Bike wouldn't start in the cold this morning...

[Dallastheologian]

Due to living in an apartment I have to park it outside. It got down to 35 or so last night and wouldn't start this morning, but started right up when it warmed up this afternoon. In the morning the electric starter whirred and the engine turned over once or twice and then stopped. Do I need a new battery or do I need a oil warmer or what? Thanks in advance.

[GSS]

Synthetic engine oil, new NGK spark plug and a new battery should make cold weather starting much easier. If you can plug in a Battery Tender Jr., that should keep the battery juiced up as well.

[Dallastheologian]

Only problem is I can't park close enough to an outlet to use a Battery Tender

[singhg5]

Only problem is I can't park close enough to an outlet to use a Battery Tender

Check the voltage of the battery. 

Take out the battery, charge it overnight in your room and then put it back. My bike is also parked outside and I have to do the same, sometimes.  This bike runs really well in the cold.

Very likely it also needs a new spark plug. 

[Ducati Scotty]

If you can find a way to position something like this while you're parked you it may help you out.

Scott

[Dallastheologian]

New spark plug already in. Think it will be easiest to bring the battery in and use a tender jr.

[Arizoni]

The tender will help but the biggest help is just taking the battery inside and keeping it warm overnight.

Cold slows chemical reactions waaaaaaaaaaaaay down so even a fully charged battery won't show much power output on a cold morning.

It's kind of a PITA to have to remove the battery every night and to reinstall it the next morning but I'm betting that solves the problem.

Oh.  After leaving my bike sitting outside overnight with a low temperature of 26 degrees F (it was in Flagstaff @ 7000 feet elevation) I found that using the manual "Bi Starter" valve on the left handgrip it fired and kept on running on the crank.

[GlennF]

Royal Enfields need at least 10.5 volts to the ignition whilst cranking in order to electric start properly.

In cold weather two significant things happen -
- the battery gets weaker or if it is faulty may even fail
- the oil is thicker and hence the engine becomes very hard to turn over

These two things combined mean starting problems are likely unless the battery is in good condition

[Dallastheologian]

It still has the stock battery in it. This will be the second winter that it will go through. I have read that the stock batteries are not that great. Would it be a good idea to just get a new battery here at the start of the cold part of winter?

[singhg5]

It still has the stock battery in it. This will be the second winter that it will go through. I have read that the stock batteries are not that great. Would it be a good idea to just get a new battery here at the start of the cold part of winter?

Bingo ! Absolutely get a new battery - Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS

You don't need to take out battery every day to charge - not even once a week.  More likely once a month if bike is parked all the time. 

If you run bike for a good length of time at a moderately high speed once a week, that will be enough to keep battery charged throughout the winter.

[Ducati Scotty]

+1.  Two years on stock and trying cold weather starts is not a good plan.

Scott

[hortoncode3]

I'm in agreement on the battery, mine is starting to crap out, but it is 3 years old now..cold weather starts are a problem, not that i do a lot of that..it is Vermont after all, but I have tried starting it in temps below that, just out of curiosity doncha know. I'm sure if I kicked it it would pop right off.  I think a new gel battery is in my future next year.

[idk]

Don't forget to turn the headlights off when you are starting in the cold. Mine started real easy in the mid 30's the other day. I wish my Trumpy would start as easy.

[eda1bulletc5]

I have a very similar problem. I changed the spark plug to NGK iridium 6 type, new battery which is on battery tender every night, checked solenoid voltage (as shown in singhg5's youtube video).
My dealer/mechanic thinks it is the sprag clutch system; but this happens only when it cold (I had to keep my bike in the cold over-night once and it almost took 25 to 30 cranks before it came to life) after engine warms-up no problem in starting. Basically, the starter motor just wines every crank and once in a while engages the engine...
I will be getting it replaced soon.
My MC has 8700 miles on it as of now.

[iowarider]

It kinda slipped by, but synthetic oil would crank a lot easier. I am curious though, what would be the lightest oil for these in cold weather? That with the new battery and I would be surprised if it didn't start right off.