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2006 Honda Shadow VLX600.

I am a non-mechanic, so this may be something simple, but alas my searching has led me here.

Bike's been running fine until I get up this morning and it won't start. Not even the famous clicking of a dead battery, just no lights no clicking, notta. Didn't have time to screw with before going to work. I come home and get it push started, but it sounds like complete crap...choke on full, it's backfiring and the lights are just sort of flickering. I keep it running for about 5 minutes and kill it. I give it about 5 minutes, thinking I flooded it and push start it again. Now it sounds perfect and all the lights are steady. I put it in neutral and go inside to let the battery charge for about 15 minutes. When I go back out the lights are flickering again and it's backfiring again, idling very badly. I kill it and of course it won't start with the ignition again.

From what I've read it could be anything from the spark plugs to the alternator to the solenoid. I am looking for the simple checks I can do before hauling it into a shop. It's right at about 8000 miles and it had 5500 when I bought it. It's never acted like this before. Any suggestions?

Mine did that too once, check your battery connections.

Yep sounds like a loose connection.

Pulled the battery, tested it, and trickle charged it just in case. Hooked it all back up and same story. I put the key in and turn it...no lights, no nothing. This is really turning into a mystery. Maybe a coil? Any other ideas?

Start by checking all the power and ground connections in the system.

Well if it wasn't that then I'm assuming one of the switches is out. I'm guessing the key switch or the kill switch are not making connections. If you're decent with a multi-meter then I'd test those two first. (Start with the kill switch, it's the easiest to test usually.)

I'm pretty good with the meter, as I'm testing fuses at work all day (although that is just for continuity), but all the visible connections seem to be fine. I'm starting to think the ignition has just flopped. My biggest concern is why it was firing all crazy when I push started it....makes me think it has no electrical even when the fuel is pushing through it (very bad from what I've heard...forcing fuel through it.) Sigh...thanks for all the help so far everyone.