Friday the 13th, 100 miles from home, and my bike won't start...

So I'm on my way to a Friday the 13th bike rally. I live in the USA, rally is in Canada. I'm 100 miles into Canada and it starts to rain so I pull into a gas station for gas and to put rain gear on. Gas pump was strange, it wanted me to pick from a preset amount (starting at $20) about twice my regular fillup. I didn't want to mess with it so I pulled away and parked with some other bikes, bike started fine. Came back out from the restroom and tried starting the bike. Totally nothing. No clicks, nothing. Lights come on, battery seems OK (it started fine at the pump). So, after wiggling some wires, all the forum thoughts fill my head: rectifier, relay, clutch switch, sidestand switch, water in the wires or contacts, I only have a few tools with me, who can drive 100 miles into another country to come get me, etc. etc. etc. Another biker walks by and I mention that my bike won't start. He asks me some questions, then reaches over and flips the kill switch. Duh...
I never use it so didn't even think of it. Must have hit it taking off my gear. They should put a warning light on those things...

 

Did ya smack yourself in the forehead and yell
DOH......thank the lord it was any easy fix and that certain stranger walked by. Could you imagine if ya had it towed just ta find out the switch was off.
Hope ya enjoyed the rest of the day Jim

 

I think we have all done that one even if some do not wan to admit it.

 

Yep that's a good one. use too, still do if the timing is right flip that switch while they ain't looking, or who has done the at a stop light reach over to your buddies switch just as the light turns green flip it, hahaha. warning only to this to ones you know that have a sense of humor. Hope the rest of your adventure went well.

 

Maybe once a long time ago. LOL

 

Its now Satirday the 14th. Are things better now.

Where did you enter Canada. Here in BC you have to pay before you pump. Just because you press the preset button for say $20.00 does not mean you pay 20. It just gives the card supplier a figure to authorize up to. When that amount is reached, the pump will shut off. Either way, you are billed only what you pump.

 

Doh! LOL ...

Where abouts are you in Canuckistan?

 

Crossed at Sarnia, went to Port Dover on the north side of Lake Erie. Pump was confusing as it only said to pick one of the preset amounts. Rest of the day went great except for on-off rainshowers, saw a few VFR's but didn't talk as they were on the move. Place was a little crowded...

 

looks like a hoote

 

My first time there. They do it every Friday the 13th, summer or winter: http://www.pd13.com/pages/1/Home
A couple hundred thousand people overall, more bikes than I've ever seen in one place. They have shuttle busses from outside the town parking areas, people come in from all over. That photo was just one of the streets (and only about 1/4 of it), there are several more like it.

 

Nice crowd photo. I've been to 3 or 4 of those events, and it's always fun (if it doesn't rain). Biggest
bike meet in Canada by far. :witless:

 

When my stator/RR wiring did the usual cooking and my battery drained, first thing I did was reach for the kill switch. Nope! Toggled it on/off a few times and then cursed my luck!

You definitely got off easy Jim, could have been worse, I'd take embarrassment over a fried stator any day!

 

So to shut off your bike, you just just turn the ignition key?
I was taught to always use the killswitch, so I do.

 

Couple of weeks ago was servicing CT110 postie bikes for the Gibb River Ride and spent 10 minutes trying to kick start one, good compression, key on, kill switch on. Nothing.
Mate comes over and opens fuel tank. Nothing. Felt like a right pratt then.

 

glad it started- but no that never happened to me on the vfr- I run a special battery

 

A special battery for our very special boy

 

Here's a video of riding through the streets full of people in Port Dover. Kinda weird the first time, but got used to it after a while. Just have to keep your eyes open!

[video=youtube;aTx19EiutFg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTx19EiutFg&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

That is classic...........I have seen many case like yours :rofl: