'01 750 won't start. Please help.

[The Bearded Duc]

Came home from a week (7 days) vacation to find that my bike won't start. Rode it up until the day before I left and everything was fine. I put the key in the ignition turned it to the "on" position and pushed the starter, nothing. Not a sound.

Thought it might be the battery, even though all of the lights worked. So I bought a new one. Just installed the new battery and the same thing happened. Not even a cough, a click, or a make the beast with two backs off.

What else should I check?

[Howie]

Step 1
  Yes, this does happen to all of us.  Make sure the kill switch is in run position.

Step 2
  Is the bike in neutral?

Step 3
  Remove seat.  Does the small relay click?

Step 4
  Does the bike turn over if you bypass the solenoid?  This is done by locating the solenoid, and with heavy gauge wire connecting the two large connectors.  The starter should turn.  Make sure the bike is in neutral.  While you are there, check that the white connector with the two small wires are clean and tight.  You should also get voltage to the red/blue wire when you hit the starter button


Report back with your findings and give us an idea what tools (meter, test light) and knowledge you have and we can walk you through the rest, if needed.

[The Bearded Duc]

Step 1
  Yes, this does happen to all of us.  Make sure the kill switch is in run position.

Well.....my reaffirmation today is that, yes, I am that stupid. Everything's running great now. Thanks for getting back to me howie.