Forget how to start the bike....yeah I did!

[Guest]

I haven't ridden for a couple of months now and I was hoping to get out for a quick zip today to tank up prior to the winter lay-up.

The weather this morning is cold but sunny and I figure i'll clean up the garage a bit first and perhaps let it get a bit warmer. Around mid morning I'm caught up and its still looking good so I get ready to go.

As I want to run some Seafoam into the system as a stabilizer I pour in half a can and top up from my gas can. Turn the key to on and thumb the button. No go...nothing. Crap! Bad battery? Pull off the seat and pull out the multimeter. 12.6 volts, should be tons. Push again nothing not a sound. Bad connections somewhere to the solenoid or starter maybe Get out the screw driver and remove the battery connections...clean as a whistle and making a good contact. Look at the connections at the solenoid.....look fine. What the h e double hockey sticks.

Well maybe I'll juice up the battery and try again after lunch.

It must be the lack of food in my system as I'm munching on leftovers when it strikes me.......I didn't pull in the clutch lever....doh...double doh.

Sure enough, choke on, turn key, pull lever and push button and varoooom!

I can't believe I forgot how to start the bike. I think I need to write it down and tape it to the speedo.

Anymore dummies out there or do I win the prize?

Cheers all,
Spyug

[Griffin]

I've done that before on my 700. On my 750 (and a couple other bikes I used to own) I have disconnected the clutch disengagement wires, so they can be started without pulling in the clutch. I get used to not having to do it on them, so if I go a long time without riding the 700, it might take me a stab or two on the starter button with nothing happening to remember.

I've only had that bike for 22 years now. It takes a while to get used to it I suppose.....

[jetta90]

ok, pay back time for you buddy.................

I'm sending you the 883 Harley Sportster I come up with on YOUR "Motorcycle personality quiz" thread from yesterday !!

I don't think I'll ever get over the emotional trauma that exercise caused me.
lol

[Zooks]

ok, pay back time for you buddy.................

I'm sending you the 883 Harley Sportster I come up with on YOUR "Motorcycle personality quiz" thread from yesterday !!

I don't think I'll ever get over the emotional trauma that exercise caused me.
lol

Agreed. Same here!!!

Let's get him -

[donimo]

haaa I did that last night, it was right after I put the carbs back in so I thought "crap what did I unplug by accident???"

oh yeah...

[gbw]

My 77 GS750 has zero safety features. I was at a buddies the other day getting ready to leave and thumbed the start button in gear with the clutch out. It jumped about 3 feet. Glad nothing was in front of me. I also regularly forget to put the side stand up after I start going. I don't go far before the sound of grinding reminds me.

[courier11sec]

I lost my car keys once and looked for them for a minute or two before I realized they were in my hand!
Tough one to top.
I should never try to do anything before having coffee.

[Griffin]

My 77 GS750 has zero safety features. I was at a buddies the other day getting ready to leave and thumbed the start button in gear with the clutch out. It jumped about 3 feet. Glad nothing was in front of me. I also regularly forget to put the side stand up after I start going. I don't go far before the sound of grinding reminds me.

Be glad if grinding is all that it gets you.

Many years ago, I saw a guy on a Honda 600 Hurricane stopped at a left turn stoplight with his sidestand down. I was in my truck across the intersection waiting to go straight ahead, and began honking, waving, and pointing at his sidestand. I got his attention just before his light turned green, but he didn't understand what I was getting at, so just waved and took off. I watched his rear wheel literally be levered off the ground as he dumped his bike on it's left side hard. I stopped to help him.

He was pretty much ok, but broke a lot of plastic on that bike. He also thanked me for helping him with his bike, and then stated, "Now I know what you were yelling about. I thought you were just being friendly".

[argonsagas]

I keep worrying about forgetfulness, but after I get interrupted by anything I don't recall why I was worried, and the thought just fades away.


I do remember how to start the bike....it was out last week. Not for long, but it felt good!

[four_shot]

Turn the key to on and thumb the button. No go...nothing. Crap! Bad battery? Pull off the seat and pull out the multimeter. Push again nothing not a sound.

I didn't pull in the clutch lever....doh...double doh.

Sure enough, choke on, turn key, pull lever and push button and varoooom!

My excuse when I did that is that this is my first motorcycle!

[spchips]

I got you beat. I once forgot to bring in the clutch, but assumed there was a loose wire, and actually traced the break in the wire back in to the wiring harness. I got to a point, and there were two wires sticking out of the wiring harness. On one side, I had 12 volts, on the other, I had nothing.

Oh, right.

10 stupid points for that one.

[C.V.]

A coouple moths back, my 850 started acting up a bit, just running a little rough. went out to fire her up and go to work one morning, warmed her up, but she would take no throttle. What little revs I got were full of popping and backfires, so i'm thinking I've got a relatively serious issue. A few days later when I have some time, I take a look, and realize that i had propped open the choke that morning, and forgot about it. She runs just fine when the choke is off! Doh!