Hard winter starting model 2015 9000mi

[Jonnielights]

So my 2015 CB500XA is turning over for a good 6-10 seconds before catching when the temp. gets below 40F.
I bought it used with 9000 miles on it this past August and just this week replaced the battery with a Shorai Lithium Battery LFX14A4-BS12 as it was having a hard time turning over with the old Lead-Acid battery that was in it during the colder New York City days.  As a year round NYC commuter who parks on the street, trickle charging is not really an option.

With the new battery it turns with ease, but it takes quite a bit longer to start then I would expect.  Any suggestions as to what could be causing 6-10 second turns for the engine to start, and what I could do to try to alleviate this issue? 

Thanks, Jon 

[Gills]

That certainly doesn't sound right. I commute year-round on my '13 bike and it starts almost instantly on the button, without touching the throttle. The only times I have had hard starting, is if I have briefly started the bike previously (e.g. after an oil change) and not warmed it up. I think the plugs can then be left "wet", due to high initial fueling, which causes problems getting it to fire next time.

I would suspect changing the plugs might well help. I had an NTV600 previously and it always started much better after the plugs had been replaced. Personally, I also rate iridium plugs. Only downside of changing the plugs is getting to them! See valve check topics for pointers on stripping down the bike.

[ThirtyOne]

From everything that I have read, lithium batteries are very sensitive to the cold. Do a google search and you'll see that many riders report poor cold performance.

[SnowOwl]

Agreed on the lithium battery possibly being the issue.  They are not recommended for temps down near or below freezing unless specially designed for service in cold weather, most are not.

If you have a standard lead-acid (or AGM) battery available, even an automotive type in a car, try disconnecting the lithium battery and hook up the lead-acid with jumper cables and see if it starts easier.

I have a 2016 with over 13,000 miles and still on the OEM battery.  I ride year-round and it starts right up the same regardless of ambient temperature, even a few times in the teens F.

[jsonder]

If starting with a car battery, be sure that the car is not running.

[Superplasma]

Originally Posted by ThirtyOne

From everything that I have read, lithium batteries are very sensitive to the cold. Do a google search and you'll see that many riders report poor cold performance.

+1, yes that's seems to be the case,you need to turn the ignition on for a few secs to warm up the battery, then start up, some guys turn the lights on as well,but that will happen as soon as  you turn on.


Superplasma.

[ThirtyOne]

Originally Posted by Superplasma

+1, yes that's seems to be the case,you need to turn the ignition on for a few secs to warm up the battery, then start up, some guys turn the lights on as well,but that will happen as soon as  you turn on.


Superplasma.

I've heard about that trick as well. Some will turn the ignition key on and let the headlight draw from the battery to warm it up a little. From what I had read, it worked for some, not not everyone.

[Dukie]

My 2013 would do this. Was annoying but not a big issue with the bike.

[EscCtrl]

No problems with my '14. It has a Scorpion AGM from batterystuff.com. No affiliation just a satisfied consumer.

[theMerryone]

Originally Posted by Jonnielights

So my 2015 CB500XA is turning over for a good 6-10 seconds before catching when the temp. gets below 40F.
I bought it used with 9000 miles on it this past August and just this week replaced the battery with a Shorai Lithium Battery LFX14A4-BS12 as it was having a hard time turning over with the old Lead-Acid battery that was in it during the colder New York City days.  As a year round NYC commuter who parks on the street, trickle charging is not really an option.

With the new battery it turns with ease, but it takes quite a bit longer to start then I would expect.  Any suggestions as to what could be causing 6-10 second turns for the engine to start, and what I could do to try to alleviate this issue? 

Thanks, Jon

Hi Jon,

My "X" is now 21 months old which I bought from new. Over the last 3 months my bike started to behave in the same manner as you have described.  As my bike was still under Honda warranty I took it back to the Honda dealer for a review.

The dealer said that they had dealt with a similar starting issue with a one year old CB500R and they had ended up replacing the battery with an upgraded spec' on that bike.  Long story short...I too ended up having a new upgraded spec' battery fitted under warranty which has since resolved my starting issues. 

The spec' of my old battery was 130 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps).   The spec' of the newly fitted battery is now 190 CCA.   

Though I did not experience any problems for 18 months with the lower spec' battery, perhaps because of its age may have meant the battery was not providing adequate power when underload.  This is certainly something to consider If you have a battery fitted with 130 CCA and you have accesories fitted to your bike that would drain power.

The dealer stated that across the new range of Honda 500's and 650's, Honda no longer fit batteries with 130 CCA but with 190 CCA...… Perhaps this is an admission of guilt on the part of Honda who know of the reliability issues caused with some of there batteries.

God bless