Cold starting

[Mickwatson]

2016 SDR 5k miles, when starting from cold engine turns then stops as if it's got a flat battery, fitted new one fully charged and still the same, after several attempts it will start but shows general failure and engine warning light comes on, if it's switched off then started again everything is fine starting to wish I'd never bought this bike. KTM dealer's are useless.

[Aussie Dave]

G'day Mick,

You may have a problem with your fuel pump/filter. There is a recall issued for replacement fuel pump as well as the Brembo master cylinder piston and a check of the fuse box. Maybe one or more of these items is affecting your SDR. (the ethanol in fuel has affected filter media or pump seals).

Don't give up on the SD..... a few niggles on a brand new design will soon pass into memory as you ride around on a fully sorted excitement machine. Can't comment on your dealership....... mine is excellent

Cheers from Australia

Ps my SDGT just started to show the same issue (11,300kms) but I have been unable to ride all year due to a medical issue and have only been starting the beast each month to run the motor up to temp. Last month it took 3 goes to get it to fire up and run..... I am waiting to be declared fit to drive/ride so I can get to my KTM guys and have the recalls done. Also, keep an eye on your Brembo disc rotors...... mine warped out of spec at 7,000kms but KTM Aus replaced them with no complaint (it's a Brembo thing and 320mm size issue as no other smaller disc's have ever warped on my bikes).

[Mickwatson]

Thanks Dave, tried to start it today and it turned over twice then it just clicks and everything goes off as if the battery is dead, charged battery off bike and it started ok then general failure, switched off then on again and it's ok?

[Aussie Dave]

Cheers Mick,

Mine is behaving normally now that I have hooked up my Ctek charger adaptor loom and leave the smart charger plugged in 24/7. The dash volt meter now shows 10.5ccv when I test start the SDGT after a 12hr off charger rest. I'm nearly ready to start riding again after 9 months of misery....... so the GT will like the workout as will I...

I assume your battery terminals are tight & clean, so maybe your oem Yuasa has died? (a reading under 9.5v first start/no charger for 12hrs prior, means the battery hasn't got enough in it to start the motor).

I'm hearing good reports about Lithium batteries - they are lighter and have around 350cca for strong starting..... might be worth a try?

Maybe have a close look for odd things like any loose plug connections - one of our guys had his dash blanking out and bike stalling on the highway recently - turned out he had a loose earth connection to the battery which was sparking and carboning the terminal as well as disrupting the ECU's thoughts....... the price we pay for electrickery eh

[Rock]

Mick I'm having the same issues, and more, even after installing a new battery the other day. This bike does not like the cold. My dealer is useless as well and a good distance from me. Like you I'm starting to regret I bought the bike.

My bike is stalling, blanking out, then flashing check engine when I turn it back on similar to you. Another brit on another forum said he got a new software download at his dealer and it sorted things out. My dealer has told me there is nothing available here. I'm going to call KTM.

OUr friends down under seem to be having a better experience. I think this electrical system is challenged in less than warm weather, but as Dave has said on another thread it quite possible could be the stock battery is not up to the task and a lithium is in order.

[Aussie Dave]

Hi Mick and Rock......

I just posted a big report over on the GT forum...... I stopped by at my KTM dealership and had a talk with the KTM service tech about your issues......... have a read..... hopefully it will help find the cause of your problem.

The stalling is not related to cold weather..... more likely your bikes have not had the latest updates for 'all' systems, or, just maybe, the tank has been off and the balance pipe tap hasn't been turned to 'on' at the re-install stage.......

Cheers to all you snow bound riders from hot n sweaty Queensland AUS

Oh Bugger....... just remembered one other thing...... You must let the bike do it's full test diagnosis check thing before pressing the starter button....... starting quickly before it does the full cycle can cause a lot of issues as the software gets out of synch (errr, I forget most of the tech stuff for this except that it's a big no no to fire the beast up before the system check is complete).

[Mickwatson]

Done all the battery connections, bike starts perfectly but throws general failure and engine warning light comes on after 5 minutes, if you switch off and restart all is ok, it comes on after about 5 minutes running, once it's warmed up it's fine. Sometimes if it's really cold icy you have to restart it twice before it's ok.