Alright, before you tell me to search the forums here, I already have. Couldnt get anything going off that.

EDIT: Would probably help to know what kind of bike it is, eh? 2005 GS500F with almost 9,000 miles.

So here's the problem:
Was riding my bike all day yesterday, no issues. Today, I tried to start it up and go for a ride, but when I hit the starter button, nothing happened. No click, no noise, nothing.
What you need to know:

• The lights all work: Blinkers, headlight, rear brake, neutral, oil light
• Tried doing it at both power switch settings
• Kickstand is up
• Bike is in neutral
• First time this has happened

It WAS sitting over the winter, but I did put a new battery in it last october (2012) so it seems unlikely itd be the battery. Rode it yesterday, started it 4 times yesterday with no issues.

Is it a problem with the starter? it seems like it would click at least... I dont know what else to check. Is there a fuse for the starter that could have blown?

I'm just real frustrated. I just got my title fixed yesterday and wanna ride, but now this. Somebody, anybody, help!!

In other news, Id like to buy a belly pan, if anyone has one for sale. also one of those nifty GS500 chain guards. But mostly i need help with getting the bike to start. 

I want to say it's your starter relay.

There's only one fuse on the entire bike, so it's good. It could be a broken kill switch as well......but most likely your relay. Do you have a multimeter?

Clutch safety switch?
Is the clutch pulled in? The safety switch is in series with the starter button.

mmmm .. i'll put a coin on clutch switch too ...

gave my bike a real quick rub down with fresh water and soft cloth other day to get the dust off... must have bumped the little plug/wires bit for the clutch switch... bike had been running 5 mins before...

went to start it again and .. zippo!! ... hmmm think think think... look.... wiggle wires/plug..... hit starter ... brrrm brrrm!! .. sometimes the contact can be just a tiny bit sketchy and thats enough for no go!! 

Thanks folks, its too dark now to get anything done, but tomorrow I'll check these out and let you know if that fixes it. I just dont wanna pay to get the thing fixed if its something simple i can do on my own. in the meantime, I have a pic of "Bloo"... my bike. 

looks nice!! ... 

that left side bar end weight is pretty bent though!!... (thwap!!) ... sort that out young man!! 

Retarded previous owner did that. Said it made it easier to turn at low speeds. I have some new grips I'm gonna put on and take them off entirely. Unless I can find some cool blue anodized steel ones...

Both sides are like that. I took one of the ends off, and tried to put on the grip (fail) and then when i tried to put it back on, it wouldnt go on correctly. Now it sort of just.. wobbles around. So, I'm gonna take em off entirely and toss on some (of course) blue and black grips.

I like blue stuff.

lol... easier at low speeds... hmm... interesting.... 

if you change the bar end weights to alloy/aluminium ones... you may get slightly more vibration at some engine speeds... i did.. and dont over tighten them .. a: it negates the effectiveness a little... and b: most of the cheaper ones have bolts made out of cheese so you might overtorque the allen key head and f..k it! 

Woohoo! Starter relay, more specifically the clutch switch. Wasnt a problem with the actual mechanism though... while pulling the cover off the bike, I must have snagged it and loosened it about 2mm. Walked outside, pushed it in a bit, heard a click, and said "Hey, what the hell, maybe that was it." Started her up, and vroom! Thank you guys so much!!! The people over at my local shop told me that they were gonna replace the starter. The bike has less than 10k miles on it, so this didnt make sense to me. Id have dropped 300 bucks at least on service and parts if i didnt know to simply push in a cable. You guys freakin rock. one  sticker for you.

Glad to hear it was something simple. I had a similar issue until two days ago. I replaced the fuse on the relay, removed it and cleaned it and replaced it and she turned over. But that wasnt the end of my problems. I also had to clean the carbs and sync everything up.

Wouldnt hurt to give the carbs a good scrub just to know you did. Especially since you said it sat all winter

Quote from: Janx101 on April 25, 2013, 11:46:45 PM
lol... easier at low speeds... hmm... interesting.... 

if you change the bar end weights to alloy/aluminium ones... you may get slightly more vibration at some engine speeds... i did.. and dont over tighten them .. a: it negates the effectiveness a little... and b: most of the cheaper ones have bolts made out of cheese so you might overtorque the allen key head and f..k it! 

Wait a second, those things actually have a purpose? Can you please explain? You said it negates the effectiveness.. er, what do they do?

Errr the precise science of it evades me... But the rubber stopper/wedge thing inside .. Should be firm enough to prevent removal or falling out .. But not super tight...

The bar end weights themselves... As I understand it the affect the vibrations in the bars by altering the 'tuned length' and or they vibrate so the bars don't have to? ... I think... One of the older riders may have come across a clearer explanation and can provide it...

But yeah they are not just there as decoration... Or to stick out and get caught on stuff ... Or as a slider ... Their purpose is to DAMPEN the vibrations/buzzing in the bars .... My alloy ones still do that job a little but not as much as originals ... But overall I can tolerate the difference...

Now just wait a little bit till one of the other clownsters (like me a lot of the time) ... Notice this.... Then we will have .. 'Milk in the bars, ball bearings in the bars, filled silicone bars" etc etc etc

Easiest way to find out the difference is to actually experiment with different ones or remove what you have now and feel for changes....