Bike died whilst riding and won't start - Electrical

[Peterb100]

Hi,
Brand new to the club and back to biking after a 5 year break and already having problems. So, bought my bike home last week without issue around 60 miles of trouble free riding. Spent a bit of time cleaning it up in prep for my first ride-out whilst waiting for new leathers.
First ride, leathers on, bike starts and off I go, half a mile down the road the bike dies, almost as if the kill switch had been flicked. The kill switch hadn't been touched. Tried to restart it and nothing. Turn on ignition and clocks operate, fuel pump does NOT prime and no response at all when start button pressed. Checked side stand switch and I can hear the relay when I depress it, so assume it's working OK. When I flick the kill switch, I hear no relays etc (is this normal?). The CHEC warning comes on, gear selector doesn't show any gears, just a small bar, but I do get the neutral light.
As you can imagine, I am gutted......Any help would be very much appreciated

DL650 AL2 2012

[bosnjo]

Check all the fuses, including main fuse (I can't remember where it's located on Glee). If all are OK, try disconnecting side stand switch and shortening the plug.

[Robotstar5]

Kill switch and sidestand switch are the usual suspects for a "CHEC" message, also check the ignition fuse.

[MartinW]

Hopefully not, but check this out

[Peterb100]

Check all the fuses, including main fuse (I can't remember where it's located on Glee). If all are OK, try disconnecting side stand switch and shortening the plug.

Thanks, I've checked all the fuses and all look good. When it eventually stops raining I will check the side stand. I had a quick look but can't work out where the cable goes to, so I can try the disconnect and short. Any ideas?

[bosnjo]

It should be possible to disconnect it on the switch.

[Peterb100]

I've now checked the side stand switch, traced the wires back and shorted at the connection with still no change. I assume the switch must be OK, but what I didn't do was run a continuity check, I'll do that next time I get a chance, but don't think that will provide any clarity. That said, with the ignition on, I would expect to hear the relay clicking away, but I hear nothing, usual? Any advice on how I check to see if the main handlebar kill switch is at fault?

[crazyhorse]

Hi
Just a thought, try to see if the clutch lever switch is operating correctly.
Cheers
Crazyhorse

[greywolf]

The clutch lever switch is responsible for almost all cases when lights are working and everything else is normal except no crank. It is never the cause of a CHEC abnormality though. As mentioned, the kill switch, side stand switch, ignition fuse or their associated wiring are the usual causes of a CHEC.

[Peterb100]

Good news, got the bike started. However, I still feel there's something dodgy about the wiring. I'd checked the side stand switch did the continuity and all was good. Concentrated then on the handlebar kill switch. Ignition switched to on, I followed the wires and housing, pulling as I went, the bike kicked into life (Fuel pump primed, clocks all reading properly). And all started on the switch. So I guess I've a dodgy connection somewhere in the loom that comes from the handlebar. Any suggestions as to how I can repair (assuming I can find the faulty bit) ?

[Pug27]

Take it apart give it a good clean and a good squirt of electrical contact spary. Could just be a grotty connection

[UK_Vstrom650]

My money is on the connectors behind the radiator being corroded. My bike had intermittent electrical problems and that's where the fault ended up being

[CARL.BRIDGES]

 

Hi I have had several experiences of Lights not working , melted wires , bike stopping etc ! One of the main culprits appears to be the ignition switch which gets dirty inside the sliding section of the switch inside the main switch assembly (Kill switch) side.
This usually manifests itself with lights not working when engine running ! See picture one of items in switch that get dirty !
The other issue on my 2012 V 650 is the corrosion or melting of connections and wires. The connector on left of picture two appears to be main culprit as this is the one where the ignition wire runs . My V 650 had the wiring loom under left hand side of petrol tank rubbing on frame finally wearing through the indicator wire followed by melt down !
5 AA recovery vehicles later back to dealer in Swansea who fixed it by rewiring indicator wire ! Fixed ? Right ! Later V 650 stopped in France on N85 heading north ! see photo 3 ! French dealer who I now know well ran through the whole thing for 5 hours and YES he found the problem see picture 2 !
All is well now ( apart from Hazard warning lights no longer work not an MOT problem ) 1st breakdown in Scotland 5 AA vans later with 12k miles on clock now has 28k miles on it and very happy with it !  Persevere with a really rewarding bike!   

[greywolf]

The ounce of prevention to head off those problems would be headlight relays. It's the headlight draw that over taxes those contacts and connectors. Adding relays makes the wiring more reliable.

Did you mean the start switch rather than the ignition switch? The start button switch in the brake lever side handlebar pod includes a headlight cut out switch as well as the starter motor relay connection. The ignition switch is the one with a key.

[CARL.BRIDGES]

Hi, Yes sorry about that, you're right , the start button switch on brake lever side !
The problem is known but seems to be kept quiet, have spoken to mechanics and they have dealt with the problem several times now. Thanks  Carl.

[greywolf]

Start switch problems and other connector problems are all too often reported. Do the headlight relay installation early and it won't be a worry.