Faulty ignition switch (start button)

[500Magnum]

Hello everyone. I have been having an issue with my R18B involving a hard start for the last 4 months. It normally starts on the 3rd or 4th try but today however, not only would it not start, but the start button is doing absolutely nothing now. I tested my battery, and everything was great. I believe the switch is bad and wanted to know if it could be taken apart a repaired or will I have to buy a new one? Thanks everyone for any help and Happy New Year!

 

[Rufus]

You don’t say how old your bike is, if it’s under warranty get it booked in.

 

[Cu Dubh]

Hello everyone. I have been having an issue with my R18B involving a hard start for the last 4 months. It normally starts on the 3rd or 4th try but today however, not only would it not start, but the start button is doing absolutely nothing now. I tested my battery, and everything was great. I believe the switch is bad and wanted to know if it could be taken apart a repaired or will I have to buy a new one? Thanks everyone for any help and Happy New Year!

Sorry, haven't heard of anyone doing this particular operation.
Is the kickstand safety switch okay? That can create a non-start situation. Also the neutral safety switch. Let us know what you learn!

Here is a thread that discusses starting issues, etc.

U

Post in thread 'Hard starting'

Oct 31, 2025

Just a thought as the failure to start up first time has been discussed previously on other topics. All the points flagged here are valid but I believe that if the above were the root cause, then it would affect all R18 engines. Now, for those having issues starting the bike either hot or cold, can you remember if you switched off the bike by using the big red kill switch or the small black power button?
I believe it has been established that switching off the bike using the red kill switch can cause issues when you next start the bike.
I use the bike minimum 3 days a week all year...

• u20251009

 

[500Magnum]

Hello everyone. I have been having an issue with my R18B involving a hard start for the last 4 months. Today however, not only would it not start, but the start button is doing absolutely nothing. I tested my battery, and everything was great. I believe the switch is bad and wanted to know if it could be taken apart a repaired or will I have to buy a new one? Thanks everyone for any help and Happy New Year!

You don’t say how old your bike is, if it’s under warranty get it booked in.

My bad. Its a 2022 and is no longer under warranty.

 

[500Magnum]

Sorry, haven't heard of anyone doing this particular operation.
Is the kickstand safety switch okay? That can create a non-start situation. Also the neutral safety switch. Let us know what you learn!

Here is a thread that discusses starting issues, etc.

U

Post in thread 'Hard starting'

Oct 31, 2025

Just a thought as the failure to start up first time has been discussed previously on other topics. All the points flagged here are valid but I believe that if the above were the root cause, then it would affect all R18 engines. Now, for those having issues starting the bike either hot or cold, can you remember if you switched off the bike by using the big red kill switch or the small black power button?
I believe it has been established that switching off the bike using the red kill switch can cause issues when you next start the bike.
I use the bike minimum 3 days a week all year...

• u20251009

Thanks so much for this thread. I haven't tried any of the things in question due to the extreme weather conditions we've been having in Ohio lately. Plan on looking into it a bit further in the next few days. Thanks again.

 

[Ulrich]

Do you have a GS-911 or something similar? ... If yes, see if all switches (Safety stuff) operate as they should ... so kick-stand switch ... clutch switch ... neutral switch ... Your start button does not necessarily have to be bad ... there are other switches that come into play when starting your bike ...

 

[Petrus]

Do you have a GS-911 or something similar? ... If yes, see if all switches (Safety stuff) operate as they should ... so kick-stand switch ... clutch switch ... neutral switch ... Your start button does not necessarily have to be bad ... there are other switches that come into play when starting your bike ...

ah the safety stuff we need as we cannot be trusted to think for ourselves.

 

[Noelpolar]

ah the safety stuff we need as we cannot be trusted to think for ourselves.

Well, it is an old mans bike..... I'll probally grow into the need for some of them.... and you're adding a third wheel just to keep upright..

 

[Petrus]

Well, the latter is a great excuse for the expense or what??!!

With tongue in cheek I dub them things 'geriatric fail safes'.

The thing with the plethora of sensors is akin leaving for a ride out with friends. The probability of one delaying the take off or stopping at any hollow tree on route increases with the square of the number of participants.

Solid state electronic sensors are very reliable with impressive mean time between failure but increase the number and it becomes increasingly annoying that the very things which are meant to increase functionality become the achilles' heel of reliability.