Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hey,

Just got my first bike, a zx6r 2001 and loving it. But I've got a problem with the electrics - when the clutch is being engaged, the engine dies. This has nothing to do with stalling, it doesn't matter how high the revs are and the clutch isn't even starting to bite - the engine simply loses ignition once the clutch lever is released far enough. I can see the switch which causes it attached to the clutch assembly and the engine can be killed by simply pushing in the switch/rod. This has only happened twice and there's nothing to suggest why it would suddenly start happening. Can anybody tell me 1) what the purpose of the switch (pushrod) is; 2) possible fixes.

While I'm here, anybody know of a good place to get workshop manuals from? Internet, or Perth WA.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You have got the side stand up ?
It'll most probably be the side stand switch as they are more prone to dirty contacts

Thanks Rossi,

Not sure if it was up or down to be honest but that sounds about right. Thought it would be something embarrassingly straight forward.

Yup .. I too found this out the embarresing way .. its the side stand. Its gotta be up before ya can hoot. Even has it on my old girl.

It is the sidestand switch & can be bypassed if you dare just conncet the two wires & your are done.

The "pin" on those switches get full of gunk, making them stick in, even when the stand is put up. Had this happen to my big girl. I removed it and gave it a really good clean. Worked perfectly again afterwards. Try to get into the habit of checking it when you clean / lube chain.

If it was the sidestand down, dont admit it, just say the contacts were dirty... We have all done it.

matt76 wrote:If it was the sidestand down, dont admit it, just say the contacts were dirty... We have all done it.

matt76 wrote:If it was the sidestand down, dont admit it, just say the contacts were dirty... We have all done it.

IN the good old days, before all these bullshit switches, real men would just ride off with the sidestand down......it was fine for the first couple of RH corners............but come the first LH corner....... ......BOUNCE and jeez you knew the sidestand was down.............and we have all done *that* !!

Gosling1 wrote:

matt76 wrote:If it was the sidestand down, dont admit it, just say the contacts were dirty... We have all done it.

IN the good old days, before all these bullshit switches, real men would just ride off with the sidestand down......it was fine for the first couple of RH corners............but come the first LH corner....... ......BOUNCE and jeez you knew the sidestand was down.............and we have all done *that* !!

Or had a ride on one of those German f^%kers with the spring loaded side stand that you kick down and lean the bike over , only to find the side stand has come back up and your leg is the only thing between the road and expensive paint Never done it myself tho

Gosling1 wrote:

matt76 wrote:If it was the sidestand down, dont admit it, just say the contacts were dirty... We have all done it.

IN the good old days, before all these bullshit switches, real men would just ride off with the sidestand down......it was fine for the first couple of RH corners............but come the first LH corner....... ......BOUNCE and jeez you knew the sidestand was down.............and we have all done *that* !!

actually Gos...I have
and thats why a lot of the the old time stands were made of hollow tube
it bent...before too much damage was done. Kwakas didn't seem too much
of a problem but I did bend a few on the waterbottle...

these days...'mothers are a one piece forging which does NOT bend
left hand corner HIGHSIDE anyone...??

cheers

Smitty

I helped a motorcycle-ambo the other day, he tried a few times to get going.. every time he put it in gear it died ... I said "stand, mate", to which he successfully engaged first and roared off into the distance!

Yep, we all done it........
I actually have done something similar without knowing it and pushed my bike to the garage, only to find out I bumped the kill switch accidentally and without knowing I looked for some major problem too....

kaneg wrote: only to find out I bumped the kill switch accidentally and without knowing I looked for some major problem too....

Kinda sucks when the major prob you find is looking at you in the mirror

mick_dundee wrote:

kaneg wrote: only to find out I bumped the kill switch accidentally and without knowing I looked for some major problem too....

Kinda sucks when the major prob you find is looking at you in the mirror

Geez it must be a Bastard for you Mick when you shave