Heeeeellllp!!!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 7
From: Chicago Area
ok, this might help; might not.
To begin...congrats on your new bike and the safety class was a great idea. With the info you provided, your bike is EFI (fuel injected, not carbed). Also, you have a very low; almost dead battery. This causes wierd stuff to happen.
As example, a few years ago, my battery was too low to start the bike so I tried to push start it. I placed it in nuetral, pushed it up the road kicked it to 1st gear and popped the clutch. The bike started, but when squeazing the clutch, it never disengaged. I could not up shift to 2nd or go back to neutral. I wound up letting the bike lug to a stop and die, then pushed it back to the garage.
With the bike off, i still could not get it to go to neutral. I was thinking that I broke something trying to push start it. I freaked out and was set to have it towed to the shop when it hit to just buy a charger and see what happens. Figured I needed the charger anyway. I bought a trickle charge and plugged it in. A couple hours later, I tried the bike again. This time, I still could not get it in neutral and had to fire the bike in gear. I pushe the bike forward til the from wheel was against the wall of the garage, then hit the started while holding the clutch lever. Thebike fired right up with the back tire chirping as it started to turn. then it stopped spinning. The clutch worked again. I shut the bike down and this time, I was able to put it in neutral.
That is the only time my battery was every that low and the only time it ever acted goofy. Once the battery was charged, the bike was awesome.
SO LONG STORY SHORT, CHARGE YOUR BATTERY AND TRY AGAIN.
To begin...congrats on your new bike and the safety class was a great idea. With the info you provided, your bike is EFI (fuel injected, not carbed). Also, you have a very low; almost dead battery. This causes wierd stuff to happen.
As example, a few years ago, my battery was too low to start the bike so I tried to push start it. I placed it in nuetral, pushed it up the road kicked it to 1st gear and popped the clutch. The bike started, but when squeazing the clutch, it never disengaged. I could not up shift to 2nd or go back to neutral. I wound up letting the bike lug to a stop and die, then pushed it back to the garage.
With the bike off, i still could not get it to go to neutral. I was thinking that I broke something trying to push start it. I freaked out and was set to have it towed to the shop when it hit to just buy a charger and see what happens. Figured I needed the charger anyway. I bought a trickle charge and plugged it in. A couple hours later, I tried the bike again. This time, I still could not get it in neutral and had to fire the bike in gear. I pushe the bike forward til the from wheel was against the wall of the garage, then hit the started while holding the clutch lever. Thebike fired right up with the back tire chirping as it started to turn. then it stopped spinning. The clutch worked again. I shut the bike down and this time, I was able to put it in neutral.
That is the only time my battery was every that low and the only time it ever acted goofy. Once the battery was charged, the bike was awesome.
SO LONG STORY SHORT, CHARGE YOUR BATTERY AND TRY AGAIN.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Your bike is EFI. Lights can come on even if the battery is dead. It has enough power for most of the electrical components, but not enough to start. Check the battery cables (at both ends) and make sure they're tight. If you have a voltmeter it would be a good idea to check the charge of your battery. If not, throw it on a charger and it should be good to go.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Nova
Yeah tomorrow gonna go back to dealer ship and ask them for advice, right now its a paperweight. I just hope they do something about it because I literally havent even ridden the bike and theres problems already. When I was checking the bike today a guy on a motorcycle came in the garage and I ran to him to ask for some type of advice as well and he said it might be the starter solenoid (NO CLUE WHAT THAT IS lol) Any help with giving me a list of things I should buy to do these little maintenance and troubleshooting on my own? So far I got a voltmeter on the list, how about chargers for battery etc...thanks in advance.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah tomorrow gonna go back to dealer ship and ask them for advice, right now its a paperweight. I just hope they do something about it because I literally havent even ridden the bike and theres problems already. When I was checking the bike today a guy on a motorcycle came in the garage and I ran to him to ask for some type of advice as well and he said it might be the starter solenoid (NO CLUE WHAT THAT IS lol) Any help with giving me a list of things I should buy to do these little maintenance and troubleshooting on my own? So far I got a voltmeter on the list, how about chargers for battery etc...thanks in advance.
But yes, it's nice to have a voltmeter, battery charger, battery tender, and some cheap tools.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 7
From: Chicago Area
Yeah tomorrow gonna go back to dealer ship and ask them for advice, right now its a paperweight. I just hope they do something about it because I literally havent even ridden the bike and theres problems already. When I was checking the bike today a guy on a motorcycle came in the garage and I ran to him to ask for some type of advice as well and he said it might be the starter solenoid (NO CLUE WHAT THAT IS lol) Any help with giving me a list of things I should buy to do these little maintenance and troubleshooting on my own? So far I got a voltmeter on the list, how about chargers for battery etc...thanks in advance.
You have been told this bu multiple people trying to help you.....and you still say you don't know what to do so you wanna throw money at the dealer?
BUY A CHARGER. CHARGE YOUR BATTERY. ENJOY YOUR BIKE.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 7
From: Chicago Area
Ok, so another guy on a bike checked yours a
out and sais somerhing about a starter selenoid....
Question for you. Were you still hearing a clicking sound when you tried to start the bike? If your lights were ON and would DIM when you tried to start it AND YOU HEARD THE CLICKING .....YOUR SELENOID IS FINE. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE CLICKING SOUND. It is trying to engage your starter but does not have enough battery power.
CHARGE YOUR BATTERY!!!!!!
out and sais somerhing about a starter selenoid....
Question for you. Were you still hearing a clicking sound when you tried to start the bike? If your lights were ON and would DIM when you tried to start it AND YOU HEARD THE CLICKING .....YOUR SELENOID IS FINE. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE CLICKING SOUND. It is trying to engage your starter but does not have enough battery power.
CHARGE YOUR BATTERY!!!!!!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 12,765
Likes: 1,186
From: Miami, Fl
If your bike is a 2009 Custom then chances are you have an HD factory anti theft device with a proximity (button less) key fob.
Before you end up taking your bike to the dealer check the battery in the key fob.
If you try starting the bike without a working key fob it will start to turn over and then just die. Sounds like you drained your battery too.
Just pry open your key fob thingy and replace the battery (replace once a year). No additional programing is needed.
The same thing happened to me once and it took me 3 Sundays to figure out what the problem was.
Before you end up taking your bike to the dealer check the battery in the key fob.
If you try starting the bike without a working key fob it will start to turn over and then just die. Sounds like you drained your battery too.
Just pry open your key fob thingy and replace the battery (replace once a year). No additional programing is needed.
The same thing happened to me once and it took me 3 Sundays to figure out what the problem was.