Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi All,

Just recently, my ZX2R has trouble starting if I don't ride the bike for a period of 2 or more days. I purchased the bike about 5 weeks ago and the bike used to start up fine (no choke required).

About a week after I bought it, the bike would not start up at all (didn't ride it for about 1 week mind you). I was able to clutch start it, I rode it for about 20 minutes, but after turning off the engine, it still would not start up.

I then replaced the battery and everything was fine. I was able to start the bike anytime without any problems. I was riding it quite regularly for about 2 weeks.

I recently went to Melbourne for a week and ever since returning, the bike (sometimes) has trouble starting if I don't ride it for 2 or more days.

Using the choke and opening the throttle (reving it) gets the bike started, but I've never had to use the choke before. Sometimes (when I don't use the choke), the bike sounds like it is about to kick over and start, but then it dies. I then try again, opening the throttle and it starts.

Basically, what I'm saying is, the bike does not startup the first time or 'smoothly'. Is this normal? Do I need to ride the bike everyday?

Hope the information above makes sense. I'm new to all this

ToaDz,
Going by your previous post of fuel usage I would say it is running very rich, (not having to use the choke), with nothing turned or switched on undo the the NEGATIVE battey terminal and get a multimeter on current range say 20 milliamps or lower and check the drain current between the negative teminal of the battery and the chassis of the bike, if more than 1 milliamp you have a regulator are a loom problem.
Cheers,
Mark.

i have to use the choke sometimes when cold to get my zx2r started.

i use the choke every time for about 10 secs regardless but mildly not full on choke may be half way

i use the choke every time for about 10 secs regardless but mildly not full on choke may be half way

I had the same problem before and as Mark said, use a multi-meter to check if your alternator needs replacing. Also check the wirings on the battery itself for possible loose connection (I know it sounds stupid but you should always check from the powersource itself then work backwards.) I had a mate who had replace his brakelights with LED and somehow striped just a little bit of the positive cable and was just touching the frame of the bike which drained the battery.
I'm in the defence force and I regularly leave my bike unused for about 4 weeks and my battery would die on me, can't really explain why but there are two ways to fix this;
1. You can put a switch on the positive cable where you can "switch off' the power from the positive end instead of removing the terminal from the battery itself.
2. You can buy from K-Mart or other auto store for an automatic battery recharger/maintainer, cost about $30 (make sure that it's a small one), so that whenever you are not using your bike, just plug it in and it will maintian the charge of your battery.

yeah i had my 2 for well nearly 2 years just use ya choke all the time. and yeah i had battry trouble aswell. they dont like the lights left on even 4 a few minutes been caught out heaps of times

i had a 250 that had much the same drama from the sound of your description....

my money is definately on the plugs....if the bike is running rich, it'll foul the plugs in near on record time....

for under $20....its gotta be the easiest, and probably cheapest fix....

best of luck in sortin it...

Dj