Hey guys. I'm a bit of a newbie, so please pardon any stupid questions.

I bought my CBR600F a week ago and at first everything was brilliant. She was running beautifully and starting immediately. Two days ago I left my lectures and hopped on for a pleasant afternoon ride out from St Andrews to Abernethy (about 20 miles away) and found that she wasn't starting. The starter motor was turning and the lights were all working, but the gorgeous roar of her engine was nowhere to be found.

Thinking that it was that some idiot who had decided to play with the accelerator whilst I was inside and that the engine might have been flooded (a bold-faced assumption) I let her sit for an hour or so whilst I walked into town to think about what might be wrong over a pint or two. When I returned I found that she started up on the first attempt and I went inside to work in the lab. I returned later to find that she was still starting up and I brought her home.

Today, however, I walked outside early in the morning to find that she wasn't starting, yet again. I've spent all day thinking about what could be wrong and here's the few hints I've been able to suss out:

The starter works
The lights are operating
There's no smell of fuel

I think I've also got a headache. Oh, and because I know you guys will end up asking: Yes, there's petrol in the tank. Yes, the fuel tap is set to "on". Engine kill switch is off. Kickstand is up, and the bike is on. (just figured I'd cover the most basic of bases.)

If anyone has any experience or ideas and is willing to lend a helping hand I would greatly appreciate it. Cheers, guys.

 

No smell of fuel? Even after cranking it over? You may have an obstruction in the fuel line...either the fuel filter, in tank strainer or internals in the petcock breaking down.

 

hmm........interesting, possibly a pump going bad? But i would check all the basics first, fuel filter, look at the plug condition, basic tune up stuff. Could also be caused by a faulty kill switch (working intermittantly)

 

Cheers, guys. I'm appreciative of any and all suggestions (well, on-topic ones :P)

Anywho, I'll try a few things and I'll keep you guys apprised. It's just that as late as it is I'm not planning on working on her any more tonight.

Once again: thanks for the help! I'm glad there's a supportive community for CBR600s out there.

 

We sure are a supportive commmunity. We have to keep our old bikes on the road.

You might also have a regulator/rectifier issue, which is common on the older CBRs.

Check these things though. Fuel filter, carb bowls for dirt, regulator/rectifier, and battery cables. The regulator/rectifier is under the gas tank, between the ignition coils, I'd say slightly forward of the battery box and most easily reached by pulling both fairings off, along with fuel tank, and going at it from the left side with a 10mm socket to pull the regulator out if need be.

 

Also check the connections at the CDI box.

 

Well, I've managed to get her to start, I'm not entirely sure how... but I'm not really arguing with results at this point. I recharged the battery, tightened some hoses, and checked electrical connexions (I actually used the old Nintendo SNES method of blowing in the cartridge (in this case connectors) to dislodge dust. I thought I'd never get the chance to seriously do that again). After fastening everything back together again (save for the fairings that I'm going to do a bit of work on... and maybe replace) I tried to start her and low and behold it was a success.

Once again, thank you all for your help. I'm definitely going to be sticking around and I hope the next time I have a post it'll be in a travelogue and not in the technical problems section :P

Cheers!