Cold weather is here

[Cburt]

Well, ok it is Missouri.
I usually ride year round, and have heated vest and gloves to make it bearable. Not bad really until the temp's get below 30, then the bike is best left in the garage.
Roads can get dangereous and slick then.
Yesterday I rode and the temperatures were in the low 30's most of the day.
So here is the question. The bike started, but cranked over kind of slow for a couple seconds and fired. Think maybe I am running to heavy of an oil for this kind of weather.
The dealer recommends 15/50 oil and I think maybe I should be running a 10/40.
My real concearn is if I ride to work and it gets really cold, like in the mid 20's it won't start.

[Major Kong]

Funny you should post this. I was thinking the same thing. It's been in the 20s here in Ohio and I've had a similar experience and conclusion. After a little digging, I found 10w-40 is approved by the factory. I intend to change mine after work today. It seems a waste of good oil, but after a couple of cold starts, with some rattling, I'll take it.

As to the bike not starting, I think that the spark and electronic controls on the '05 and up models are pretty good at getting fire in the pot.

Does anyone know how to best set suspension damping for the colder weather? I'm thinking of dialing out the damping on the shock and forks. Is that the right way to go?

Kong

[s3hooligan]

Recommend both of you move to the Republic of California! Cold weather blows....literally.

[Speedy Russ]

I also noticed that Speedy does seem to take a bit more cranking in cold weather. I'm wondering if it's my battery. I keep it plugged in to a battery tender all the time though since I bought mine brand new this past June. Whenever I get home after my commute to and from work, it takes the battery several minutes to show a full charge on the tender indicator light. I've heard that the S3's battery is a weak point since they sometimes don't get the full charge or maintenance they need at the dealer if the bike is a demo model (mine was not). I guess I just need to check it with a voltmeter to see how strong it is.

[hooliganrider]

I also live on Ohio and the cold makes starting really hard on my 07. I try to start it a couple times a week and let it run for awhile but if I leave it for a week it won't start and usually have to take the plugs out and clean them.

[bkrbil]

All Triumphs seem to be cold blooded. I was out on my Rocket III yesterday morning (28 degrees) and it was a pain to start it. When I got back later that day, I started my Speedy, which took it's time cranking and starting.

I'm running Mobil 1 in both, so the oil isn't the problem. They just don't like the cold.

There's snow on the ground this morning, so no rides today.

[Cburt]

Hooliganrider
By saying you are starting it a couple times a week and letting it run, are you just letting it idle?
If your just letting it idle to warm up and not riding it sounds like your fouling the plugs.
You shouldn't have to clean the plugs...........ever........... unless your at the point where they need to be replaced.