hmmm my bike wont start instantly or consistantly

[timmah256]

hi guys, ive got a funny little electrickery issue with my bike. im not sure whether its something simple such as the switch needing to be pulled apart and cleaned, or if its something a little more complex and a known issue? its a 2006 fz1n and it doesnt always engage when i hit the ignition button, it doesnt struggle to turn over or tick like a flat battery or do anything like that to make the issue apparent...sometimes it just simply doesnt engage. other times it does what it should and engages/starts instantaneously. and if i hold the button in for a few seconds it will eventually start if not instantaneous so theres a bit of a delay being caused by something, somewhere. its annoying more than anything, i just dont want to end up 300ks away from home with a bike that wont start

thoughts?

[Loud]

When you say it "doesn't engage", do you mean the starter motor is spinning but it's not turning the motor over - like a whirring sound?

[edmands_3]

I had a similar problem on one of my bikes, in my case it was the clutch switch sticking. Also check the side stand switch.

[duffman]

Could also be the starter relay.

Multimeter time - check resistance across each of the switches and the relay.

[Retro]

Had the same...but in a 4x4 and my current car. With them it was the starter sticking, with the bike I'd be thinking electricity first rather than a mechanical fault (sticky starter). Check the electricity at the starter as #duffman said. Get someone to help if you need to so you can see what it is at the starter and work your way back through to the switch; check every connection and ground along the way.
It'll be finnicky but a worthwhile exercise.

[Maxo]

if i hold the button in for a few seconds it will eventually start if not instantaneous so theres a bit of a delay being caused by something

Dirty contact?
Tried putting contact cleaner in the switch?

[orazzal]

it doesnt struggle to turn over or tick like a flat battery.

and if i hold the button in for a few seconds it will eventually start if not instantaneous so theres a bit of a delay

If it's spinning, it sounds like the same problem my mate had on his raptor turned out to be a needle clutch (sprag clutch or something like that) that worked with his starter motor pretty common fault he said

Had to pull off the fly to get to it

[timmah256]

nah there is no 'whirring' sound or anything to point to it being a mechanical fault. the best way i can describe it, is that its like hitting the ignition button with the key in the off position...nothing happens, but its an intermittent problem. sometimes itll be normal, other times itll be delayed. i had a new case yesterday where it started cranking, stopped for a split second, and then carried on normally. i havnt sprayed contact cleaner anywhere yet, im not a fan of using it on or near shiny/important plastic lol.

i think the only safety switch i have is the neutral switch, i can start my bike with the kickstand up, and without the clutch lever pulled in