bike won't start -- not covered in the wiki

[sticks]

when i go to start my bike, i get one single click. not repeated clicking, as i would with a dead battery. the battery is fully charged (as near as i can tell anyways), the killswitch is set to "on", the oil and neutral lights are one, but when i turn the key i just get one single loud click per press of the starter button.

any ideas? 

edit: just tried it again (im in the garage right now) and i get one click when i press on the starter button, and another when i release it.

[jrains89]

you in gear? the kickstand down?

[joshr08]

do all lights go out when you get the click?

[sticks]

in neutral, kickstand up

lights stay on, and don't even flicker

[joshr08]

well that kinda rules out bad ground if your lights dont go out.   have you tryed to push start it?

[sticks]

haven't tried push starting it yet, no, i have bad experience doing that...


and after more investigation, the clicking is coming from what is apparently the starter relay

part 1A here:
http://www.mrcycles.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=92733&category=Motorcycles&make=Suzuki&year=1994&fveh=2103

and the fuse in there is still good.

[joshr08]

to me it kinda sounds like your starter is locked up. 

[sticks]

is there anything i can do to un-lock it? or do i have to spring the dough for a new one?

[joshr08]

im not sure that thats your problem it just sounds like it to me.  the click your hearing is the stater relay getting power to turn over the stater.  if you have a meter you should check to see if your getting power past the relay it may have crapped out on you.

[sticks]

i'm an electrical noob, what kind of meter? ohmmeter?

[simoniz]

If the starter is stuck, sometimes a sharp tap with a hammer on it can free it up - seriously.

[jetboy287]

any kind of volt meter or even a test light

[joshr08]

yes what jet said thanks guys i been watching the hockey game with the wife. check and see when you hit the start button if your getting power to the starter. 

[fred]

I'm going to go with dead battery. Push start it, drive to somewhere that can test your battery and probably buy a new battery. The battery can be too low to start the bike but still have plenty of power to keep the lights on and activate the solenoid. Start with the simple stuff first and make sure your battery is good.

[dchrist]

one loud click instead of the repeated clicks can be a bad side stand relay. the ground on my side stand sensor went and I had that same symptom. I bypassed it and no more problem except now the bike can start in gear with the kickstand down which is a 

anyway. that was my issue

[The Buddha]

All these guys are saying good courses of investigation. I only would add ... remove the plugs and put it in gear and turn the rear wheel by hand - yes put it in 6th gear.
If you dont have gas squirt from the chamber, you dont have hydrolock - that is good.
Cool.
Buddha.