Help a noob please! Bike won't start!

[GTR1400]

Hey guys.. only just got my CBT today. Went out on my bike almost striaght after finishing my CBT and done 17 miles on it, with no problems whatsoever.

The bike is a Derbi Senda Cross City 125.

I finished up at about 5:30pm, and hadn't tried to go on my bike again until this evening at around 8:40pm. So just over 3 hours with no use of the bike.

When I got on my bike earlier today, I didn't move anything with the choke and just turned the ignition to on, pressed the starter and off I went.

When I finished up, I didn't move anything.. just turned the ignition to off, removed my keys.. and went inside my house.

So when I came out at 8:40pm, and the bike refused to start.. I was a little bit confused.

Ended up putting the battery on charge, as the strength of the light telling me the bike was in neutral significantly reduced.. so I imagined that it was the battery.

Tried again after only a couple of minutes on charge whilst I flicked through the very poorly translated handbook for the bike. Almost started.. but then progressively each time I pressed the starter, it would seem closer and closer to having no life at all.

It's currently on charge again.. and it isn't the warmest of evenings.

Just wondering if I've done anything wrong? Should I have changed anything after I finished my 17 mile run earlier? Or was it fine to just turn off the ignition and remove the keys?

Do I have to do anything with the choke? There are 3 settings for it I think. A lower setting (which it was in earlier on today), a middle setting, and a higher setting. I was under the impression that at this time of year, I shouldn't have to do anything as it isn't cold enough for that to make any significant difference.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.. and if I don't respond for an hour or two, assume I've fixed it myself

Cheers

[Nope.]

Right, first things first, make sure your not over charging the battery! Put it back in the bike.

Then, put the choke on and try and start the bike.

If that doesnt work. Check that theres a spark and check that the engine still turns over on the button/kick start.

Report back when youve done
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Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[Frost]

Every time the bike starts or tries to start it drains a lot of charge from what is a very small battery. The bike does charge the battery when running provided everything is okay (reg/rec working, and battery capable of holding charge) but this takes quite a long distance, say 10-15 miles.
Batteries take up to 12 hours to charge.
So leave it on charge for a while then give it a try. If it starts take it on a few long rides and see what happens. The battery may very well be fucked and need replacing.

[ThoughtContro...]

[Frost]

[GTR1400]

Just got back from a ride out.. turned out to take a little longer than I thought

All was well.. was on a 70mph dual carriageway, but the bike wouldn't seem to get above 50mph in 5th gear.. so I dropped to 4th, and it started to speed up a little.. but as soon as it went back to 5th, the speed would gradually drop again :S

Either way.. after playing around with the gears for a while, the clutch seemed extremely loose. Didn't feel right at all, so I pulled over into a layby thingy.

Clutch wasn't happy... and I turned the engine off to talk to my mum who was behind me. Bad idea .. bike wouldn't start again :/

So we got the AA on the phone.. and it was nearly midnight by the time the guy arrived with us. He found a cable that had detatched itself which sorted the clutch. Then he jump started the bike for me, and off I went with no problems again. Until I got home.

Gonna get it charged up on Friday, as I won't be around to ride it until then.

Will give you guys an update, but I'm sure it'll all be fine

Thanks for your advice! Much appreciated! Will hop down to Maplins later on in the week

[Frost]

Aounds like the battery isn't charging. So either the battery or reg-rec is fucked. Put in in volts mode and put it on both terminals of the battery and rev it.. < 12v = reg / rec fucked/ > 12v rec/reg = fine, battery = fucked.

[Rogerborg]

You bought from a dealer, right? Presumably they gave you the standard 3 month warranty, so get back in there and demand a working bike. Don't let them fob you off, be polite but firm and say you're not leaving until they agree to honour the warranty terms - that's what you paid a dealer premium for.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[MarJay]

Or maybe you accidentally switched the parking light on when you put the steering lock on? That sounds far more plausible than anything else...
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Nexus Icon]

As you asked about the choke on it;

You'll only need to put it into the uppermost position to start it, and not always then if the ambient temperature is reasonable.

Anyway, start it in the top position, move it almost immediately to the centre position and you should be able to turn it off completely after a few minutes idling or riding.

My other half had a Cross City for 2 years and never had any problems, so hopefully yours just has a tired old battery. On the bright side, they bump start really easily.
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Greetings from Shitsville!