Motorcycle Repair: Spring Startup, 2003 honda 919, winter storage

Question
I have a 2003 Honda 919. I never got around to fogging the cylinders before winter storage. Before trying to start it today (Feb 28 2004)I decided to fog the cylinders so it would'nt be a dry start. Better late then never right? Well maybe not. I reinstalled the plugs and wires according to the manual and yes the right wires are on the right plugs. No mistake there. Now I try to start the bike and nothing happens then about 15 seconds into turning over I get a huge gunshot sounding Backfire.I let the motor sit for a few minutes but nothing happens when I try to start a second and third time. Finally the battery dies. Did I damage something or do I need to recharge the battery and just keep trying?  

Answer
Hi Evan.
 I'll bet that you are not getting proper fuel flow. This happens every year.  Guys store the bike with fuel in the tank and carbs ("but I put fuel stabilizer in before I parked it.") and inevitably, the bike fails to fire up because the fuel still turned to varnish and now nothing flows right.

Try starting the bike with some automotive start fluid.  Spray it into the intake just before starting the bike.  It should fire up and then die.  If it does, the problem is fuel flow.  Pull, disassemble and clean the carbs.  If it still fails to start, then check every connection and wire in the ignition system as well as the ignition fuse.

Start there and let me know what you find.  We can proceed from there.
Good luck.
FALCON