Bike Dead. What To Do?

hi all, 

so my bike went dead yesterday upon arrival to work. 

that is to say, that i rode it to work, no problem - started just fine, rode fine etc. 

then i parked it. 

it rained. 

i went out to go for lunch, as it has dried by then, and as i put the key into the ignition, turned to START and nothing happened. 

no dash lights, no headlight, no crank etc. 

checked the battery, reads 12.7 volts.  

jumped the starter solenoid, and it turns over - but wont catch as the key doesn't do anything. No contact. 

I checked all the fuses - all of them were fine - except for the 30A on the VFRNESS that I installed a year ago. 

I replaced that, thinking gingerly that it was the issue - and I was let down.. 

Is there anything else I should be looking at, before i get to sourcing a new lockset... as it seems that the issue is in the key cylinder itself... 

i should mention that the bike had some issues in the past with not getting contact on the first try, and having issues after rain with the same thing.  

any help would be appreciated.. 

thank you! 

check your ignition contacts up front and also on the starter relay. I believe the red wire on the starter relay is your ignition wire.  Make sure all the wires in the starter relay are making contact.

well, its not so much that it wont start - it doesn't give any signs of life! 

key goes into ignition, turn to 'START' and nothing! no lights not anything.. 

i will check the wires you're talking about. 

there are two wires at the bottom of the ignition switch (key cylinder) and both seem to be well attached/soldered on.  

I was able to put a pair of needlenose pliers on the portals of the starter relay, and (after a momentary sparking) the starter is turning the motor over and over, but it won't catch on... as there is no electricity to the sparks.. 

I'm stumped. 

I'm also not looking forward to removing the key cylinder - as it required prety damn near close full teardown of the bike to get at the star nuts at on the under side of the upper yoke.. 

 Key switches are no fun. Done a few. Check all wiring first before going down that road.

this will sound like bullcrap..

 but its possibly your R/R..

i know,i know,i know,i know.... WTF??? :comp13:

 it shorts the ground.. popping the main fuse.

 so check your main again.. is it popped again?

 if not. you can hot wire your bike.

 either have second plug to replace the ig switch block connector. ..or cut the 3 wires ( red ,  red+ black  , blue + orange. and twist them together. all power should come on. :wink:

GL - I just changed the damn RR last season - along with the effin VFRness... 

i thought i had that handled... 

as frustrating as it is, i will have to check all that stuff next week (I'm away this weekend).  

also, you may have to translate the above into language that I can understand -  electrical speak is foreign to me... 

I will spend some time studying the wiring diagram, so that i can get closer to understanding what the hell is going on.. 

thanks again for the input - i will update if i figure out what the hell is going on. 

cheers! 

hmm you dont understand english??? :huh:

 should i make a sign language video with carjackistan interpreters? 

 step 1)  check the main fuse again.. no one cares when you last changed the r/r   as it doesnt matter.

step 2) is the fuse blown??

               a)  it is??? your r/r is toast! kaput! dead! fried ! 

               b ) its still good)  really? wow your ignition switch may be bad. 

step 3)   do you have an extra  connection plug ( with wires) like the one on your bike ?  

             a) yes!  twisther the bare wires together and plug it in...

             b)  no!! cut the wires leading to the ignition switch and strip them bare ,twist together and plug it in.

step 4 )  

 A)  the bike is now hot wires and all power should be on and the bike should run. you have now found the problem is the ignition switch..

 B) bike STILL doesnt run.. its not the ignition switch .. .. :huh:

  let us know!!! :wheel:

:lobby:

grab the  3 wires below.. and chop em!!!

[image: ignwireing_zps11aea9a8.jpg]

Charge  the  battery  and  unplug  the RR  and  see if  the  bike  will  run .

ah yes, gll and his ever gentle ways...gets it done though!

Charge  the  battery  and  unplug  the RR  and  see if  the  bike  will  run .

And  change  the   ignition  switch   ..

haven't had a chance to dig into this issue.. 

had an Architectural exam last week, so that week went by without as much as lifting the cover off the dead steed.. 

this week - all rain all the time here in Toronto.  

For the record gll429 - I speak some English some of the time... but mostly mumble to myself and grunt at people to express annoyance... 

all jokes aside, you've helped a bunch in the past, and i'm sure its not just that you helped me alone... probably helped out a bunch of us.  So, thanks! 

Now, that you've put it on the table, how about that instructional video with subtitles?

:)

I will update as to what I find out early next week. 

cheers! 

What RR will work in this set up?

Once i switched my RR from the epoxy sealed thing, to the mosfat one, what kind (bike model etc) of rr can i use to replace the one that died?

I heard someone talk about late 90's (99 and up) CBR  Rectifier Regulator will work??? is that true?

thanks guys.. 

This BS has cost me a season of riding!!!  faaaahhhhkkkk

If it always happens after rain why not shoot some WaterDisplacement40 into the switch and see what happens before you go snip snip? In any event get a half cover over the bike to protect the switchgear during the rainy season.

so, 

tried everything yesterday. 

unplug the RR. 

nothing

hot wire the bike over the starter solenoid (the two bolts under a little rubber cover just forth and of the battery) - the bike turns over, but nothing more. no lights and not taking.

haven't gone to snipping wires yet... that sort of puts me off.. don't know much electrically.

think i'm just going to buy a new bike and get this one running over the winter!

or alternatively - mothball it until i can get to it and do all the little stuff that I always wanted to do to it... RC51 front end, OHILINS rear suspension, under-tail custom exhaust, frame polish, REMAKE THE EFFIN WIRE HARNESS OUT OF HIGHER GAUGE WIRES (my dad is an electrician, and i'm hoping that he can just remake the thing once i get it off the bike), change the ignition cylinder, polish swing arm, tidy up the rear (hugger with integrated chain guard, and rear brake cable holder), new clutch lines, different clutch slave, shorty levers, bunch of powder coating and painting etc... 

naaaahhh  forget it - doing all that will be more money than buying a BRAND NEW BIKE! 

i think i'm just going to go ahead and buy the 2007 BMW R1200s that I've been looking at, and be done with it!! 

EFFIN ELECTRICAL WORK! 

who wants to buy the VFR?

PS. it now sports a Corbin saddle that I haven't even ridden in yet!!!! 

FML!! 

F U HONDA ELECTRICIANS!!!!! 

so, 
tried everything yesterday. 
 
unplug the RR. 
nothing
 
hot wire the bike over the starter solenoid (the two bolts under a little rubber cover just forth and of the battery) - the bike turns over, but nothing more. no lights and not taking.
 
haven't gone to snipping wires yet... that sort of puts me off.. don't know much electrically.
 
think i'm just going to buy a new bike and get this one running over the winter!
 
or alternatively - mothball it until i can get to it and do all the little stuff that I always wanted to do to it... RC51 front end, OHILINS rear suspension, under-tail custom exhaust, frame polish, REMAKE THE EFFIN WIRE HARNESS OUT OF HIGHER GAUGE WIRES (my dad is an electrician, and i'm hoping that he can just remake the thing once i get it off the bike), change the ignition cylinder, polish swing arm, tidy up the rear (hugger with integrated chain guard, and rear brake cable holder), new clutch lines, different clutch slave, shorty levers, bunch of powder coating and painting etc... 
 
naaaahhh  forget it - doing all that will be more money than buying a BRAND NEW BIKE! 
 
i think i'm just going to go ahead and buy the 2007 BMW R1200s that I've been looking at, and be done with it!! 
 
EFFIN ELECTRICAL WORK! 
 
who wants to buy the VFR?
 
PS. it now sports a Corbin saddle that I haven't even ridden in yet!!!! 
FML!! 
 
F U HONDA ELECTRICIANS!!!!!

Based on the number of people looking for an 8 spoke wheel, you can probably part it out and start with the wheel, lol

All joking aside, sometimes stepping away from it helps. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Delivered ?

Delivered ?

If by that you mean you will deliver yourself with a trailer or tools and time to fix it then trailer it / ride it away. 

You'd have a couch to crash on! 

Delivered ?

If by that you mean you will deliver yourself with a trailer or tools and time to fix it then trailer it / ride it away. 

You'd have a couch to crash on! 

:goofy: