Sometimes my Valk won't start...

[Safety Steve]

This just started happening a couple of days ago, sometimes when I hit the starter switch the bike won't do anything, the head light will turn off, but I can't hear anything, if I flick the kill switch a few times it will start, but when il in neutral it always start so I don't know if the problem is in the kill switch, the cluch or the kick stand switch any ideas would be great, thanks..

Steve

[Bighead]

Start by taking the starter button apart and cleaning it.

[John Schmidt]

Starting the bike while in gear is a really bad habit, and a rather dangerous one at that. The clutch switch isn't meant for that, as an example...it's more for those times when in traffic at a light and you kill the engine. It lets you get moving in short order without having to put the bike in neutral first; i.e., emergency starting. Most likely the problem is a worn bushing in the clutch handle, being hollowed out so it's more oblong. When you squeeze the handle, you can't make good contact with the switch. Keep in mind, that clutch switch circuit can create a problem for you. The last thing you don't want is for the bike to take off in gear when you're starting it.

[trussellcma]

I had similar symptoms years ago. I replaced the handlebar switch unit and problem was solved. I wish I had read this first, maybe all I needed to do was take the switch apart and do some cleaning.