GUEST? Registration opens up many more resources which are not available to guests. Registration is free, we never sell or give others access to your information.
Posted by harley
- September 16, 2011, 23:24:02 PMim just living w the problem all i have to do is pull the clutch lever hit the starter switch i can even let the clutch lever go right away and it will stay cranking till it starts w the clutch disengaged ?just needs the bump of the clutch switch?
Posted by Troll
- June 13, 2011, 20:52:10 PMI have 8 Suzukis for the students and one of my Coaches has a fleet of BMWs....
Posted by chief
- June 13, 2011, 19:45:47 PMHaven't ridden either Suzuki or BMW in a VERY long time...
Posted by Troll
- June 13, 2011, 14:30:04 PMSuzukis require the clutch to be in, no matter what the gear, or stand position... catches at least 1 student in EVERY class. Personally, I think it's a dumb idea, but it's big brotherism. Did you know that BMW went even further? You can't leave it running on the side stand to let it warm up...'course, they have such crappy side stands, I probably wouldn't let mine sit like that, either....
Posted by chief
- June 13, 2011, 13:13:10 PMLet's be clear...
The Drifter (all years) can be started in neutral with the stand down. Look at the starting instructions in your owner's manual. (I have never ridden a bike that could not be started in neutral without clutch depressed.)
If you cannot start without the clutch lever depressed, you have a problem.
There are 3 switches which work together... kickstand, clutch and neutral... the clutch over rides the rest.
I know some vulcan models had bad neutral switches - might have carried over into Drifters.
The lever switch has caused a lot of problems as well... unplug and clean it... just as a precaution.
Posted by Varooom
- June 12, 2011, 08:04:02 AMMy 2005 works the same as my 1999 (1500) and my Ninja 250: All start in neutral or in any gear with the clutch disengaged.
Varooom
Posted by alamogeorge
- May 18, 2011, 13:09:05 PMUnless I'm missing something...
My 2005 MUST have the clutch in to start the bike regardless if it is neutral or not (As long as it's on the kickstand. Haven't tried it without)
I adjusted the heel toe shifter this weekend and noticed that it would only shift between first and neutral whether the bike was on or off until I got going.
Posted by Troll
- January 12, 2011, 16:15:34 PMThis is a fairly complicated circuit. I looked at my service manual, and I think the problem might be the starter lock out switch. I have an '01, so there might be a different name for it on the '99. As far as not being able to get to 2nd gear with the bike not moving, this is the positive neutral finder doing it's job. One might wonder why you'd need to get to 2nd with the engine not running, but we had an incident this past summer with one of our ninja training bikes, (key left on over night) and it sure would have been nice to be able to shift into second, or third, to bump start it with an almost dead battery....The side stand switch cuts the ignition if the stand is deployed while in gear, and the lock out switch keeps the starter from turning if the trans is in gear with the engine running. It's bypassed by the clutch switch, but the charging system has an input into the circuit to prevent the starter from running if the engine is. This saves on starter and starter drive components. Saved me more than once while I was making the transition from H-Ds to the Kaw....(hint, H-Ds have a turn signal switch on each side, so canceling the right signal.......) 
Posted by chief
- January 12, 2011, 14:04:41 PMBike should start in neutral without depressing clutch.
When you start the bike, and it is in neutral, what happens when you release the clutch (still in neutral) ... do it slowly in case the bike really isn't in neutral.
Posted by Varooom
- January 12, 2011, 10:03:37 AMBleed the clutch lever line; might have air in it which limits its intended travel, not fully disengaging the plates.
Varooom
Posted by chief
- January 09, 2011, 19:49:20 PMYou will be able to shift into any gear in sequence with the clutch engaged. With the engine running you can shift into any gear, but you obviously will kill the engine if the revs are too low when you release the clutch.
Posted by rawv
- January 09, 2011, 11:41:19 AMMaybe I'm missing something here but why would you be shifting to 2nd gear from a dead stop..to me that just makes the clutch work harder
Posted by Bill
- January 08, 2011, 23:40:01 PMBill here iI have a 02 1500 and some times my ligt will be on but i am in gear so when i put my kick stand down my engine shuts off. I also believe don't trust the light
Posted by harley
- October 12, 2010, 07:52:46 AMit is a 99 it is in nuet and the light is on maybe its a 3 way switch the light part works but the start interupt doesnt,so glad to hear its normal not to shift into 2nd form start thought I screwd up the shift barrel or something
Posted by chief
- October 11, 2010, 10:57:49 AMAs has been indicated... make sure its really in neutral.
Then start checking the various switches... the clutch switch and kickstand switch for example. Seems to me I had a similar problem once and it was a loose clutch switch connection.