My MK1 has gradually been getting more difficult to start, up to the point where it wouldn’t start at all. I cleaned the carb and put in a new plug and it still wouldn’t start but when I tried it 10 minutes later it started first kick. I started it another 8-10 times that day and every time it started first kick. When I went to use it this morning it wouldn’t start again. Any ideas?

whenb you started it and it ran, how long did you leave it running?
if you continualy start and stop it without letting it run you will oil the plug and then it wont sprk properly.
Jon

Mines a pig to start from cold, once its running its fine and will start from the first kick. Any technique to start them from cold? Thanks

you can use the old CR starting trick, drain the old fuel from the carb (fuel off and lean over) then open the fuel tap, place in 1st gear and rock the motor to prime the cylinder then ignition on and boot it hard. should go after 2 kicks.............. he says after 10 mins of kicking

I had a similar problem to the one you are having.

I found giving the plug a good clean (NGK Iridium) and changing the oil to fully synthetic (Castrol Power 1 TTS 2T) helped alot. I went from alot of kicks to around three to get my AR going.

I guess every bike has different problems but this might help....

Rock a bye baby here but for that first start it never fails.
Usually good for the rest of the day then as long as the muppet pilot remembers to turn the ignition on
Regards Mike

my bike started ok with a bad plug in, just ran like the choke was on all the time as mike will astest to. best thing to do is switch the fuel off before you stop the bike. this will clean out the carb and cylinder, then you can get a good fresh charge of fuel in next time and should start a lot easier.
Jono