Bike did not want to start, yay.

[NJD]

04 Kawasaki ZR7S.

Commuted home in heavy downpour yesterday with endless standing pools of water and got a huge face full of spray up at least once (and thus over the right switchgear and side of bike). Locked bike away last night (wet: although I did wipe around the switchgears to probably no effect) and went to start it today and it wasn't happy.

Turned ignition on (neutral lights on), choke on, press button and got nothing but a single click and the neutral light went out (the button had no feeling and there was no attempted turning over, just a singular click). Tried a few times, checked fuel and turned it to reserve (was plenty but just in case) and after turning ignition on and off a few times it fired up.

Worked, and started, fine thereafter including first time after sitting when returning from work.

I'm thinking it could be standing water on, or inside, the switchgear since it ran fine and started fine thereafter. Possibly also: sidestand, or clutch, switch; spark plug caps, starter motor etc etc.

Anything you'd look at if you had the above but then ran, and started, fine thereafter?

Bike needs a good clean anyway so could be that (seems the heavy rain last night may have chucked up all the standing salt).
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The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[Nobby the Bastard]

[temeluchus]

WD40 is your friend, hose the switchgear with it to get the water out.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[P.]

I'd want more than 12.5, my bike that's stood since October is showing 12.68 currently

Multimeter is your friend.

[NJD]

[Chris45]

As the man says...

[........]

[Beehive Bedlam]

If it started fine before the chances are after you've blasted the switch gear and HT leads with WD40 it will start again.

[NJD]

Going to leave for today but if the problem re-occurs then the settings, in the picture below, are correct?

As I understand it all I'd then need to do is put red prong on side of battery with red cover and the black on the other and should get a reading?

Brilliant idea to place a battery under the air-box and under the tank for it to be removed (probably take side panels of and test that way).

https://s9.postimg.org/a3h2qk67j/image.jpg
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The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[Tankie]

Reset the meter to read 20 volts full scale. If you want to check voltage use a convenient point like a brake switch
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Always learning, everyday is a school day

[cb1rocket]

battery is under the seat....not hard to get at, at all.

Meter setting is correct, it's very much the only setting you will use for voltage testing. Other functions are the ohms test for charging system's stator and general fault finding etc
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Honda H100S2 Rebuild - https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=253852

[........]

Be a little wary about using other components on the bike (as suggested above) to check the battery voltage. If there is corrosion in the connectors/loom or even just a bad connection it can lead you astray. It can be a handy cheat but also has the potential to cause confusion too.

[stephen_o]

Riding in torrential rain one dark night caused my ignition switch to burn out on my old Kawasaki GPZ500. I would try to protect the loom entrance underneath as water getting in will spaz it.
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current scoot 2009 Yamaha YBR250 + Current Pootle 2013 Nissan Leaf

[NJD]