What could this be?

[yaigi]

A few weeks ago I came to leave the house in the morning, the bike had been sat for 3 days. Put then choke on, turned the key in the ignition, then pressed the ignition button and there wasn't a sound.

Odd, I thought, so I pressed it again. Nothing. Not a peep. Checked it was in neutral, checked the killswitch wasn't on, tried again, nothing. So then I pressed it in quick succession a few more times (I'm not quite sure what I was trying to achieve here but I was annoyed) and on the very last press there was a tiny sound, so I pressed it again and the bike came to life, as it usually would.

I rode to work that day, when leaving work is started fine first time. Next day, fine. Then a couple of weeks later one morning (after it had only been sat overnight), it did it again. So I pressed it a few times, not a sound each time, until finally it started again.

It had been fine since so I hadn't worried about it too much, and to be honest, whilst it's still (eventually) starting, I'm still not massively bothered about it, but I went to start it up tonight (just cos I miss it after not being able to ride due to ice) and it did it again, and I'm just curious, what could it be? What things should I begin checking (and how cos I have never done anything to a bike!) before it gets to a point where it doesn't start at all?

Bike is a V reg Fazer 600.

TL;DR - bike not making a sound when I press the ignition, not a sign of life, but after a few presses, it works fine. Problem is sporadic, doesn't happen every time.
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What would you do in life, if you knew you could not fail?
Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)

[Islander]

Sounds like a starter button problem. Squirt some WD40 in there if you can, then work the button repeatedly with the ignition off and see if that helps.

[nightshaddow]

[yaigi]

Thought it could be something simple, hoping it is, will give that a try. The starter button doesn't feel iffy in any way though
____________________
What would you do in life, if you knew you could not fail?
Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)

[i.p.phrealy]

could also be a loose wire on your starter motor, try giving that a wiggle too.
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it is impossible to lick your own elbow...
and if you just tried you need professional help.
Finally allowed a big bike 19/03/14!

[Islander]

Could be some crap in there stopping the contacts from coming together - you wouldn't necessarily feel that.

[yaigi]

[J.M.]

I had a very similar problem when my battery wasn't charging properly and the voltage was fairly low. It would take a few presses of the button before it would do anything, but once something happened the bike would fire back up. Once the charging problem was sorted out the problem went away.

There's no harm in stripping and cleaning the button even if that's not it; it'll be preventative maintenance at the very least. Just another thing to bear in mind.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[yaigi]

[Raffles]

As others have said, it will probably be a starter button issue.
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A good loser will always be a loser.

[nightshaddow]

this is why i like kick starts lol
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"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE Its chinese OFFICER."
Current rides CB 125 TDE(the next project) NS125RK ( now on the road ) CB125TDC (soon to be project 17) melody ( the nephews )

[P.addy]

[nowhere.elysium]

Strip the switchgear. If that doesn't fix it, then you're going to have so much fun chasing earth problems down the loom.

Get hold of a multimeter; they're not expensive, and they're utterly priceless in situations like this - assuming the switchgear's not at fault, it'll help you determine where there is a continuity failure to earth much more quickly than by eyeballing it.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[YBR Ric]

If you're going to start spraying, then avoid WD40 and use the correct product - DeoxIT

[yaigi]

[nowhere.elysium]

Do you have a wiring diagram for the bike?
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[yaigi]

[nowhere.elysium]

[yaigi]