1200GS won't start in gear
 

So I've been having this intermittent problem for a while but now it's not intermittent but seems to happen all the time. :helpsmilie:

I'm on the road so simple diagnosis would be easiest for me. I can't start the bike when it is in gear. Note that the kill switch is on, sidestand up and clutch is in. Also yes the key in on ignition.

The bike starts fine in neutral and runs when I change into any gear but I just can't seem to start it in any gear, not just 1st or 2nd. I've checked the operation of the sidestand switch, this is easy, start the bike and check that when I put the sidestand down that it kills the engine. Yep it's working.

So I think that it may be the switch on the clutch lever or perhaps that the bike is misreading the gear position ( this is unlikely as the dash is displaying the right gear).

I've also waited until the electrical system starts up before pulling the clutch in and pressing the ignition switch.

Anyone have any suggestions? :confused1:

Most likely to be the clutch switch. As it was intermittent and now permanent, it very likely to be a poor connection somewhere.

Have you tried bypassing the switch on the bar ??

Yes that was the problem, a clogged clutch switch. once I found the tiny allen key screw that holds it in place I was able to remove and clean the dirty switch. But first of all to confirm the problem was the switch I disconnected the switch, pulled it out from the socket hidden behind the clutch lever and shorted the swtich with a bit of wire to create a closed circuit. The bike started first go in gear, any gear so I went about cleaning the switch being careful to put it back in place where the lever would correctly activate and deactivate the switch. Wouldn't be great if the switch was misplaced and it was always on or off. The problem was rectified straight away... Nice to have such an easy problem to solve from time to time :)