Bike randomly doesn't crank

[Alekc]

So here is the deal:

I have a DL650 late 2015 which is not used right now (actually selling it but that's another story). Bike is stored in underground garage, so the weather conditions are good. I noticed that sometimes (a lot), when I switch it on, I can't crank it at all.

So switch on the ignition, gear in neutral, hear pump going on. When I press the starter button, lights go down, there is a click on relay, but nothing happens. If I move the bike a bit and/or fully open trottle couple of times, at some point it will start. Note, as soon as it starts cranking it switches on without any hesitation, also it will switch on without any issue if I switch it off.

In the beginning I thought it was a weak battery, but after fully charging it the issue persists. Any idea?

[hotbulb]

Have you checked ... loosened, cleaned, retightened, all the starter cabling ....battery +ve to solenoid, solenoid to starter, battery -ve to frame earth point?  (Or possibly sticky starter motor brushes)

[Alekc]

Hopefully it's not sticky brushes :/
I will try to see cabling, it might be that actually (my symptoms are the same as on this video )

[greywolf]

The clutch lever switch is the usual culprit. Starter motor problems can be involved but they will be very rare on a bike that new.

[Valves]

Agree on clutch lever switch - clean the contacts and check you can hear it 'click' when the clutch lever is pulled in. I have cleaned mine and sleeved the contacts as they are quite exposed.

[hotbulb]

Ah yes.... I'd forgotten Mr Suzuki's little clutch switch foible!

[Flanners]

Yes I enjoyed stripping down the starter button assembly twice to try and fix my non starting issue last year only to find it was the fault of a new CNC clutch lever that wasn't making contact with the switch!

[Hugh Mungus]

Ah yes.... I'd forgotten Mr Suzuki's little clutch switch foible!

Not just restricted to Suzuki's. It's a problem on most makes.

[Birbal]

I made a jumper that I fitted on top of the connector to the clutch switch shorting those wires (looking like the switch is on all the time). I just can't be bother to always  hold the clutch lever when starting the bike. So I guess a good check to see if is the clutch switch, just disconnect the cable and short those wires.

[greywolf]

That is likely to cause trouble in K7 and later 650s as well as L4 and later 1000s as they use the clutch switch position for emissions control information. They will tend to die at idle if the switch is bypassed.

[ziggy]

Birbal I have heard that the engine runs in a different programme when the switch is shorted out.

[Birbal]

I have shorted the switch on a K5 and now my current L3 and there were no issues. Anyway I have suggested just for a test to confirm if is the clutch switch or not. 

[greywolf]

It's a good test of the switch all right. Plenty of people who have bypassed the switch on later models have experienced low idle speeds and dying at idle.