Starting problem in the cold

alun111 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 May 2007 Karma :

Hi,

The bike's a 1993 bandit 400 vp (jap import, variable valve)

I've always had problems in the cold starting the bike ever since I've owned it (about 2 and half years now). As I am wanting to retire the bandit to my winter hack I need it to be reliable. I am considering buying a uk model righthand side switchgear (with a light switch on it) so that I can turn the lights off when cranking. This should hopefully give me more power from the battery and for longer.

I have also bought a 9.5ah battery instead of the standard 8ah.

I took a reading of the battery the other morning about 1hr after taking it off charge and it'd dropped to 12.7v (from around 13.2v) just from the cold.

As the battery box is open to the air this doesn't help. I was thinking of wraping the battery or the box in some kind of insulating material.... or buying a better battery box from a tl1000r (or another bike that uses the same battery as the one I have now). Obviously a little modification would be needed though.

What do you think my best option would be? I was also considering lining the original battery box in acrylic sheeting... what do you think?

Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

Thanks
____________________
Summer: '00 Honda CB600F Hornet
Winter: '93 Suzuki GSF 400 Bandit VP Variable Valve
Past Bikes: Lifan LF100-5 Lifan LF125-A Honda C70

Shreddie · Spanner Monkey Joined: 20 Nov 2009 Karma :

My bro used to wrap his battery in tin foil (not the connectors though!) for winter... Another option may be some Mylar sheet... It's that aluminised plasic stuff that they wrap hypothermia patients in, you should be able to find some at an outdoor/walking/climbing shop.

Some bikes just don't like starting in cold weather though, my GPZ ws always a PITA.

alun111 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 May 2007 Karma :

Did your brother have much luck with tin foil?

Obviously anything I wrap the battery in would have to be fire proof.

Cheers for the reply Smile

____________________
Summer: '00 Honda CB600F Hornet
Winter: '93 Suzuki GSF 400 Bandit VP Variable Valve
Past Bikes: Lifan LF100-5 Lifan LF125-A Honda C70

jokmm · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 20 Dec 2009 Karma :

Wrapping it in something sounds like a good idea to me, winter starting is a bugger!

Shreddie · Spanner Monkey Joined: 20 Nov 2009 Karma :

alun111 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 May 2007 Karma :

Fair enough, I'll have a think about it!
____________________
Summer: '00 Honda CB600F Hornet
Winter: '93 Suzuki GSF 400 Bandit VP Variable Valve
Past Bikes: Lifan LF100-5 Lifan LF125-A Honda C70