2008 Fireblade wont start? Stranded!

Frankieblade · Jul 14, 2009

Hi All

I have a 2008 Fireblade which has been on an Optimate 3 charger for 6 days. This morning, the engine turned over for 2 seconds before starting (normal). It idled for one second and stalled (not normal!). Then, pressing the starter just made a high pitched whining sound (I think it is the sound of something cranking, but not a cough from the engine. There is a low beating sound from the exhaust, about twice a second. I dont think it is the sound of the starter). The headlight remained bright.

I reconnnected the Optimate and left it all day. Green lights showed all is ok, but still the start button generates the noise but the engine doesnt attempt to catch. The bike is in neutral, run switch is on, fuel in tank, no warning light on dash.

The last thing I did before parking the bike was wash it (no hose nor power washer, just bucket and sponge) and I lubed the chain. Any ideas how to proceed from here? This is my second battery, I dont think it is flat due to headlight brightness and the loud, high pitched sound when holding the starter button. I recall my dead battery produced a quiet whirring followed by a click. This sounds loud but unproductive. Many thanks

mattcbr1000rr · Jul 14, 2009

somebody stick a potato in your exhaust lol....but seriously,my 600rr acted that way after it fell over running and i didnt reset the tip over sensor...

philip1000rr · Jul 14, 2009

There is no 'reset' on a tipover sensor. It is a sensor on a pendulum, you 'reset' it by picking the bike up. It only cuts the engine when it is sideways.

mattcbr1000rr · Jul 14, 2009

'reset' my 600rr by flipping the kill switch on off once.picking it up didnt solve anything.

philip1000rr · Jul 15, 2009

Thanks for the clarification; its been a while since I've worked my tip sensor and forgot the bike has to be power cycled.

sooperman12 · Jul 14, 2009

Sounds like a short somewhere. Do you have any modifications done to the bike?

cbr9rider · Jul 15, 2009

Maybe the starter clutch went out.

red02f4i · Jul 15, 2009

I'm guessing water in the kill switch. Work it back and forth a bunch of times to try to dry it out. The kill switch cuts the fuel. Do you hear the pump prime when you cycle the key?

Frankieblade · Jul 15, 2009

Hi

Thanks for the suggestions.

The bike is completely standard, without even an alarm fitted. Only the Optimate charger is non-standard!

The bike has never been dropped (touch wood) and I think the sound I hear is the fuel system priming, its not the sound of an engine turning over - its clearly electronic.

I will take WD40 to the kill switch just in case, but it has stood up to rain up until now. Hopefully, it is a motorbike, not a pad of blotting paper

I am also going to take the battery out and get my Dealer to test it. If it is a battery failure, this would be my second and after more than 20 Honda's this could be my last. The battery is the same as fitted to a 125 bike, Honda did that to save 1kg of weight. HELLO - this is a road bike, not a track bike and my leathers alone weigh about 5 kilos!!

Not much point owning a bike that cant be relied on and this is unfortunately of questionable design.

I will update you all in case it helps anyone in future. I will also try to test the Optimate 3 (not sure how to do that, are you?) - I have had one of those fail as well about 2 years ago so I will try to find out whether it is actually delivering the charge it is supposed to or whether it is a second failure.

My Honda Hornet 600 continues to run like a Honda should ......

Many thanks all.

2008 Fireblade wont start? Stranded!

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