Hello everyone,
I went for a ride the other day and when I pushed the starter button it started to turn over once or twice then a loud metal clank happened!  I stopped then tried again and started right up, I think this happened earlier this year, whats causing this and what can I do to stop it before it gets worse.  Its a 1992 with 11,000 miles on it.  Thanks for looking!

Typically, a "bang" or "clank" with a starter is a bendix that is not engaging or staying engaged properly.  Can be caused by a couple of things:
    1)  If starter is not getting enough amperage, the bendix can disengage or slip.  Check wire from battery to starter for corrosion or loose connection.
    2)  Starter may just be wearing out with 11,000 miles on the bike if the starter has been used a lot.

Ggggggoooooooaaaaatttttttttttssss ... the buddha version. Ignore it and you'd be fishing slivers of magnets out of your bearings for years. Goat had to do that.
I got a bit lucky, the motor survived the million bits of magnets cos mostlt they clung to the oil pickup screen.
Cool.
Buddha.

I don't think the GS has a Bendix.

Yeah, search for goats. Grain fed. Two years old or older. Spotted of you can find 'em.

In case it's not clear what these goons are  talking about, there is a failure that has come to be called "Goat's Syndrome" on this forum because of what happened to user named Goat. Do a search for the thread and you can read what they're talking about.

this can also be indicative of a dying battery

i have had a few that ONLY made this noise when the battery was close to being done. its the same issue, but a non issue if you have a fresh battery sometimes.

Quote from: cd on April 15, 2011, 02:57:26 PM
this can also be indicative of a dying battery

i have had a few that ONLY made this noise when the battery was close to being done. its the same issue, but a non issue if you have a fresh battery sometimes.

+1 Mine did this when the battery was on the way out.

So Goats is when the epoxy comes off the magnets or is it the starter gear wearing?  How can I tell if its the battery or Goats?  The battery is an interstate brand that is 2-3 yrs old, I think its charged completly since I keep a 2 amp charger on it when its gonna sit for a period of time.  The clank only happens once then starts fine, what do I do to check it and correct it?  Should i take out the starter to inspect?  Thanks for the feedback!

Take the battery to a battery place and ask them to Test it.

The age of a battery is no indication it is fine. A new battery can be toast after a week or last many years.

Michael

Or jump start the bike off a car or another battery and if it starts fine it could be an indication your battery is on the way out.