Ryker 900 ACE won't start, starter clicks, but no crank, despite new, fully charged battery - any advice for my next steps?

[SwitcherLP]

Seeking direction with this situation, and I have some additional troubleshooting steps. My Ryker is a 2019 900 with less than 4000 miles. I bought it used, and the previous owner seems to have stored it outside as there is visible rust and accelerated aging on the visible points of the engine, bolts, etc. Anyways, the bike has been difficult to start since purchase, which replacing with a new battery did not fix, and neither did replacing the spark plugs.

The symptoms were that the bike would crank for extended periods before turning over, and would rarely start on the first try. Occasionally, the bike would stall during riding, where it would then not start unless I used a jump pack. When the weather is cold, it will resist acceleration until it is running for a few minutes, feeling like it is temporarily in limp mode.

Until now, on the first time it has been run this year, it ran like normal for about a 30 minute ride, and since then it will not start. The fuel pump engages, the starter switch clicks when the starter button is pressed, but it will not crank at all, won't even try.

I have the battery fully charged, and topped it off to hopefully rule out a bad alternator/generator; jumping it does not work; and I tried moving the bike and moving the shifter to make sure that was not causing anything. The fuses were tested and then replaced, but that did nothing; and I also had the key on it fully and clean.

Anyone have any advice for my next steps? I fear I am in the market for a starter.

 

[Gwolf]

Check that the battery connections are clean and tight. Check the other end of the ground connection where it grounds to the frame. Clean and tighten the bolts there too. Check the fuses and relays. Sounds like a bad connection somewhere that's not making full contact, maybe due to corrosion or loose, rusty bolts.

 

[DickB]

Run these basic tests with a multimeter:

https://studentlesson.com/how-to-test-a-car-battery-with-a-multimeter/

If you don't have a multimeter, get one - a cheap one is fine.

BTW the Ryker has a magneto, not an alternator.

 

[greer]

Just wanted to echo the suggestion to check for loose and/or corroded battery cables, as that's a common issue with these bikes. Make sure the surface at the ground to frame is super clean and wrench tight. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Sarah

 

[Bob L]

Our Ryker had a bad ground and would not start (intermittently). Fixed the connection and solved the problem. To trouble shoot if it is the ground, when you try to jump it, connect the Black jump lead to the frame, not the battery, and if it works it's probably a ground issue. Good luck.

 

[nightfalcon]

Can't add much to the collective wisdom except to say if there is visible rust occurring in and around the engine ,then a bad connection would seem the most likely culprit. My advice would be to undo every connection on the battery/starter circuit, clean them to shiny metal, and do them up again... firmly! Don't accept that they're ok just by looking.

If that fails, then the next step would be to check the starter relay/solenoid isn't dead.

Note:
You mentioned it hadn't been started previously this year? Is the battery brand new or newish? Did you have it on a trickle charger? As already mentioned, batteries can be troublesome; if it isn't brand new and has been sitting for a while, they can go bad... you need to test it under load, not just a static test.

Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out.

 

[SwitcherLP]

Thank you everyone for the replies! The battery is good, and I do have a charger/tender. The Ryker has been run previously that day, but now won't crank at all. The next time I have daylight to look at it I will definitely be checking the connections, as that seems to be the situation more than anything else, but this bike was having starting issues when I had purchased it, so I am hoping that is all it is. Will check back in with progress.

 

[BajaRon]

Thank you everyone for the replies! The battery is good, and I do have a charger/tender. The Ryker has been run previously that day, but now won't crank at all. The next time I have daylight to look at it I will definitely be checking the connections, as that seems to be the situation more than anything else, but this bike was having starting issues when I had purchased it, so I am hoping that is all it is. Will check back in with progress.

You mention 'Daylight'. Are you storing the Ryker outside?

What is the rated CCA for your current battery?

Just because the battery is 'New', and just because you've had it on a tender and it's 'Fully Charged' does not necessarily mean it is good, though I agree that it may well be bad connections, as mentioned. Load testing the battery with a multimeter is also a good idea. You do not want the voltage to drop below 11 during the starting cycle. Most vehicles will start with much lower voltage. But not these BRP vehicles. Sometimes people are fooled by this fact into thinking it's not the battery.

Or, the next step up would be to get one of these. We use this unit at the shop (there are a good number of similar options out there) and I have been impressed with how easy and accurate it is. It has several advantages over the analog load testers, and a few drawbacks. The battery must be in the vehicle to test and this unit is more expensive than the analog version. But if you can afford one, it will give you definitive results.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDSQ8QPR?ref=fed_asin_title

Let us know what fixes your current issue. It will help the forum with the next person who asks.