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Has this happened to you when starting up?

1478 Views 18 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  richvan56
Hello people..

Ah, the Vstrom..

I've had this bike for a couple of years and the engine is a rock, apparently, and has never let me down, but I have to admit that it is not a bike for "maniacs and perfectionists" in terms of noise, strange behavior, etc..

In my experience, it is a bike that one day has a little noise and the other not, or one day does something strange and does not do it again in years. Magically, everything works fine, but you go crazy if you try to investigate.

I think I'm straying from what I wanted to ask you.

Today, with an exceptional temperature, and a perfectly normal operation of the bike, I stop at a gas station, stop the engine, put gas, and after 2 minutes, I start again...

The bike took 5 seconds to start... You know, normally if you press the ignition button it takes half a second or a quarter, more or less. But this time I was stunned... The bike was trying to start and seemed to choke, until after 5 seconds, it started up.

I tried to replicate the error, and nothing, everything was perfect. That's how this bike is, I think.

Anyone with a similar experience? I think every day I understand more and more what many people say here: Put music in your helmet and forget about the Vstrom, ignore anything if it works in the end. What madness... I'm one of those people who like to know the why of things, and with this bike it's hard for me to change my personality in this sense.
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How many miles since the last valve inspection?
An engine gets hotter after its turned off. One a car or truck engine we generally figure max temp is about fifteen minutes after its off. On a motorcycle I don't know the exact time and that would vary with the model, ambient temperature out, etc. It is possible that on a hot day with a hot engine that you could have a longer than normal crank time due to fuel being "boiled" in the fuel line as it turns to vapor due to the build up of heat. (Some fuels are more prone to this than others). I would not worry too much about this if it was just an occasional thing and if I could link it to certain temperature conditions.
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How many miles since the last valve inspection?
No valve inspection.. maybe in the next service.

I just talked to a user who has the same problem. According to him, the starter motor gets stuck and is slow to react. It has only happened to him twice in years.
An engine gets hotter after its turned off. One a car or truck engine we generally figure max temp is about fifteen minutes after its off. On a motorcycle I don't know the exact time and that would vary with the model, ambient temperature out, etc. It is possible that on a hot day with a hot engine that you could have a longer than normal crank time due to fuel being "boiled" in the fuel line as it turns to vapor due to the build up of heat. (Some fuels are more prone to this than others). I would not worry too much about this if it was just an occasional thing and if I could link it to certain temperature conditions.
It was not too hot today.. In Spain (Andalucía) the temperature in May is 27 degrees Celsius (80 F). I have traveled in much hotter weather and never experienced that.

Well, the vstrom is doing its things... the best thing to do is to ignore this bike, it is like a little child that complains from time to time.
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If it started and is running fine, don’t worry about it. No need to panic check the valves or rebuild the heads, just ride it and enjoy,
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If it started and is running fine, don’t worry about it. No need to panic check the valves or rebuild the heads, just ride it and enjoy,
Thank you all.

The bike doesn't have 11,000 miles on it yet, and it hasn't gone through the valve check yet, but I'll talk it over with the dealer at the next service.
Do you mean that the starter runs for 5 seconds before the engine catches? I think it's a fueling issue. Mine will do that on odd occasions. I'm ready for it now and I just reach over and give the throttle a quick, light twist. The engine will fire and run immediately at that point.
Fuel has boiled in the injector lines leaving an air bubble there. Insulated wrap around the injector lines will deal with MOST of that. (Won't help leaving the bike sitting in the midsummer midday sun in Death Valley for a couple of hours).

It's hot here most of the time and my 1000 used to flame out at the bottom of the hill from our place regularly. Wrapping the fuel line I could reach (only 2/3 the length) was enough to stop that.
Do you mean that the starter runs for 5 seconds before the engine catches? I think it's a fueling issue. Mine will do that on odd occasions. I'm ready for it now and I just reach over and give the throttle a quick, light twist. The engine will fire and run immediately at that point.
Yes, exactly.

From the information I've been able to gather from the forum, it doesn't seem like a big deal, and the bike runs fine... I have not been able to replicate the problem.
Fuel has boiled in the injector lines leaving an air bubble there. Insulated wrap around the injector lines will deal with MOST of that. (Won't help leaving the bike sitting in the midsummer midday sun in Death Valley for a couple of hours).

It's hot here most of the time and my 1000 used to flame out at the bottom of the hill from our place regularly. Wrapping the fuel line I could reach (only 2/3 the length) was enough to stop that.
The temperature was perfect, and the truth is that this is the first time this has happened to me.

I have driven in the middle of the Spanish summer (temperatures of almost 50 degrees Celsius) and it didn't happen to me, that's why I was asking you.
If it happens again open the throttle while cranking.

Repot back.
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Yes I've had the bike a few times not start up right away. Had to open the throttle to get it to start.

This was our first fuel injected bike and I did not expect that.
Yes I've had the bike a few times not start up right away. Had to open the throttle to get it to start.

This was our first fuel injected bike and I did not expect that.
Thank you for your comment Ratbikerandy.

As we have read a lot on the forum, the Vstrom seems to be an indestructible bike, but it complains a lot, it makes "little noises" everywhere, but the important thing is that it will keep running... I still remember my trip to the French Pyrenees, when I heard something very strange from the engine, as if a plastic bottle was breaking into a thousand pieces. No idea what it was... but the bike showed no signs of failure and I could ride without any problem for almost 4000 km in very hot and difficult conditions.

As long as it continues like this, without serious breakdowns, I have no problem.

(My old CB500 from '96 is pure cream, all smoothness, I'm not used to the "peculiarities" of the Vstrom).
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Simply put, it "heat soaked". Hit on by several members above. Small quantity of raw fuel was introduced into one or both cylinders causing a bit of fuel flooding-based delay during start up. Have experienced same a few times on my 650...1000...1050 stroms. If it ever happens again, just crack the throttle 1/4 turn or so to clear it out.
Yes, exactly.

From the information I've been able to gather from the forum, it doesn't seem like a big deal, and the bike runs fine... I have not been able to replicate the problem.
It will probably replicate itself from time to time. I always just keep ready to blip the throttle because I don;t want my starter spinning on and on waiting for the bike to get just the right fuel mixture in the chamber.
Never happened in warm temps. If nothing else, after a quick fuel up, the motor is too eager to start! Press button, starter spins ONCE and motor is running. I wish my KLR did that!

The only time it took 2-3 turns of the starter to start the bike was when I left the bike outside overnight, in 40 degree F temps. Otherwise, bike runs like a top. '21 650 XT with 18k miles on it.
Yesterday I did a little outing to check how everything was going, and it was perfect.

I feel ridiculous asking about things that in the end are of no importance.

The vstrom doing vstrom things. 😂
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Hello people.. Ah, the Vstrom.. I've had this bike for a couple of years and the engine is a rock, apparently, and has never let me down, but I have to admit that it is not a bike for "maniacs and perfectionists" in terms of noise, strange behavior, etc.. In my experience, it is a bike that one day has a little noise and the other not, or one day does something strange and does not do it again in years. Magically, everything works fine, but you go crazy if you try to investigate. I think I'm straying from what I wanted to ask you. Today, with an exceptional temperature, and a perfectly normal operation of the bike, I stop at a gas station, stop the engine, put gas, and after 2 minutes, I start again... The bike took 5 seconds to start... You know, normally if you press the ignition button it takes half a second or a quarter, more or less. But this time I was stunned... The bike was trying to start and seemed to choke, until after 5 seconds, it started up. I tried to replicate the error, and nothing, everything was perfect. That's how this bike is, I think. Anyone with a similar experience? I think every day I understand more and more what many people say here: Put music in your helmet and forget about the Vstrom, ignore anything if it works in the end. What madness... I'm one of those people who like to know the why of things, and with this bike it's hard for me to change my personality in this sense.
Make sure fuel pump finishes priming before hitting starter. I Had it happen a couple times Too but not since making sure pump has quit priming. Not 100% sure thats the fix but we will see.
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