1800 will turn over but not start

[Al Waters]

Hello,,
if the answer to my problem is in another topic, please steer me that direction. I tried a search but could not find a solution. Once in a great while, when I use the electric starter to start my 2009 Gold Wing, the starter will continue to turn over and over but the bike will not start. I turn off the ignition and turn on the ignition. Same results. All lighting on the dash and bike works. Its like the bike is not getting gas or the electrical that sends its message to fire up the bike is not there.
I can let the bike roll down an incline, drop it in to second gear and release the clutch and it will fire right up. I can then stop the bike and turn the ignition off and back on and it will start right up. An hour has gone by and I went out to the bike and it started with no problem.
I can't find anything in common when it wants to have a mind of its own and not start. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Al Waters

[Viking]

Almost every time I have heard this problem, it is a battery that is too low to turn the bike over and also operate the computer. Try a fresh new battery.

[wingpilot08]

Almost every time I have heard this problem, it is a battery that is too low to turn the bike over and also operate the computer. Try a fresh new battery.

+1 on this response...get a new Big Crank Battery!

http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Crank- ... ttery.html

[PastoT]

Surely you checked the kill switch already!

[mbuesing]

+1 more for battery.

[Al Waters]

Interesting. I didn't know that there needed to be enough juice to not only turn over the starter but also for the computer to send its signal. I have a voltage meter display below the right pocket that reads the voltage of the battery. When I turn on the ignition, it reads 11.5. When I turn over the starter with the fog lamps on (and other standard lights that come on), it will momentarily drop to 8.5.

While the bike is running down the road, the meter displays 14.2 volts. When I have started the bike with the fog lamps off, the meter display will show 9.5. It has not failed to start with the fog lamps off. Not sure that one volt would make a difference but not going to take that chance.
The bike does have its original battery and it is a 2009 with 84,000 miles.

Based on feedback out here and reading other threads, I think its time for a battery replacement. I appreciate your feedback. I would have continued on and probably would have found a time where the bike would not start and I was on flat ground.

Al Waters

[mbuesing]

The Wing is low compression for a motorcycle and turns over easy.
Electronics have a cutoff point.
Get the battery.

[Al Waters]

I ordered an AGM battery last night. I was very interested in a Li Ion as I use them in the radio control world exclusively. (I am not a Lipo fan yet). If I was a person who let my bike sit for long periods of time or discharged it without continuous recharging like our bikes do, I would seriously consider one. But I have not seen that the additional cost, additional life span, and weight savings warrant going that direction yet.
Thanks everyone for your help. This forum has been very helpful.

Al Waters

[Red Ron]

If not the battery it could be a starter relay.

[Al Waters]

I got my replacement AGM battery as suggested. The voltages I mentioned above are the same however when I have the fog lamps on and other lights on when the ignition is turned on, the battery voltage under load when the starter is engaged only drops to 10.5 volts rather than the 8.5.

You won't hear from me again unless I am somewhere and the bike won't start.

Thanks again for everyone's help. This forum has helped me out a lot.

Al Waters