Motorcycle Died While Riding and Won’t Start: Fix It by Yourself! 

Sufficient fuel and power supply are the two things essential to run your motorcycle. From the battery to the wires, the vehicle has numerous components to ensure a continuous supply of fuel and power. When any of these fail, the two-wheeler will turn off and refuse to run again until you fix the faulty components. 

If your motorcycle has died while riding and won’t start, it’s probably a malfunctioning battery, loose leads, or a bad charging system. A faulty spark plug, fuel system, or starter motor can also be the culprit. Other possible reasons include a bad clutch or kickstand switch, a blown fuse, and damaged wires.

Let’s get into the details to explore all the possible reasons why your motorcycle won’t start and how to fix it.

Things to Consider Before Trying Any DIY Fixes

When you drive a new motorcycle or have recently fixed your vehicle, you need to look for some basic possible reasons for motorcycle shutdown. Here’s what you need to consider:

• Charge Your Battery: Although it’s obvious, many riders often overcharge or undercharge the motorbike battery. It often damages the battery cells, eventually leading to a complete shutdown.
• Fill the Fuel or Gas Tank: Don’t depend on digital gauges or indicators as they can malfunction. Insert a dipstick or perform a pressure test to make sure your vehicle has sufficient fuel for combustion.
• Turn Off the Kill Switch: Located near the starter switch on your motorbike’s right handlebar, the kill switch can turn off the engine when pressed. Check if you’ve accidentally pressed it while riding.
• See If the Muffler Is Blocked: A clogged muffler doesn’t allow exhaust gas to pass, causing difficulty in running the vehicle. Locate it from under the motorcycle seat and see if it’s blocked.
• Replace Air and Oil Filters: Over time, internal motorcycle filters get clogged, and the engine doesn’t receive enough fuel to run the vehicle. Replace the air and oil filters at regular intervals.

Why Did My Motorcycle While Riding and Won’t Start? Possible Fixes

As mentioned, all the components responsible for turning off your motorcycle in the middle of a ride are connected to the power and fuel system. Here are the most common causes of this issue, the parts you need to check, and easy fixes:

Battery Issues

Even if your battery is fully charged, the battery cells can stop functioning due to age and driving conditions. Moreover, the positive and negative terminals of the battery can get disconnected. In both cases, the power generated by the battery fails to start your motorcycle. 

• Diagnosis and Fix:

First, visually inspect the battery for loose terminals or broken wires. You can find it under your seat. Take a wrench and tighten the loose connections or replace any broken wires. 

Use a multimeter to check the battery voltage. While the voltage is between 12V to 13V with the engine turned off, starting the bike will have a voltage of 12V to 14V. If it’s significantly higher or lower, replace the battery.

Faulty Spark Plug

To ignite the fuel-air mixture and run the engine, a functioning spark plug is essential. Over time, dirt and carbon buildup can prevent the plug from creating strong sparks for ignition. Also, worn plugs might not create any spark at all, causing the motorcycle to shut off. 

• Diagnosis and Fix:

Worn electrodes, engine misfires, reduced power, and deposit buildups are some symptoms of a faulty spark plug. To be sure, purchase a spark plug tester to see if the spark plug is producing a strong blue spark. If not, follow these steps:

• Remove the spark plug cap and wire. Take a ratchet and attach a spark plug socket to grab the head of the spark plug.
• Once the socket is set, turn the ratchet in a counterclockwise motion until the plug becomes loose. 
• Take off the old plug using your hands. Now, set the new plug with a gaping tool and install it where the old one was placed.

Fuel System Malfunctions

Clogged filters and injectors, an empty carburetor bowl, and a faulty fuel pump are some of the most common reasons why the engine doesn’t receive enough fuel for combustion. Due to the lack of fuel or improper air-fuel ratio, your motorcycle can turn off unusually.

• Diagnosis and Fix:

Symptoms like engine sputtering, hesitating, whining noises, and loose connections or lines indicate a failing fuel system. To fix the fuel problem, first, replace the fuel filters, clean the carburetor and fuel injectors, and refill the carburetor bowl. 

If this doesn’t work, get professional help to properly diagnose the vehicle and replace the malfunctioning parts. 

Bad Starter Motor

Without the starter motor, your motorcycle engine won’t crank or start. The internal components of the motor can seize or lock up. Sometimes the starter brushes also wear out. In both cases, the engine cranks weakly or doesn’t crank at all.

• Diagnosis and Fix:  

If your engine is illuminating the headlights but not cranking or starting, a bad starter motor is to blame. To fix this:

• Locate the starter motor below the carburetor or on the crankcase and take off the screws holding the end cap. Remove the cap to access the internal components of the starter motor.
• Visually inspect the parts for rust, damage, and fitting. You’ll have to remove several washers, nuts, and screws to detach the parts.
• If it’s only rust on the metal parts, removing it will fix the issue. However, for major damage, you must replace the starter component.

Blown Fuse and Damaged Wire

Your motorcycle has several fuses and wires connecting the battery to the bike components. A blown fuse or broken wire disconnects the power supply from the battery. 

When the bad fuse or wire is related to the key components responsible for turning on and running the vehicle, it will cause the vehicle to turn off.

• Diagnosis and Fix:

A visual inspection is the best way to diagnose the fuse and other electric components. Locate the fuse box near the battery or under the seat. Check the burnt fuses with a test light for electricity continuity. 

Simply pull out the blown fuse with pliers and replace the new ones. As for broken wires, you can get help from a mechanic to locate them. Replace or fix the wires as necessary. 

Bad Clutch or Kickstand Switch

Both these engine shut-off devices are safety features that prevent the engine from turning on to avoid unwanted incidents. 

If the clutch switch or kickstand switch goes bad while you’re riding the motorcycle, the main control unit of the vehicle might get the wrong signals and shut off the engine.

• Diagnosis and Fix:

When the engine cranks but won’t start, check if the clutch is pulled in and whether the kickstand is up. To fix this, all you need to do is locate the switch and replace it. Refer to your motorcycle owner or service manuals for accurate instructions.

Final Words

While the motorcycle died while riding and won’t start issue is concerning, it’s usually an easy and cheap fix. In most cases, it’s related to the battery or fuel system. Inspect the related parts for signs of deposits and damage. 

Once you find the faulty component, replace it to avoid having the same issue in the future. Keep in mind that you should never jump-start the motorcycle if you suspect any battery malfunctions. It can damage the cells further and void your warranty. Instead, diagnose the suspected part and fix it as needed.