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My 97 magna won't start, I'll give the relevant info below...

New to me magna, bought on the 25th, first real ride on the 27th. Had some gas in it, seemed okay. Filled with 1.75 gallons of new gas on Wed, I'd have run down the old gas entirely but I didn't want to run out (didn't know how much was in there).

Was riding today, was in a lot of very slow moving traffic, idling/inching along in first gear. Then hit a cut-through of central park, moved non-stop for about a mile in 2nd. At the end of the cut through there was a read light, I downshifted and the bike stalled. Couldn't get it started so I walked it on to the sidewalk.

There I tried starting it, and the starter would whir but it wouldn't take. Left it alone for a couple minutes. Tried starting again, with and without the choke, finally got it started. Turned the bike off. Then tried to start the bike and got nothing. Waited about 10 minutes and tried again. Started up okay, let it idle in neutral for a couple minutes, rode a few blocks closer to my apartment, when it stalled again and wouldn't start.

Tried waiting again but no luck. Pressing the starter would create one of a.)a little noise then cutting off b.) nothing/ no noise c.) no noise just a hard click. The lights seemed fine through all this though they dim some when the starter button is pressed.

Wound up walking the bike home about 5 blocks.

So...what's wrong?
-old gas?
-clogged lines?
-battery?
-spark plugs?

I think hope that's everything...oh, I rode it about 90 miles this week without any problems till today...after walking the bike home a trip to the bar was in order...

did the battery seem run down? If the battery went dead your stator or voltage regulator may be shot.

if its a 97 the battery has prob never been changed or if it has it was a few years ago. I am leaning towards a battery problem. Have you tried charging the battery? If you buy a 12v battery charger you should be able to charge it. if it dies soon after It is not the battery but something else like above post mentions.

jmillheiser wrote:did the battery seem run down? If the battery went dead your stator or voltage regulator may be shot.

It REALLY wanted to be rev'd to get moving (or it'd stall) the past couple days but its a new bike to me and I figured that was normal since its kind of rev happy anyways.

If it was the battery wouldn't the lights and signals be failing?

FlyerPhil wrote:

jmillheiser wrote:did the battery seem run down? If the battery went dead your stator or voltage regulator may be shot.

It REALLY wanted to be rev'd to get moving (or it'd stall) the past couple days but its a new bike to me and I figured that was normal since its kind of rev happy anyways.

If it was the battery wouldn't the lights and signals be failing?

hmm not sure after this point. if the lights and signals are on full brightness my only thought would be the starter.

maybe putting a post in the Trouble shooting forum would help as they may know more than I do.

If it was the battery wouldn't the lights and signals be failing?

not necessarily, but i thought the same thing when i had a similar problem recently. the battery will hold enough charge that when i turned the key on, the lights all came on and looked proper, but the battery would be under a pretty significant drain from the get go so that i couldn't really get it started.

if you don't have one, buy a volt meter and see if your battery is holding a charge. It may be part of the problem since a lot of the time people don't take care of their batteries and even if they do, 5+ years might be pushing it on one battery.

bok wrote: if you don't have one, buy a volt meter and see if your battery is holding a charge. It may be part of the problem since a lot of the time people don't take care of their batteries and even if they do, 5+ years might be pushing it on one battery.

I'll definitely pick up a voltmeter.

I took the battery out and got it charged. Bike started right up. Didn't have time to take it out though. I guess I'll see how it holds the charge (so, uh..it'd be good for me to get that voltmeter soon) and maybe get a new battery. Saw some online, seemed like they're only about $60. Not a big problem.