Hey guys,
I've been in the bike seen for a few years now, ever since I got my '02 f4i. There's only 9k miles on it and it's in immaculate shape (nothing has EVER gone wrong). I woke up last week to take it into work though and it would not start (in first). So I turned it off... looked it over a couple of times and tried again. Nothing. So I tried putting it in neutral and BAM it started right up. Even ran perfectly all day. But each time I've tried to start it since it will only start in neutral. Any ideas?!?

Thanks a lot,
Matt



ps - sorry if this is posted elsewhere... I seriously did look and couldn't find anything...

 

is your kickstand up? clutch in?

 

The million dollar question right there.

 

Sorry... I'm an idiot and forgot to mention that. My kickstand is UP (although it doesn't matter in neutral) and clutch IS in. So, in review, if I turn my key on, place my bike into first gear and continue to hold the clutch, it still won't start. It doesn't do anything. But it does work perfectly if I just kick it into neutral

One of my friend's said that it might be the clutch sensor but he doesn't know how to fix it (i don't even think he know's what it is, lol).

Thanks DB for clearing that up!

 

look up the clutch sensor in the service manual at stephygee.com. It's either the sensor itself or the wiring that connects the sensor to the ecu. I just have the same problem after a lowside. I replaced the clutch sensor but that didn't fix it (i.e. my old clutch sensor is fine). So make sure it's not the wiring.
You'll see two wires coming out near the clutch cable... that's it. You can pull the wires out and you'll see 2 contacts. Put a multimeter to the two contacts, it should show low resistance. When you pull the lever in, it should show high resistance (open circuit). Or it might be the other way around, but it should change when you use the clutch lever. If it doesn't the sensor is bad, if it does the wiring may be bad.
Clutch sensors are inexpensive. To get to it you need to take out the bolt around which the clutch lever turns, open out the clutch lever and pull the sensor through the assembly on the side of the lever.

 

Thanks amp! I'll see if that helps...