I travel for months at a time on the road. I just bought my bike and when I returned from travel my bike wouldn't start, light up, nothing. I replaced the battery with a new one. Turned the key, everything lit up. Except, after I primed it, I tried starting it...and nothing. Could letting my bike sit for so long have caused this? It's a new bike.

 

Dumb question, but is it in neutral

 

I hate to say it but that is what I was thinking

 

Ok think I will do this one better. Was on a ride this week end with my son who was on his 05 Sporty. He had been having battery problems for awhile and was due a new one. We were headed home, he started it at the ranch, we rode 40 miles stopped for gas, it started fine, we drove a block for coffee came out and it would not start. Battery cranked real low, so I rode up to the Redding HD dealer and bought a new battery. Installed battery, motor cranked like a son of gun but would not start. Fuses all checked out ok, but no spark at plug. Called Redding HD dealer they thought it might be started relay, that didn't make sense to me. We rented a U Haul and brought the bike home (250 miles) then talked to my local dealer this morning. They seem to think the crankshaft position sensor might be the likely culprit. Since that's the cheapest part my son ordered that. Any thoughts on this?

 

Need more info to help you. What model? Carb or EFI? How long since last time it was run? Still under warranty?

 

Not sure on the 05 but the new one is probably the relay - happened to me twice and I now carry a spare in my tool bag.

Water gets past the cover and shorts the relay or rusts out the pins - if you washed it before leaving then I`m sure that is your problem.

Relay part # is 31601-04 and it`s under $10.00 so worth a try - even if this is not your problem this time it will happen to you so having a spare won`t hurt and it`s not expensive.

 

Thanks everyone for all your replies. It was definitely in gear when I tried starting it so I know that's not the issue. As for the crank shift position sensor and relay, is this something I could replace/repair myself? I'm pretty technically inclined, but would rather not bother if it involves removing too many parts.

 

Well if its in gear are you making sure the clutch is pulled in. The bike will start in neutral w/ no clutch or in gear w/ clutch pulled in. Not saying that you don't know this but this exact problem has come up a few times and some of those times it was operator error.

 

To the op, we need more info. Does it turn over? Does it click? when you say lights up, what does? I am agreeing with others, make sure it is in neutral or pull in the clutch all of the way. Then look at the starter relay. If you have power and the starter is not engaging, look at the starter, check the battery cables and make sure the ground is connected good. most of all give us more info!

 

Is the run switch on? Seems dumb but I've seen it more than once.