Only start in neutral?

eros88 · 03-13-2008, 12:59 PM

Hi everyone-

First of all, apologies for my newbie-ness; I JUST picked up a 2000 VFR, and have the following question: the bike will only start when in neutral. Now I know that some motorcycles are wired to only start in neutral, but from reading the manual and the various forums here, I gather that VFRs should be able to start in gear, obviously given that the clutch lever is engaged.

Any ideas? Other posters seem to think this is a problem with the clutch switch- can anyone explain to me what the clutch switch is, and where it's found? Like I said, I'm a bit of a newbie, especially mechanically.

Safe riding!

PorscheBob · 03-13-2008, 01:27 PM

Make sure your sidestand is up.

eros88 · 03-13-2008, 01:44 PM

Yeah, sidestand is up... I typically start in neutral anyhow, but I discovered this problem when I stalled once, and had to find neutral to start back up.

eddievalleytrailer · 03-13-2008, 01:46 PM

The clutch switch is kinda under the clutch lever. It has 2 wires going to it. To test the switch, disconnect the 2 wires from the switch, and connect them together. If the bike now will start in gear with the sidestand up and the bike in gear (clutch in of course), you got yourself a bad switch. A new one is about 20 clams (or one Pres. Jackson). If the sidestand is down, the bike will only start in N, no matter if the clutch is in or not. Hope this helps.

eros88 · 03-13-2008, 04:20 PM

Great, thanks a lot for the info. I'll try it when I get home tonight!

Lgn001 · 03-13-2008, 04:28 PM

If you can't fix it, I'll take that yellow 2000 off your hands...

Just kidding! Welcome, and congrats! Those yellow 2000's are one of my favorites...

mike_y · 03-25-2008, 04:30 AM

There is also a diode located in the main fusebox, quote from the workshop manual...
"The diode is part of the safety circuit which prevents or stops the engine running if the transmission is in gear whilst the sidestand is down, and prevents the engine from starting if the transmission is in gear unless the sidestand is up and the clutch lever is pulled in"

mikeym · 03-25-2008, 06:36 AM

Welcome to the boards! Nice yellow vfr! I just purchased one too :)

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03-13-2008, 12:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
eros88 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Last Online: 12-14-2008 09:54 PM Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Only start in neutral? Hi everyone- First of all, apologies for my newbie-ness; I JUST picked up a 2000 VFR, and have the following question: the bike will only start when in neutral. Now I know that some motorcycles are wired to only start in neutral, but from reading the manual and the various forums here, I gather that VFRs should be able to start in gear, obviously given that the clutch lever is engaged. Any ideas? Other posters seem to think this is a problem with the clutch switch- can anyone explain to me what the clutch switch is, and where it's found? Like I said, I'm a bit of a newbie, especially mechanically. Safe riding!

03-13-2008, 01:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
eddievalleytrailer Uber Guru Join Date: May 2007 Last Online: Today 06:57 AM Location: Jonesborough, TN - Find Me! My Ride: 82 V-45 Sabre 83 VF750F Interceptor 91 XR250L 03 Shadow ACE 07 RWB Interceptor View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,286 Thanks: 52 Thanked 52 Times in 33 Posts	The clutch switch is kinda under the clutch lever. It has 2 wires going to it. To test the switch, disconnect the 2 wires from the switch, and connect them together. If the bike now will start in gear with the sidestand up and the bike in gear (clutch in of course), you got yourself a bad switch. A new one is about 20 clams (or one Pres. Jackson). If the sidestand is down, the bike will only start in N, no matter if the clutch is in or not. Hope this helps. __________________ Proud Member Sixth Gen Militia-1st VTEC Battalion

03-25-2008, 06:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
mikeym Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Last Online: 11-27-2008 10:43 AM Posts: 113 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Welcome to the boards! Nice yellow vfr! I just purchased one too :) __________________ CHRISTIAN SPORT BIKE ASSOCIATION #953 www.christiansportbike.com

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03-13-2008, 01:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
PorscheBob Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Last Online: 01-03-2009 09:55 PM Location: Los Altos, California USA - Find Me! My Ride: 1998 Honda VFR800, 90 Honda RC30, 86 Suzuki RG500 (Wolf), 90 Suzuki Katana 1100, View my Photo Gallery Posts: 292 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Make sure your sidestand is up.

03-13-2008, 01:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
eros88 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Last Online: 12-14-2008 09:54 PM Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yeah, sidestand is up... I typically start in neutral anyhow, but I discovered this problem when I stalled once, and had to find neutral to start back up.

03-13-2008, 04:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
eros88 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Last Online: 12-14-2008 09:54 PM Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Great, thanks a lot for the info. I'll try it when I get home tonight!

03-13-2008, 04:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lgn001 Most Royal Deluxe Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Last Online: Today 04:43 AM Location: Russian River by Ocean, CA My Ride: 1983 CB1100F 2000 SV650 2007 VFR View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,009 Thanks: 20 Thanked 50 Times in 41 Posts	If you can't fix it, I'll take that yellow 2000 off your hands... Just kidding! Welcome, and congrats! Those yellow 2000's are one of my favorites...

03-25-2008, 04:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
mike_y Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Last Online: 12-11-2008 02:48 PM Location: Bournemouth My Ride: 2000 vfr800 FiY Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	There is also a diode located in the main fusebox, quote from the workshop manual... "The diode is part of the safety circuit which prevents or stops the engine running if the transmission is in gear whilst the sidestand is down, and prevents the engine from starting if the transmission is in gear unless the sidestand is up and the clutch lever is pulled in"

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