I have a 1980 xs1100 special. I bought this bike the other day and the guy said he had it running in August of last year, The throttle cable had broke and it has sit since, When I got it the cable was broke, the battery dead, and the starter button missing, I hooked jumper cables and all lights worked and the horn worked. I took out the horn button and placed it in the starter button. The lights work but when I push the starter button nothing happens. What do I need to do to see if the engine will even turn over? I just want to see if the bike will even try to start.

SOURCE: 2000 yamaha vstar 1100 custom. starter problem?

I had the same problem 2001 XVS1100 Custom
this is a starter issue Over time the starter on this bike twists when its under a load.
Look at the two bolts holding the starter on if they are not straight across then its twisted. turn starter back in line with a pair of big channel locks and try to start this should do the trick if this works i would recommend taking the two bolts out and bend them back straight or replace and reinstall starter this should fixya problem

Hope this helps ...............Jimmyfixya

SOURCE: R1 start problem

I had the same problem. After throwing all kinds of money at it, like a new battery, new relay, checking the fuses and many other things. I finally took it to a great shop (M Racing in Glendora, CA) and they discovered it was the starter brushes. Now Yamaha sells a rebuild kit for the 06 R1 starters but it's on back order all the way to Japan. Turns out Yamaha Japan knows about this defect and word is it's going to take months before they start producing the rebuild kit again. I'm sure there will not be a "starter recall" as that would cost Yamaha way to much money which is what the worlds all about, right? Anyway, my starter was rebuilt by a mechanic that rebuilds starters and I haven't had no problems with it. Hope this helps and whatever you do, don't take your bike to Montclair Yamaha. Dealerships charge way to much money and don't get the service or quility of work we all deserve.
Be Safe!!!!

Murtaza Akberali Versi

• 767 Answers
• Posted on Apr 17, 2009

SOURCE: bike wont start

You have to check the starter motor,prolly the brushes are gone . Also check the connections from battery to the solenoid and from the solenoid to the starter.

Good Luck.
Knight (Yamaha seca XJ750A 1981)

Testimonial: "you were dead on, been awile since i've been on here, but i replaced that starter and now she cranks over, but still takes forever to fire up"

SOURCE: warming up the bike on idle and noticed one of the

soounds like a leaky exhaust valve to me,,,do a compreshion test first to check it could need the carbs reset up if its running week on one pot this could do it too

SOURCE: I just bought a used '03 650 vstar. I started it

Colud your room mate have accidentally put the bike in gear? There is a switch on the kickstand that will killl the engine if kickstand is down and bike is in gear.