My motorbike has difficulty starting unless I push start it, what's up?

Question

Its an electric start motor and starts ok when its warmed up, but cant start cold. This has been happening since I bought it new 2 years ago. Any suggestions?

It is a 2004 Suzuki GN250, single cyl. 4 str.

Yes the motor turns over when trying to electric start but rather sluggish and weak sounding.

Answer 1

Always give year, make, engine size and model # when asking questions.
We don't know if it's a 2 or 4 stroke. Has carbs or fuel injection. Mechanical or automatic choke. Accelerator pump. You get the idea.
Anyway, I'd first clean the carbs and check the choke circuit (if it has carbs).
Tight or leaking valves (if it's a 4 stroke) would cause this. But since you said it happened since it was new, check the carbs.


Will the bike crank when it's cold? If no, then you should have told us. If yes, then the next guy is wrong.

When bikes are built at the factory, they are run to make sure everything is OK. Then all the fluids are drained for shipping. Some gas is still left in the carbs and should be drained before the customer takes possesion. Sometimes shops don't bother if they are rushed to sell it. When gas has been sitting it evaporates leaving behind a sticky lacqure that will clog up jets and passageways in the carb. When this happens they have to be cleaned. According to you, the problem happened since new. Some scooters have electronic chokes, that can be bad if you have one.

Answer 2

Could be a fuel problem.I occasionally drain the fuel out of the Carb, and add fresh gas.
Since its an electric start try laying off the throttle when starting. You may be flooding it. Our ATV's are like that. Good luck.

Answer 3

Motorcycle batteries suck. Try replacing the battery. Cranking a cold engine takes more power than turning over a warm one.

Answer 4

Am assuming you wanna comprehend the thanks to commence without the frenzy-button or the kick-commence lever.. With the ignition on, and the bike in first equipment with seize pressed, get some ahead momentum (pushing or downhill). launch the seize, ideally somewhat harsh so u get a moderate jerk. once you sense the engine rumble to existence, seize and throttle till eventually the engine catches awesome. Be very careful even as liberating the seize to commence, as in case you throttle somewhat more beneficial, the bike ought to leap out of your carry close and bypass out of control.

Answer 5

You either have a weak battery or a weak--bad starter.

Answer 6

forget what everyone's telling you..... it's simple..... it's the battery!!! bike batterys stink..... a good one will last 1 1/2 years at best.

Answer 7

plugs or electrical prob

Answer 8

i think it's more to the sparkplug