Motorcycle Won't Start? Here's One Thing You Don't Want To Do! | Motorcycles Articles

It’s bound to happen sooner or later. You’re ready to ride, but your motorcycle won’t start. Before you call for help, consider performing a few simple steps on your own. Quite frequently, the cause and the remedy are both very simple.

First, try starting your motorcycle again, but this time pay careful attention to your starting procedure. Are you forgetting that the sidestand has to be up or that the motorcycle must be in neutral to start? Modern motorcycles are equipped with safety lockouts to prevent starting your bike in gear and riding away with the sidestand down. Starting routines become second nature and sometimes even these simple steps are overlooked.

Once you’ve checked the safety lockouts, determine if you are getting power to your starter. Turn your motorcycle on again and press the starter button. Does the starter turn? If yes, does it turn at its normal speed? A slow cranking starter means that the starter is getting power, just not enough to start your motorcycle. If all you get is a clicking noise, there isn’t enough power to activate the starter solenoid. Insure that your battery is fully charged and the cables are clean and tight. No matter how tempted, never jump start a motorcycle with a car! The excessive current can be devastating to a motorcycles’s sensitive electronics. For more information please see my article on motorcycle starting systems.

The next check should be fuel supply. Is there gas in the tank? I can’t count how many times I’ve “fixed” a motorcycle by filling the tank. Don’t just trust the gauge; check the level visually. For those of you with fuel petcocks make sure they are on. If your fuel petcocks are on reserve don’t assume that all of the fuel in the tank is usable. The bottom of the tank is where sediment and water collects. This often doesn’t cause a problem until the tank is almost empty.

If your starter turns normally and you have a full tank of gas your motorcycle should start, right? Not necessarily - so if your bike still doesn’t start, it might be time to call for a tow. Your motorcycle needs the fuel to enter the cylinders and be ignited by a spark at a precise instance for proper combustion. Components that might still be at fault are clogged carburetors or fuel injectors, an inoperable fuel pump, or ignition system. See “Advanced Diagnostics” to find out more.