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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | I know it's not that extreme to ride a Vision in sub freezing temps with the built in wind protection and heated options. I have a V92C (1999) , it will not start on mornings with temps in the 20's or lower. It's very frustrating. I want the Vision to be my next bike someday. My question is, do the Visions start fine in these ambiant temps? I'm talking about Visions that are outside all night covered up, not Visions that are started in heated garages or even unheated garages. I need a Vision owner who has the same conditions as me. My bike is covered but outside and on a tender. I don't want another bike that won't start in freezing conditions. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | There is a thread in the tech forum addressing this issue called "cold starting". I can say I ride all the time except when frozen precip is expected like this morning. My bike has always been outside for the past 15 months with only a cover, it is both a trailer and a garage virgin and has 33,400+ miles on the oddie. The temp has been in the teens lately and even got down below 10 when I left one morning and I have had not one issue in starting. I have the original battery and had the reflash. I run stock pipes and use synthetic 10/40 oil. The plugs are Champion Copper Plus RA8HC and I use premioum fuel 92/93 Octane with no additives. It may take an addition revolution to fire but does it with no problem. I let the EFI do the job it is designed to do so I don't twist the throttle until I'm ready to ride in about 2 minutes. The bike runs perfect. I'm sure you will get many more replies from all the extreme riders so hold onto the handle bars... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | that's great. makes me feel confident to buy a Vision one day. My Vic is fuel injected too but it is apparently a crude system as some have said. I n freezing temps you have hit the starter, fiddle with the fast idle, pray, beg and cuss. It's a roll of the dice. It has over 77,000 miles on it. It's been a great bike. That's my only gripe on the machine itself. Thank you for the reply. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 17
Summerfield, NC | I went out this weekend, 20° when I took off. The bike stated fine, it's kept outside, and it's been sitting for a few days. When I took the 40 mile ride home at night, it was 10°. Only wearing my Harley FXRG Jacket and long johns. The only things that got really cold... my thumbs! This is the best cold weather bike I've ever been on. Kicks butt over my BMW K bike. |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | Leaving the bike on the battery tender overnight may help, also insure you have the correct grade oil. There is no reason the bike shouldn't start in moderately low temperatures. I consider the teens moderately low. 35+ (or would that be minus) below 0 is extreme. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | The older bikes don't start as well in colder temperatures as the newer ones do, but still,yours should start in 20 degree temperatures. Maybe it is due for a tuneup. A full synthetic oil will allow it to turn over easier too. In any case, my Vision starts much better than my "old" 2000SC. My Vision started the other day when it was 11 degrees inside my unheated shed. My SC would not start, but it needs a tuneup, and neither would my Suzuki Bandit, (it's carburated),but both my buddy's GL1800 and my Vision did start. If you are thinking about getting a Vision, you don't need to worry about cold starting issues with it. Victory has come a long ways in 10 years.
Ronnie |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | During some cold weather here, (20's -- that's cold for Western Washington), I started the Vision several times on the first crack. It stays outside in an open three-sided shed with no battery tender.
Hope that helps. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | thank you ! that's very good info. Mine has full synthetic. A tune up might help. My concern was for the Vision. You all have put that fear to bed. I wish Kevinx was closer. I don't have much faith in the techs i have access to. Cross your fingers in the morning,supposed to be in the 20's. I'm aiming a 500 watt halogen work light at the clutch housing 30 minutes before take off every morning too. Helps a little. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| I have a '99 too. They don't start as easy as the new Vics. How old is your battery? Have you ever put top end cleaner in her? When it's cold I put the high idle to max and she cranks over 2 or 3 times but she has always started.
Both my bikes live in an attached unheated garage with tenders.
The Vision is so sweet to start. Just push the button and she does everything her self. 
They say when it's "cold" to turn your headlights on to warm the battery? I had a heated dipstick in my '49 Buick and she would start right up no matter how cold. I have posted about this before and wonder if they still make them and if one could be cut shorter to work on a M/C? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | I can't wait to get a Vision someday. Gotta raise these kids first. The heated dipstick is a good idea. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | speaking of cold weather starting and someone else even saying about that proper oil. I had to go look to see what that amsoil flows at in cold temps. I only looked up amsoil because that infomation is very very easy to get from their website.. Well according to the Amsoil website their 10w40 Motorcycle oil flows at temps as low as -51F. Now i dont know how cold the Victory 20w40 oil flows at. Mostly because of the 20w in front of the 40.. 20w anything is not cold weather friendly. Its not made to be... |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | people might think I'm mad for wanting to ride today, but I'm mad that I listened to the weather people when I knew that we wouldn't get what they said we would. I erred on the side of caution, leading me to believe that I have some sanity, but on the way home I'll be smacking the steering wheel wondering why I didn't ride. |
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question for extreme rider
