My bike will only start when in neutral is this normal? I know it's a safety thing and all but every other bike I've been on lets you start the bike with the clutch pulled. If there is something broke what is it, and if it is supposed to be like this is there a way to bypass it? I don't stall often but when I do it's not very fun trying to find neutral at a green light with pissy cagers behind you.

 

There should be a switch in the clutch lever with two wires coming off of it yor problem lies in there most likely

 

You can either try to repair the clutch engagement switch mounted in the clutch perch just behind where the clutch cable enters the housing, or take the two wires that go to it and jump them to trick your bike's ignition circuit into thinking you always have the clutch in. I'd go for the clean repair, but both methods will accomplish the same task unless you decide to try to start your bike without the clutch pulled in.

 

Does anyone have a picture of said wires? Without running downstairs to look, my memory tells me I don't have them.

 

well I tried to jump the wires and that didn't work, so I guess the problem is somewhere in the left hand controls?

 

Well... Not quite. That means the problem lies deeper than just a broken switch, so you've got some more wire-digging to do. Just as an idiot check for myself, did you try it with the wires simply disconnected from the switch and un-jumped? (I don't know off hand if the switch is normally open or normally closed.) I'd try but I'm 100 miles away from my bike at the moment, and the engine isn't in it at the moment either.

 

Yeah, I've tried it with it jumped and not, no difference.

 

err, it works when it's jumped and the kickstand is up hehe oops

 

There's a switch in the kickstand too... You can start it in gear with the clutch in only if the sidestand is up.

It wont start unless in neutral with the sidestand down.

 

yeah, I had my moment when I was putting the bike on my new stands.

So once I jumped the wires it worked, now I have to figure out if the switch itself is bad or if the clutch leaver is that worn out it's not pushing the button right......