Kill switch? it was parked and fell over and part of the clutch handle broke off, know it wont start. any ideas on what could have happened? Th bike r 850 rt bmw

Hi just a thought as myself have never herd of this before.
If when you have yoused the kill switch when its at a stand still,and you put the kill switch back on and it starts,then it is quiet possible it could be a safty feature so if you came off the bike and the bike was laying on its side on the ground the back wheele wont keep spinning,just a thought as it is happening to the two bikes.

You may have a kick stand switch which will kill the bike if you try to ride off with it down, The switch on the clutch lever is so you cannot start the bike in gear unless its in neutral. There should also be a switch that goes in the transmission that works along with the other switch(es).
If at least one of these has a fault then that may be your issue.

Look at the clutch lever switch closely. Sometimes they have a small pin that the lever touches. If that small pin broke off then the lever cannot make contact.
then look around the trans since you were in there changing a rod.

you may have cut or broke a wire while repairing your harness and it may be the main wire[orange] or white to the kill switch. Fran [mechanic]

You don't mention the year and model...but here are some general ideas.

Most Yamahas have various safety interlocks designed into the wiring system....typically a neutral switch, a sidestand switch and a clutch switch, a tipover switch and a kill switch on the right handlebar.
The design basically is to prevent riding off with the sidestand down....so if the bike is in neutral, the neutral switch grounds to light your neutral lamp and allows for ignition and starter operation.
Is you place the unit in gear...if the sidestand switch senses the stand is still down, it kills the ignition and starter.
If the bike is in gear, starter will not operate, unless the clutch is pulled in and the clutch switch detects this happening.
Tip the bike over and the tipover switch kills the ignition and fuel pump if it has one.

So...is the igniter (black box/brain etc) getting supply voltage...if not check the ignition fuse, and the handlebar kill switch .
Is the neutral light working....if not...try starting with clutch in and sidestand up.

Make sure your kill switch is in the run position and that you are in neutral before you try to start.

Let me know what happens please.

Thanks for visiting FixYa.com today.

don't know if this will help but on my bike there is a wire that goes to clutch on handle bars . once in awhile it comes off

recheck all connections,battery,ignition switch,starter button switch and kill switch

check that there is not an air lock in the fuel line,set the fuel tap to"pri"for a few minutes this will take out the airlock,also check that the sidestand switch and clutch lockout switch have not been damaged

I have the 2003 Honda Shadow 750 ACE and had a problem with the bike intermittently not wanting to start. All is good but when I hit the start button nothing would happen. Took it to the dealer and was about to pay them about $75 just to diagnose it when of the customers told me that the 2002-2003 Shadow line had came with a "sticky" clutch safety switch & starter button. First thing put the bike in neutral. If it starts, check that the (2)wires coming from the clutch lever are fully inserted(just push on them). If it still wont cut on, push the start button and "wiggle it" while pushed in. My problem came out to be the at the clutch safety switch. I removed the lever, pushed in the switch so that it popped out and sprayed the tiny hole on the side of the plastic switch with electric parts cleaner($3.00 @ the auto parts store for a 12oz. can). My bike hasn't had a problem since!