I have a 97'RKI and today I started to ride and the following happened. First off, It had been cracked every week and today I did the same and allowed the proper warm up time, climbed on, left the driveway and started down the road. After a blocked it died and will not start. Just like it ran out if gas. It goes thru the injected start cycle but will not start? The only things I have done over the winter was to add an XM radio, which is fused and I put some chrome wire covers on the spark plug wires. But it ran and idled forever before it died? Thanks

 

You sound the perfect candidate for the injector replacement. I would see your dealership and have them check into this.

 

Sorry I didn't focus on the fact you have a 97.

 

This is a 97. Your injectors are fine. Sounds electrical. I'm sure you will get some good suggestions here.

 

When you say it doesn't start, do you mean crank or it cranks and doesn't start? First step

 

It did crank and warmed up, then when I started out, it died. Last night, after sitting the afternoon, it cranked again and I rode it up and down the road and then it just died again just like the power was turned off.

 

try the kill switch.....jim

 

Two things come to mind, first is the battery terminals, remove them clean them and replace them. Use a wire brush or sandpaper to do it. Second is a bad main breaker, depending on the year, there was a recall to increase the size of the main breaker on some models. They can also go bad and require replacement too. Ween it goes dead, try to locate the breaker and jump the two terminals with a piece of heavy wire and see if it comes back to life. You can also suspect the connections on the back of the ignition switch for being corroded or loose too.

 

I did check the battery connections to they are ok. Over the weeknd it did the same thing a number of times as far as it would crack, run and ride for a few minutes and then die. Later after sitting, it would crack again. I will check the ignition connections tonight. Where would the main breaker be located? Thanks

 

You can find the location in the manual, usually under the side cover on that bike.

Also from what you say here, I would not rule out fuel contamination either. It would build up on the outlet screen in the tank and choke the engine for fuel. Best bet is to see when it happens if you have spark at the plugs or not and go from there.

I hope you REMOVED them and cleaned them, not just checked them. The problem with them can't be "seen". It is just a bad connection.