Trouble-shooting
Bike won’t start? Here’s how to coax an engine into life
Be prepared to provide fresh voltage
If you’ve got a bike that’s been languishing in the back of the garage, it’s going to need a bit of help to get started. The battery will most likely be kaput but give it a charge for a few hours, disconnect the charger, and check the voltage with a multimeter. Anything over 12.6 volts indicates it is healthy, and worth trying. Anything lower means you’ll need a new battery.
Fire it up and let it run
Press the starter button to turn the engine over; if it fires up, disconnect the jump pack after a few seconds. All being well, the bike’s charging system will then kick in. Run the engine until it’s up to temperature. If the engine stops as soon as the jump pack is disconnected this will indicate the battery is not taking charge and will need replacing.
Get a boost
Or, the alternative way to start a bike with a flat battery is to use a jump pack, like this portable Noco Boost pack (£99, which connects via jump leads to the bike’s battery. The important thing to remember is to make sure that it is connected correctly, and that the crocodile clamps have a good solid grip on the battery terminals.
No joy? Check the spark
If the engine won’t fire up with a good battery or boost pack then investigate further. First, check that the ignition system is producing a spark. Use a plug spanner to remove at least one of the plugs then reconnect the plug cap/coil. Rest the body of the plug on top of the head, then crank the engine over; you should see a fine light blue spark arcing across the electrode.