The International CBX Owners Association

Approx. a month ago, I had my CBX running like a top. The bike was in a warm shop so I had no problem starting it. I tried to start it today in my cold garage. The temperature in the garage is about -10 below C. Needless to say the garage is rather cold. The bike will turn over but will not start. Due to the very cold condition, does this normally cause my CBX not to start? Also, though I have fresh gas in the tank and bowls, I did not drain the bowls and tank. I was hoping to start it about every 2 weeks. Once again, will the bike not start due to very cold conditions? Should I drain the gas in the tank and bowls if I intend to run it once in awhile anyways?

Thanks Duane

Cold all by itself should not be the reason for not starting IMO. Got spark? I would only drain the fuel if it was going to sit for months, not weeks. Not sure what -10C is in fahrenheit but mine has started when the cover over it was stiff with ice.

My X's don't want to start very easily when it is below freezing. They will start however if I keep them on a battery tender and they have full charge. Takes more cranking than I would like. If I start them about once a week, they start MUCH faster and easier but I don't normally start them that much in the winter.

Its an open debate on what to do with fuel (stabilizer or no stabilizer). Full tank or run empty. Also some guys drain carb bowls and some don't. I don't think there is any consensus of opinion on what do do here.

Since I start mine every 2-3 weeks, I fill the tank at the end of the season. I don't drain the bowls. This year, I'm not using stabilizer either.

Do you have a CBX with a vacuum valve on the carbs? This may make starting a little more difficult. The easiest way that I have found to make my 81 CBX start after a longer period of sitting and/or in cold weather is to spray starting fluid into the airbox. A good battery with a high charging level helps. Starting got much better since I use a Westco AGM.
Starting the bike during the winter and not running it at least 20 - 25 minutes is really bad. You will create a lot of condensation in the oil and in the exhaust without having a chance to burn it off by heating the system up properly. Also, the battery gurus claim that you need some 15 minutes of alternator charging to replenish the charge drained from the battery during a starting operation.

I would say that the cold is your problem. Living in Alberta I would never attempt to start a CBX sitting in cold storage. A CBX sitting for a couple of weeks doesn't start the greatest when it's warm. If you have a bike cover you can try putting a heater under it but you would be better off to move it into a warm area or leave it alone.

When you do go to start it hook up a booster battery but not one that is in a running vehicle.

I always stored my X's with a full tank of fuel with Sta-Bil. Before storage I ran the bike with the Sta-Bil and then just shut it down. Never drained the carbs and never had a problem.

Are you storing the bike with the battery in it or have you removed it?


-10C = 14F

HI!!! resister plugs fuel foul VERY easy....chuck