Alright guys. I am in a huge bind. I have a stock 1998 1200xl that will not start. I have very little knowledge with bikes but know some. I changed the battery, cables, spark plug, spark wires, ignition coil. It will try to start but doesnt not start. I will sit there and try for a long time and then it will turn over. I have rode it long period and short period of times while this does that. when i go to turn it off it will start doing that all over again. When i do this it will back fire and smoke will come from the carb. After I saw that I checked to see if it was getting gas and when i turn the throttle it squirts gas into the motor. I do not know where to go from here and do not want to take it to a shop because i have called around and have got different answers and really seem like they do not know. If any one of you guys have run into this problem could you please help me or give me some reasonable tips to fix this. I am missing riding it and it is very depressing. thanks

 

Got gas and air mix, got spark, she'll fire. Ur missin one or more.

The shop willl find the problem, but can't do it without the bike. If ya give up, bring it to em. Have plenty of money ready to get it out though.

Suppose you checked the spark, right?

Course if it wont turn over that's different. If thestarter relay is working, you will hear it clunk. So if it wont turn over then, either starter is bad or the wire to the starter has a bad connection. This happens alot on Sportsters.

Also the battery ground connection can be bad.