Bike won't start

[stubabe]

I rode my bike home from work yesterday and of course it started fine before I left. Today I tried to start it and nothing! I had it on the battery tender all night and it indicated a full charge but outside of dash lights I got no response from my bike. Any ideas?

[Avidrider62]

Starter solenoid? Load test the battery. Also, place a DC meter after charging and see if you have close to or over 13 volts.

[Highway Rider]

Have you tried to start it in neutral, as that will bypass the safety switches. There is one on the clutch and one on the side stand which are activated by a switch on the gear shiftier. So when it is in gear it wont start unless the clutch is pulled in. This happened to me, had the clutch pulled in and nothing. Put it in neutral and it started. It will also kill the engine if the side stand is down and in gear and you start to let the clutch out. Also I'm sure you checked this but make sure the kill switch is on. Just a place to start.

[Me Again]

there are a number of things that can cause that problem.
first is simply a bad battery,
One other place to look is the alternator ground.I hope someone that really knows can help with checking it out.
another place to look is the wire harness near the ignition switch.Again there are easy fixes ,but I'll let the pros to help you out on that.

[stubabe]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I really appreciate them. However I was really embarrassed to learn that my real problem was the red run/off switch on the right handlebar. I was relieved to learn that was the problem but embarrassed because I had asked for help without doing some additional trouble. Again, thanks for all of your tips.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Hey Stubabe, I would be comfortable in saying that nearly everyone has done that at one time or another. I have and it is embarrassing, especially when your wife is standing there wondering why you haven't had her mount the bike yet and why isn't the bike running yet. Then after that quick onset of panic you happen to see it or remember it and all is good.
No Worries, those are the problems we love to have cause they give us a chance to laugh at ourselves!

[Mr Jensee]

Been there, done that. More than once.

[chicagorandy]

Even more 'jolly chuckles' when I did it with my Ural hack rig, at a traffic light, engine of course died, I had to push the beastie out of the way of others, and only THEN noticed I'd hit the switch in error.

Glad there were no mechanical issues to resolve for you.

We have ALL been there and empathize.

[FBT]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I really appreciate them. However I was really embarrassed to learn that my real problem was the red run/off switch on the right handlebar. I was relieved to learn that was the problem but embarrassed because I had asked for help without doing some additional trouble. Again, thanks for all of your tips.

I was getting ready to ask if you might have switched it off. Don't be embarrassed. I was a new Voyager owner on a ride with some friends. I went to start my bike after we stopped for lunch, and it did the same thing. I sat in a parking lot in Daytona thinking my bike was dead for several minutes before my buddy walked over to see what was wrong, hit the toggle, and walked away. It happens. Since that time, I check that every time I go to start the bike.

[cushman eagle]

I have done that,and---gotten off my VXII with the kickstand up. I had to look to see if anyone saw me,don't hink they did.

[Ozymandias]

In case of trouble, think FINK: Fuel, Ignition switch, Neutral, Killswitch