How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

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MThomas
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How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by MThomas »

Battery is only a year old.
Choke is on full.
It slowly starts to crank and I'll get a backfire or two but no starting.

Aside from leaving it in a heated garage overnight, not an option for me, has anyone found a reliable method to start your bike in the cold?
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by kirby »

Starter fluid, or sometimes called ether, used to start diesels. Any auto parts /tractor dealer, even Wal-Mart.
Just remember a little go's a loooong way. Small squirt in the intake.

Slowly starts to crank is not a very clear description of what is happening.

Backfire because of lean mixture because the "choke" on a 1150 is just a bit of throttle, not a choke.

Comes in an aerosol can.
Last edited by kirby on Fri Dec 29, 2017 12:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by Sunbeemer »

What oil weight are you using? if it's too heavy for that temperature it'll be too thick to crank and won't lubricate the engine very well.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by kirby »

The oil wt. is a factor but you can't change the oil every time there is a cold snap. When I travel in winter and anticipate that the machine will have to sit in a motel parking (usually in high country) in temps in the 20s' or lower, I always carry a can of start fluid..saved me many times.

Its the same with light aircraft aircooled engines with straight wt oil like 50 wt. However on those machines they have a primer system that will really richen the mixture for start. The BMW like most electric carbed engines has no "choke" just cracks the throttle a small amount which is not enough for a slow turning starter due to cold temps to fire the engine sometimes.
On light Aircraft if available we use engine pre-heaters. (best solution for sure)
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by peels »

curse at it loudly, in german
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by AZBMWRIDER »

I had the same issue, the bike would sit outside all day at work, usually 18-20 hour, with temps in the 20's F ..

I installed a second battery where the ABS unit be be .

Non ABS bike .

No issues since doing this .

I also use Mobil 1 20w50 oil .
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by CycleRob »

A 2004 model may have a weakened starter motor from normal or frequent use wear on the armature slip rings. When that happens the starter draws more Amperage from a frigid battery that is now producing less Amperage. They both reduce the voltage available to the ignition system which will produce a weaker spark at a time when maximum spark voltage is needed.

Using a thinner multi-viscosity engine oil will help reduce starting oil drag a lot. Mobil-1 full synthetic 5W-50 is the best high quality choice year round, providing easier/better oil flow in a cold engine, lessening the chance the oil filter's pressure overload bypass valve will open and supply UN-filtred oil to the engine.

Also, "a year old battery" can be diminished from power reducing sulfidation caused by frequent starts, short trips and (unaware) operator abuse, like starting the bike up for 10 seconds to put it in the garage. All those things prevent the battery from 'topping out" and why a Battery Tender type charger is a wise practice during the winter months.
Last edited by CycleRob on Mon Jul 22, 2019 5:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by AZBMWRIDER »

The battery in the R1150, is the same size as the batteries in my airhead 650's .
The R100 airheads had a battery that is about 50-60 % larger than the batteries we have .
I personally believe that the battery is under size for this displacement engine in cold weather .
Also, when the battery voltage is low during a very cold engine start, the ignition system may not get enough power to work properly, adding to the problem .
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by Tundra Dweller »

I have used a small heater under the engine block on Motorcycles. It takes a couple hours but helps. Synthetic oil also flows better than petro base oils at low temps. The starting fluid method works well for implements. I use this on a beater ATV. It can attack plastics, I would be wary of spraying it down the snorkle.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by towerworker »

I agree with Tundra. I would be extremely wary of using starting fluid. A good battery and lighter weight oil is a requirement in colder temps. A battery tender is good if that's available to you. I run 10/40 Castrol in winter and have never had starting issues. Lowest temp mine ever started was 7°. Next day was 2° and no joy, too darn cold to ride then anyway!
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by kirby »

Yes for those who do not know how to use starting fluid its best not to do it. I always try and start before using but if it won't start its better than grinding on the starter and running the battery down. When you traveling its not like when you machine is in the garage and won't start 'cause then you just get the car keys and go.

I do ride all year and its a bitch to be stuck somewhere with a flat battery at 0 dark 30. In temps close to 0 10 wt oil is like syrup.

BTW you don't "spray it down the snorkel", you spray a little in front of the intake while cranking.

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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by EasyBee »

Mobil-1 full synthetic 5W-50, Motobatt MB51814 with 22A with 260 CCA (instead of the stock 19A battery with around 170 tot 200 CCA) and a well functioning fast idle and ofcourse all other electrical functions (lights, heated grips, etc) off.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by kirby »

It looks as though you live in cold country. In the states unless you live up in the far north you only have an occasional cold snap that would require 5 w oil, and most folks don't ride when its that cold anyway.

90% of my riding is in moderate temps 30s' and above but sometimes in the fall/early spring I'm up in the high country and need some extra measures to start a cold soaked machine in a motel parking lot as an example.

Makes no sense to service the moto for the very few times I get caught in unplanned cold snap.
I run mineral oil 20W50 with a stated SG rating. For aircooled engines 5w is a bit thin...maybe 0 would be even better!

The 1150 is hard to jump start because of the location of the bat. In fact can be down right dangerous,(especially in a cold dark parking lot), and the idea of TWO batteries is NOT an option for me..the machine is heavy enough.

beating a dead horse good grief! :)
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by EasyBee »

I only use it when going to Germany or France, because for the past few years it's never been below -10C = 14F in the Netherlands.
I just answered MThomas's question : has anyone found a reliable method to start your bike in the cold?
Right now it's between 7 to 12C = 44.6 to 53.6 F around here. Ridiculously warm !
But I can't ride my bike right now. It's in the workshop, a non BMW dealer but BMW specialist. My bike is on a workbench because or clutch failure.
Hope the splines are OK, but they'll put in a modified clutch.
Last year the iABS broke down and was removed. Now I have this problem.
Last edited by EasyBee on Tue Jan 02, 2018 2:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by MThomas »

I'm in DC and the cold days are frequent enough that resorting to the car isn't a preferred option for me.

I use Mobil 1 20w50 oil.

Here's what I've done to start the bike successfully:
- Put it on the tender overnight.
- Full choke and some throttle
- Once started remain on throttle, release to half choke
- Eversogradually lower the RPMs via the throttle til I'm off the throttle
- Unplug the tender
- Ride down the road about a mile then reset the choke to normal (no choke)
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by EasyBee »

You should use run 10/40 instead of 20/50 in winter.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by kirby »

EasyBee wrote:I only use it when going to Germany or France, because for the past few years it's never been below -10C = 14F in the Netherlands.
I just answered MThomas's question : has anyone found a reliable method to start your bike in the cold?
Right now it's between 7 to 12C = 44.6 to 53.6 F around here. Ridiculously warm !
But I can't ride my bike right now. It's in the workshop, a non BMW dealer but BMW specialist. My bike is on a workbench because or clutch failure.
Hope the splines are OK, but they'll put in a modified clutch.
Last year the iABS broke down and was removed. Now I have this problem.

I used to live in Paris and went into the high country (alps) even in winter sometimes!

Sorry to hear of your clutch problem, hope that's all. My Rockster came without ABS and I have been able to lighten it further with light wt. exhaust.
Its been one of or if not the most reliable machine I have owned. Its very easy to maintain with simple tools.

If it breaks I'll just fix it and carry on..great traveler.
In the states its very cold in the east but quite nice in the west.
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by Tundra Dweller »

Another accessory to consider is these small Li-ion battery packs. I started bringing these on trips...especially off roading.
One should be able to back feed a jump through a hot lead connection for say heated gear etc.
http://drivinglife.net/best-lithium-ion ... #tab-con-6
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by MThomas »

EasyBee wrote:You should use run 10/40 instead of 20/50 in winter.
Would it hurt to use 10/40 year-round?
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Re: How do you get your bike to start in the teens?

Post by Sunbeemer »

The BMW R1150R Service and Technical Booklet says SAE 10W-40 oil can be used between -20C and +20C = -4F to 68F.
DC summers are warmer than that and will require a heavier oil.
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