do you have compression releases? mine will do the same thing from time to time if I forget to use them.

 

Yep, automatic. Maybe they arent working? I'll have to check the tune file from FM to see if they didnt flip them off by mistake.

 

Mine does it too every once in a while.
Normal.
I just grin and go on...

 

One thing I just noticed was you say you let up on the cranking first start. Never do that. One thing that does is quite often, it makes a FI Harley take longer to start. Also, the contact on the solenoid has so many spark contacts in it. If you get into a habit of that, the starter will last half as long since once it's in, there is no spark. Also, some times if you do not follow thru on the cranking and it does not get started and it kicks back, it will throw the starter out with a metal bang. That is not good for it for sure.

 

Good advice, however - it was cranking for much longer than normal, but you say stay with it anyway? When do you bail and try again?

 

You really think this is normal?

It may be, but that implies that it would happen to everyone/bike at some point. I've never had this happen to me, on any of my bikes.

 

Exactly what mine did twice now. I've got a Dynojet PC V on mine. It never did it before in 5 years. It is one loud backfire for sure.

 

My 08 Road King does it a few times a year. It doesn't always occur after prolonged cranking, and I always get some unburned fuel vapor mist wafting out of the intake when it happens. I have wondered why it occurs also.

 

same here.

 

I've never had the backfire. I've had the compression halt the starter. Run the bike for a bit, riding spiritedly, park it for a 5-20 min window while i get something from work, take care of something at the house, and come back out to light it off and it'll rotate maybe half a turn then *clunk* i used to panic and let off the starter, but after a time or two I tried holding the starter anyway, and it would power through a second or two after I would normally let off. These starters are fairly tough. I'd crank it like a small car starter. If the bike doesn't go after 10 seconds, let off and let the starter relax for a few seconds, then rack it off and try it again. Maybe when yours shut down it injected, but hadn't quite fired yet? It's unlikely but possible i'd imagine