Bike just stopped starting

Went out for a nice ride yesterday and the bike ran great. Get home and in a hast to open the garage I stalled the bike out thinking I already was in neutral before letting off the clutch and putting down the kick stand. No big deal I think.. Try to start the bike back up to pull in the in... won't crank over. The lights go dim and all I hear is the solenoid clicking and buzzing. At first I thought it was the battery so I put it on the charger over night and still doing the same thing as yesterday. Was very weird because it started fine when I left and every time I stopped at my various locations through out the night. Any ideas or do I take it into the dealer and have them figure it out?

Thanks for the wisdom

Just thinking out loud here...
The bike won't start if the bike is in gear. So maybe by stalling the ECU got 'confused'? Or there's something wrong with the gear position switch? Or the sidestand switch?
Not much help, I know...

Try putting it in gear and rocking it backwards and forwards a few times, starter clutch could have got stuck

Just a wild stab in the dark

What you describe is a dead or dying battery (and possibly a bad rectifier or connection ie, not charging batt in bike).

How old is the battery? If mor than 2-3 years old and not kept on trickle charger when not in use, get new batt. Check rectifier connections and make sure they are tight.

Once batteries get to a certain point they may look as if they are holding a charge after a night on a charger but in reality the cells are hosed.

Do you have the 'soft 32 dat 101' display on the dash when you turn on the ignition?

well i tried the moving the bike back and forth and the result is still the same. it still clicks and such. i haven't tried to battery yet cause it isn't even a year old yet. i left the float charger on it for the past couple days to make sure but i don't know if that's the issue just yet. the bike had always started strong with that battery and its not even trying to crank.
i am not getting any sort of error codes on the screen yet. kinda with there was cause that would at least lead me in a direction. i need to take that bike in for its first service so i guess ill have the dealership look at it under warranty. the whole thing is very weird to me..

You say battery is not even 1 year old...did you put new battery in bike 1 year ago or did you buy the bike 1 year ago? Is the bike an 08? If so the battery is 4 years old.

Could possibly be a loose connection to the starter relay or ground from the battery as well. Check all the connections down stream of the battery.

Good luck..my money is still on the battery.

I'm voting for battery or bad connections from the battery and probably in that order.

I hope that it is only the battery as many have suggested. I need to take the bike in for it's first service anyway so I'll have the dealer tell me what's going on. I bought the bike as a brand new 07 at the end of August last year. I had them put a brand new battery in the bike before I took it because it was sitting around for so long and a tender was on all winter long up until my first ride a short while ago. I'll hopefully have some answers in a day or two.

At least on the bright side if it is the battery i might just have to spring for a new lithium battery

I'm starting to believe that batteries from Yuasa have fallen off the reliable list. It seems that the laste few years have seen a marked failure of reasonably reliable batteries.
Xould they have changed their formula or manufacturing codes?

Unfortunately these days... It's probably both. Hard to find any company thats honest anymore

Most Yuasa batteries have been made in China for some time, they are shipped from Taiwan which gives them a bit more credibility,

A Yuasa battery is no better than any other battery on the market, you are just paying a premium for the name

Hey Buckeye, you get this bike running yet? What's the deal? Big line up at the stealers this time of year I bet.

well i ended up taking the bike into the dealer to let them look at it. it was due for the first service so i had to let them do it to keep that warranty intact. well it turns out they haven't even try to get it started because they were concerned (as i was too) about there being oil in the coolant again. KTM is replacing everything that has to do with the cooling system on the engine to make sure this doesn't happen again. the parts were supposed to arrive this monday so that can be addressed. the service manager only wanted to tackle one thing at a time and didn't want to risk pushing the bad coolant through the engine while trying to start it. i am hoping that its something other then the battery because that should be something else that is fixed under warranty. i swear if i didn't like the bike so much it would be a goner. with only 700 miles on the bike the dealer has had it so far for 4 weeks total time, but KTM has been very adamant about making everything right so i am willing to let them try.

as for the football note... i have very little hopes, as i do ever year, for the browns. the team is so far out of balance. to many mistakes are made that allow everyone to walk all over them. they will probably end up being another stain in the steelers shorts.

I had a wild guess about your cylinder filled up with gas to keep you motor from turning over...gezzz I hope it's not coolent in you jugs....forget I said that...bad idea.....Maybe it a good thing it would not start after all...good luck and please let us know the out come....it helps us all out.

Trying not to be too critical Nitrogeoff this thread reminds me of the guy that rings for an Ambulance because he's got a headache.
The Ambulance eventually arrives (after having stopped off for a burgher) to find that the guy has a bullet hole in his forehead.
He's still conscious so in a moment of weakness the Ambo's say "Why didn't you tell us you'd been shot?" and he says "Oh I didn't think
of that". Then on the way to the hospital the Ambo's explain to him that they are going to stop the bleeding by putting a dressing over
his forehead and he replies "Ah that's good because I'm a Hemophiliac..."

Now looking back over this thread entitled "Bike just stopped starting" there appears to be something missing which I have gleaned
in another thread:

This is a brand new 07 bike purchased in August 2011 from a dealer.
The purchase price was only $US7,000 so it looked like one hell of a deal (half of MSRP). Too good to be true?
As of May 13 2012 it had only done 700 miles so was due for it's first service.
As of May 13 2012 the bike has been back to the dealer twice for unknown warranty jobs (4 weeks in total dealer time).
On May 13 Nitrogeoff drops this little bombshell "they were concerned (as i was too) about there being oil in the coolant AGAIN".
My emphasis on the "AGAIN". What's this? It appears as though this bike hasn't just stopped starting it has a history of things going
wrong (including oil in the coolant) that might be related to being 4 years on the dealers floor or it could be related to anything else
Nitrogeoff hasn't bothered to mention. Perhaps it's not even oil in the coolant it might be it coolant in the oil.

Nitrogeoff I'm going to make one point only - the quality of the responses you get to questions is directly related to the quality of the information
you give to those you are asking for help. Give them shit in you'll get shit back and you've just wasted everyone's time and goodwill.

Personally I hope you get this sorted because oil in the coolant might be a very bad sign so good luck at the dealers.

Oh and BTW the guy with the bullet hole had Diabetes and and an inoperable brain tumour (Apocryphal Story)

For better clarification the bike was in for warranty work after only about 100 miles on the bike because the was a mix of coolant and oil in the radiator and the reservoir. After they had the bike for three weeks going back and for with ktm (the boys at ktm were in Austria for a week leaving my dealer mechanics twiddling their thumbs waiting for consultation on the warranty work) 1st week going through the engine checking compression pressures head, gaskets, etc. 2nd week ktm out of town, can't get anything done, 3rd week ktm says everything was in norm with pressures and gaskets, try replacing water pump seals because the bike SAT FOR FOUR YEARS (as you noted) and see if that works. All this work had to been done under the thumb of what ktm wanted or the dealer was no going to get covered under the warranty work. Well the seals seemed to work and I was off again being able to ride with what i had left of the summer ( now mid sept). On a side note the dealer was baffled that the coolant was not in the oil when they pulled the oil and replaced it during the warranty work. The mechanic also told me that on the first service we will do another coolant flush just to make sure everything is good.

Winter come, bike stored and battery tendered about 650 miles

Riding season starts and I get a chance to go on my first real ride of the summer with my wife and as posted earlier that is what happened as for the bike not starting. So you where asking about where the coolant comes into play, your answer comes into the fact the dealer wanted to do that coolant flush just to make sure everything was still okay from the previous warranty work and found a small amount of oil in the system again and no coolant in the oil itself which everyone finds very odd. Ktm has requested that the entire water pump system be replaced to make sure that nothing of this sorts happens again. Now no one is sure that the bikke sitting for that long has anything to do with the problems as hand but logic would dictate that it would be a likely cause. We shall see once all is right.

I hope this clarifies everything and as for the coolant issue, I had once posted in about August of last year about the issue with my bike the the chocolate milk that made up the coolant system looking for the collective wisdom of veteran owners of the bike to help me find some answers while waiting for some for the dealer. Some did post about the water seals which is why i love this forum because everyone seems to love to help. And as one topic is seeming to flowing into another, I does raise some concerns the volidady on the sturdiness and its over all resale value of the bike to me. It does raise some doubts but I am trying to keep an open mind in the fact it did sit so long. This is why I noted it in another thread about me having the bike after it was sitting for four years brand new collecting dust. Ktm does seem to be doing a bang up job about trying to make things right by their product but I just hope that everything stays well so I don't have to be making another trip to the dealer.

As for the bike not starting, everything is still unsure as to the root cause of this problem but hopefully it can be sorted out this week which I plan to post once I found out. I think it might be a nice addition to the collective wisdom to those who made suggestions about a possible resolve so that if anyone else has a similar problem we can get them the answers they are looking for.

Drove my Saab to work this Monday cause of the weather. Had a tail gater so used the turbo. No more tail gater. Got to work and turned the motor off and sounded strange. Had to get a security pass and fired the motor again ...steam from the exhaust...then it quit, the steam that is. Parked the car for the day...returned at beer 30...turned the key...car motor shook to beat hell. WTF Try it again...same shake...shit...Got a ride home..scratched head for a plan...returned for work next day on SD....removed all spark plugs...hit the key...garden hose blast of water shot out from number one cylinder, but no motor shake....cool...no broken cam chain....., just a blown head gasket.....today, same drill with removing sparky plugs,,,hit key ..little moisture out of number one again...button it up..remove rad cap and drove off to my Saab wrench man...liquid does not compress easy......Good timing with my tax refund.

well for those that have been following with why my bike stopped starting, well the jury is still out on it. the dealer still hasnt even looked at that yet. they are still trying to sort out the water pump issue. i guess the root cause had nothing to do with the fact the bike sat for so long. apparently as it was explained to me over the phone, the bearing that is in the case and supports the water pump was not installed correctly from the factory. i guess it was not pressed into the case properly or something along those lines. well they got most of the parts but a gasket that is now on back order from ktm. my dealer is looking all across the country trying to find one to try and get the bike back together so they can even try to start it. now we are approaching week four for the bike at the dealership and its still not in my garage getting ready to ride on one of the most amazing holiday weekends. very upsetting.

well my faith is starting to fail.. on the verge of finding something else to ride instead of this thing. i have had this bike for a total 8 months since buying it. and its been at the dealer for about almost 2 of them... what to do... what to think...

Hate to say it but you should have listened to the collective wisdom on this site. Most of us have been through the same or similar stuff you're going through so we pretty much know what needs sorting on the bike and more importantly...how to sort it.

You've lost four weeks listening to a dealer that has been giving you the run around. Your ridng season is a short one there in Ohio as well so I feel for you. I think your bike is still under warranty so I understand why you went the dealer route but as you'll read in several posts throughout this forum...the dealers are shit and pretty much know nothing about this bike.

You could have had your bike back up and running in less than a week (parts delivery mostly). You need a waterpump kit (which is stocked by KTM Twins) and a new battery. That's it from what you've stated. Both can be installed in 1/2 day.

Good luck with the dealer and I hope you get your bike back in time to enjoy some of the riding season.

Can't comment on the particular dealer in Cleveland but can make the observation that the dealers and the KTM network are
excellent in my neck of the woods. Any parts I have ordered have usually turned up overnight so I'm at a loss to explain
why getting a gasket is taking so long in your area - in the US delivery for everything is usually so much better than here in Oz.
Even stuff that comes from Austria usually only takes a week.

The water pump itself - didn't you say that this is the second time this has happened?
Did the dealer replace it once before or simply have a look and say "Can't see anything wrong"?

Look I've had dealings with many dealers and mechanics over my lifetime and the reality is that the quality can wax and
wane. The quality can change. If seen hopeless mechanics go from one well know brand over to another therefore the
problems will follow the person not the marque. The reverse also holds. If you are mechanically apt it is a bonus to be able
to do your own work because the quality is usually pretty high (unless you foul up - which is not unknown ) but
if you are not I always find it is usefully to try to establish a chatting relationship with the person doing the work.

I've found that a simple question like "So what do you think is going on here?" can tell you a lot about a person's abilities.
I like the ones that say things like "Well I've go two main theories. First if I find ... then if not ... but I'll also check...".

Having said all this about the mechanic I guess I also have to admit that like everything the management sets the tone for
an organisation. If your dealership is one that has a "Just sell um and kiss them goodbye" then find another dealer or find
another marque.

Good luck.

Geoff - how about a nice reliable Ducati?

Can see where you are coming from and I guess you could trade it in on a Ducati. What do you think you'd get as a trade in? If it isn't much
then you could look at things from a different perspective. One question, given that you only paid $US7,000 for the bike, is why you are
worrying about warrantee? I've got a bike that is my "thrasher". I brought it at a damaged vehicle auction fixed it up and ended up paying about
as much as you for an old bike. So the difference is that yours sounds like it needs a little bit of sorting whereas I had to take a major chance
on bent gearbox drive, frame, Etc. None of this affects you because yours is straight. So really, given how much you paid for this bike you
could take a chance and just fix it yourself or get somebody else who is a decent mechanic. To hell with the warrantee.

Don't despair - worst things happen at sea ....

Here's some of that damage.



And here's the thrasher at the front. You'll notice the green sticker on the tank. It was a repairable write-off so I had to take it back to
original hence the exhaust and mismatched wheels - had to prove I'd actually brought a wheel etc.

Well Nitro...
My little story is not so bad...
Bought my bike in '09...Mind you I paid full price for it too..
($14K)...
On top..I paid for the 5 year warrantee...I was totally jazzed..!!!
Never bought ANYTHING brand spanking new in my life...
After 6 months..Just riding a bit here n there..I noticed a fuel leak...
Took it back to the stealer..(Appropriate name btw)
I called after a week...
"Oh yes..We've ordered parts and they should be in next week..."
Cool..3 weeks later I get my bike back..Smiles and ready to hit
the streets again..
After a month..I noticed..Shit..It's leaking fuel again.!!!!
Call the stealer..Yes sir..!!! Bring it in and we will take care of it for you..
Another 3 weeks and I get it back again...All within 1500mi. of ownership...
I ride it for a short while again...Then I notice...Shit..!!!!!
Another fn fuel leak.!!!!! This time I had taken it out for a banai run...
and notice a speed wabble..A slight high speed shimmy...Nothing swapping ends or anything..
But a return 100mph run gives me the same shimmy...So I think..Ok..
Run it back to the stealer...This time I put a little leak detect in the tank and
checked it out myself...The hose to the quick dissconnect was weaping and also it was leaking past
the fuel pump bolts...Crap...So I tell the stealer..I know..where it's leaking this time
myself!!!...and to add the high speed shimmy on top..I'm too fn happy.!!!!
How long this time gents.??? I ask..We will let you know sir...
Guess what...3 fn months later...!!! I get my bike back from the shop...
I ask..what good is my 5 year warrantee.?? They said.."You'd be surprised what it will do"...
I had one other issue since then...My fault...BUT...I have done so many things now being
pro active with this site..and realizing if I want it fixed right...I should do it myself..and not rely
on the stealer alone..Hell..I'm a mechanic by trade!!!...
Since then...I've learned a whole lot..
Yes..the warrantee will come in handy..As long as I don't screw myself...But I will say...
That was the begining of ownership...I ride it more and more...and take pride in the fact
that I own one of the best handling bikes out there...I don't think I'd sell it or trade it
for anything else..I WOULD...buy another bike...In addition to what I own...
I love my superduke ...IF...you take a little time and learn a few things
from this site..As stated...We've ALL been through one thing or another with our rides...
The reasons your stated wouldn't tell me ANY Ducati would be a wiser purchase...
BUT..it you want the EXCUSE to buy one...Then we all can make excuses...The choice is yours
bro...Just think of all the fun you will be missing...Everyone has seen a Ducati at the Rock Store
or out on the road...BUT people everywhere come up and say..wow..!! Thats a Superduke isn't it.???!!!
Or..What IS that bitchin bike you're riding.???
Keep the bike bro...Fix it..read here.get some workshop manuals..and ride the tyres off it..
Like you stole it..!!!

i like to think of myself as mechanical savey, i am not a mechanic by trade but i do pretty much all my own work on my vehicles and my old bikes typically. i had an old honda cbr that decided to eject a spark plug and took all the threads in the head out with it. with the help of the shop manual i was able to get the head off and put a new helical insert in to repair the bike and ran like a raped ape after that.

i really love this site because its full of knowledge and helpful people that can help anyone that can turn a wrench become a master mechanic of their bike. i dont really know how good the mechanics are at my dealership. there is really only one from my understanding the is a "vtwin ktm/ducati master technician" but for all i know he is full of poop. i do love the bike but situations like this i think can out anyone at odds. especially if said person is a new owner. being that i have never owned an exotic motorcycle before i may be a bit leery and overly cautious about what it decide to do with the bike because i dont know what to expect. i am all around confused

i just wanna ride!!!

Once you've sorted out these first few niggles you'll be laughing fella.

Stick with it.

well the wait is finally over, i road the bike home today. its taken almost four weeks but i have to say it is running great, i mean better then it ever has. the entire cooling system has been replaced. everything except the radiator. the list of parts was half a page long. the battery was the culprit for why the bike stopped starting too so i had it replaced with a shorai lithium battery so there should be no more problems for awhile. valves checked and oil changed. after all my issues the service manager discounted my service bill enough that the battery was free. the dealership really seemed to pull it together for me and i have to say, after riding the bike again it really makes me change my mind about the bike. i think that it will have to stay in the garage for awhile... as long as she dont give me no more grief

Great news! And was the water pump seal shagged?

The saga continues. You are not niave enough to believe its all wheelies and burnouts till the day comes you trade it in on SD's 2014 model upgrade?
Some items that are high maintenance reward your forgiving and giving nature, The SD is not one of them. Time to by a motomanfacturing stand, she'll u
be up on it in less than two weeks.
Praytell I'm wrong.

The main cause was the bearing in the case was not pressed in properly from the factory. They had to replace the clutch cover and installed a new bearing, water pump and everything along with it.

Yah so far so good. In my research through the forum I haven't noticed anyone else having this issue so maybe it was a fluke but maybe something worth noting if anyone else has similar issues

Good to hear it's running...now get out there and ride it!

+1 ..!!!!
THis is NOW behind you..
Let the smiling begin...
You will soon be a very happy S.D. owner..
I do think many of us have had some sort
of issue in the begining..
They get sorted and the love affair grows...

well my bike still starts but the oil in the coolant is back again. it has taken only 400 and its back in the shop again. wonder what ktm is going to pull out of their butt this time. hope they plan on buying it back!!

Could be residual oil in the engines coolant passages that was not flushed out before the repair.

Dupped