New Himalayan Cold Start

[DIEGOL]

What I don't understand is why so many are having cold start or even not-so-cold start issues on the Himmy?
Mines new - just had 300 mile service, from day one, press the start button, she catches within a second or two, blip throttle to 2,000rpm and let go. Tickover cold is a little low at 1,100 but nothing drastic. Put on helmet and gloves and away you go, no drama no routine, all within a couple of minutes. When she is warm the tickover is a little high at 1,600rpm but nothing to cause me concern. The only time she cuts out is when I do something dumb like forgetting to pull the clutch in at lights, or pulling off in 3rd.
Tried the choke once to see what it did, not much. Granted the coldest I have been out in is 1C

Not a helpful post I appreciate, but this is surely what the dealerships should be producing every time, and if not then the importers need to up their game, by training the people who service and PDI the bikes.

Mine starts fine and keeps running IF I GENTLY TOUCH THROTTLE TO 2000RMP FOR 30 SECONDS OR MORE, but that would be reasonable for carburated bikes, not for FI. The mentioned procedure is, according to my thoughts, what ECU shall do while I put on my helmet and gloves....

 

[Wintrup]

This morning there was some ice on the rain cover, suggesting a dip in temperature in the night and that, along with it sitting idle 5 days, was enough for a no start. In such conditions I get about 3 tries before the battery has had it and so it was. Last time it had been ridden was on Christmas day, and I had a spare battery in the pannier just in case.

My Himalayan has never been what I'd call a good starter, usually it catches on the 2nd or 3rd try, even in warm weather, whereas most of my Japanese bikes only had to sniff a spark to burst into life in all conditions. The only bike that I had the occasional problem with cold starts was my Yamaha 900 twin, if it had stood for a few weeks the battery wouldn't have the juice due to crank those fat pistons.

I've now lost count of the number oftimes I've had to pull out the battery on this bike in frosty conditions, in order to take it in doors to charge. And as I've mentioned, I live in a village and rely on this bike to get into town. It's called a Himalayan, but I'd not a want to take it up in that cold mountain range and risk getting stranded. It would need an auxiliary kick start for me to risk that sort of journey.

So as much as I love the character of this thumper, this year I'll be getting a replacement.

 

[Andyb]

Mods - Can this thread be moved to the Himmy section??

Wintrup - sorry you are having problems - but your bike should not be like that.
The normal things to check to improve starting are:
- TPS setting with throttle shut (I use 0.7V in UK sea level conditions)
- Battery type, condition and connecting leads. Some up the gauge of wire to help the starter spin better.
- Spark plug (I am still on the original but the gap was set too big from new), will fit an iridium one day.
- Tickover setting (set too low and the bike is hard to keep running from a cold start)
Fitting a switch to kill the halogen headlamp will also help the battery at start up.

Also, if yours is a BS4 model, they all have a battery drain issue. RE can supply an addition to the wiring harness to fix this, or Hitchcocks can supply. From new my bike’s battery went flat after a couple of weeks - fixed now.

All of the above do not need a dealer.

On my BS4 I do not use the fast idle lever - easier to add a little throttle if required.

If you like the bike it should be possible to improve starting…….or have you ever thought of moving house to the top of a steep hill?