Motorcycle help?

[Oscar.ka]

Hi guys,

so i just bought a bike it cost me a few houndered quid its a super moto i know nothing about bikes but got it to learn.

so a few things were missing such as a battery, carb and airbox and the wiring is a mess.

i got a battery and i just wanted to plug it in to see what lights work and what ever.

problem is when i try to plug it in sparks start flying from the battery and the bike engine is turning over but the key is out so why is that happening?

and how do i stop it from happening?

thanks!

[PaoloMey]

Oscar.ka said:

Hi guys,

so i just bought a bike it cost me a few houndered quid its a super moto i know nothing about bikes but got it to learn.

so a few things were missing such as a battery, carb and airbox and the wiring is a mess.

i got a battery and i just wanted to plug it in to see what lights work and what ever.

problem is when i try to plug it in sparks start flying from the battery and the bike engine is turning over but the key is out so why is that happening?

and how do i stop it from happening?

thanks!

Get a manual and look up those electric circuits, correct any wrong wiring.
Second get an airbox or a KN filter cage, the later is most likely more conveniently priced.
Youtube is your friend when it comes to riding.

[InitialDave]

I'm afraid this may be one of those "if you don't know where to begin, you probably can't be simply told on a forum post" situations.

I'd start with a wiring diagram for whatever bike it is and a cheap multimeter, and trace through all the connections. It can be an arse, but broadly speaking, if you can follow a tube map, it's more time consuming than technically difficult.

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Oscar.ka said:

so i just bought a bike it cost me a few houndered quid

Sounds like a bit of a dog to me!

[curlie467]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Oscar.ka said:

so i just bought a bike it cost me a few houndered quid

Sounds like a bit of a dog to me!

It's definitely going to be a bit ruff

[Mr2Mike]

Sounds like the starter solenoid is stuck closed (e.g. contacts welded).

[Biker 1]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Sounds like a bit of a dog to me!

sounds like it might have been nicked to me....

[carinaman]

Biker 1 said:

sounds like it might have been nicked to me....

I thought that too.

[Long Drax]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Oscar.ka said:

so i just bought a bike it cost me a few houndered quid

Sounds like a bit of a dog to me!

Might be a Hounda.

[SAS Tom]

Long Drax said:

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Oscar.ka said:

so i just bought a bike it cost me a few houndered quid

Sounds like a bit of a dog to me!

Might be a Hounda.

Possibly a mutt.

[Mr2Mike]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Sounds like a bit of a dog to me!

Biker 1 said:

sounds like it might have been nicked to me....

A hot dog?

[Pothole]

Oscar.ka said:

Hi guys,

when i try to plug it in sparks start flying from the battery and the bike engine is turning over but the key is out so why is that happening?

and how do i stop it from happening?

Short answer, stop connecting the battery.

I doubt very much that sparks fly "from the battery" do they?

[meridian]

Pothole said:

Short answer, stop connecting the battery.

I doubt very much that sparks fly "from the battery" do they?

I think he probably means it is sparking, and for the very reason that the starter motor is drawing current, very probably for the reason that Mr2Mike has given. Normally when connecting a battery, there is minimal current draw, but the starter motor is the single biggest consumer, and, as Mr2Mike says if the solenoid terminals are permanently connected (welded, fried or whatever) then unless you hold the battery lead on with proper commitment it will spark from that initial currect draw. If you're not expecting it to spark heavily, then the natural thing is to let go of it which will cause it to spark even more until all contact is lost i.e it will arc for however many microseconds as the connectors brake apart. Starter circuit permanently live for whatever reason, and potentially easy fix