Hi all,
odd one this..... my RVF starts first time, everytime if left overnight or left alone for a few days. However when i ride it to work and park it up for the day, 8 hours later it starts....then the revs slowly start to die and it refuses to get going again, battery flattens really quickly too. Only way to get it going after that is to jump start it, after that it runs groggy for a few mins then is absolutely fine. Tried all sorts of starting methods, full choke, half choke, no choke, holding throttle at a few thousand for a few mins..... but no combination works. Only way i can get round it is by starting it up and setting off straight away without warming it up fully...and it runs extremely groggy for about 5mins until its up to temp.

Its currently in my garage having a new air filter, plugs, oil filter, oil, coolant flush and change, new battery and a nice new ART can being fitted.

Is there anything i can check while i've got it in bits?

Any advice, much appreciated!

If you have a haynes manual do the electrical checks on the alternator and reg/rec. Your problems might also be battery related.

next time you have the bike started do a charge rate check just to rule that one out.

it definately sounds fuel related to me........hard to ppinpoint what exactly.

whilst the bike was running groggy did you try and put the choke on?usually this gives a indication to whether the bike is running rich or lean.any backfiring?


william

will check the charge rate next time i crack it up.

As for putting the choke on whens its running...not tried that.

again, will go down on things to check tomorrow!

thanks for the advice chaps

I have the same issue with my NC30. Usually occurs when there is a change in humidity (increase) and temperature (decrease) and it's been sitting for about 5-hours, like when I go to my girl's in early evening and try to leave late evening/early morning. There can be a 30 degree F difference here in Los Angeles between late afternoon and late evening. It starts fine the next morning.
I haven't checked out my air/fuel mixture yet, but that is the likely culprit. Syncing the carbs should do the trick as I've figured out that once it starts in the late evening, I turn off the fuel tap when exhaust begins to smell a bit rich and the revs slow, then turn it back on when the revs start to pick back up.
Good luck and ride safely!

I must admit, from what I read it does sound like a fuling issue.

Changes in temperature and poor starting can often point to poorly balanced carbs. Also, when checking, make sure that all 4 carbs are securely bolted together, only they are mounted in rubbers on the intake and I have found that they can move just a little bit if you dont strap them together nice and tight, and the slightest of movement may give the impression of a poorly balanced carb when really in the correct position its fine!

Jody

I know its a pretty late reponse but i've managed to get it all sorted now!

Needed a new battery, rectifier and alternator plus a new section of loom after the rectifier had melted it! Had carbs checked too and all ok in there....

no wonder it wasnt starting well!!

running sweet as now (got new ART can on too now, V4 sounds as it should now!)

thanks for the help anyway