoever. But it's al carbed, with a choke. It all has to do with not having a proper cold idle/start circuit. | ||
| 12r |
My Firebolt has to be the best cold weather starter I've ever owned. If it's freezing, I put it in 5th and turn the engine as far away from compression as possible. One press of the starter is all it's ever needed. | ||
| Drfudd |
You know what I have had problems starting my bike in about 23 degree weather, it took a little bit of throttle to get her started and then holding the throttle for about 30 seconds before it would run good. Since then I have kept it inside every night and when I do this, even at 20 degrees I don't have a problem, but I live in SC so we don't get too many days of below freezing.  |
