Bike won't start! Actually, it'll start, but then the engine just dies out.

Last week, it was almost 60 degrees, and I was riding around having a great time. Then it snowed, I left the bike in the garage for three days, and today, the roads were clear, it was a little under 20 degrees and I took the bike out it took a little more cranking to start, but it was fine.

I felt some hesitation in the engine once I got outside, thought I was out of gas, so I filled up a few blocks away. I started it up again, pulled away from the pump, let it idle a couple minutes, and then the engine just died.

Was much harder to start it up again, and it died faster once it did. Increased the idle. Harder startup, faster death. After I tried that a few more times, it wouldn't crank any more, I assume I'd drained the battery, and I had to walk the bike back home.

I've also got a bad solenoid, so I have to jump start it by connecting the posts of the relay, but for the two months I've had it, it hasn't had any real problems.

Question: Do you think that this is just the battery reacting poorly to the cold? If I charge the battery up all the way, will I be ok? Will I have to keep charging the battery all winter?

This is my first winter commuting to work on my bike, because my car died. Until I fix this, I'm stuck on the bus.

Thanks all.

Why are you living where it snows? ??? Get out of there! Go to a place where you can ride all year. Like, here in central Florida. You can even ride over to Daytona during Bike Week.

a possibilty is you have contaminated fuel ie water which if it is  cold, could be freezing in the carb , as we all know these bikes run lean, which does't help in extreme cold,
but check the battery 1st. ???

I got a sealed made in the USA battery from Batterys Plus for a little over $ 50.

weak battery and maybe bad gas..lived in florida for 16 yrs ( no dis to our fla savagers)i will only go back for visiting friends and (in the wifes case) schooling...i rode here in west colorado for the toy run last weekend was 16 or so when i left the house only small patches of ice on a shaded street...i dont winterize i ride...

Petcock on prime. I'll give that a shot. I did try putting it on reserve, which didn't work. What does prime do?

LOL yes, I WILL try the petc0ck/petthingy/petdingledangle/petweewee on prime