Bike left me stranded :(

beaverge

beaverge

Joined
May 30, 2026
Messages
7
Age
25
Location
Greenville, OH
Bike
1999 ST1100
was commuting home today and the bike slowly started losing power on me

I got to a busy intersection where I had no choice but to stop and I could tell that it wasn't going to get moving again once I stopped

I'm thinking it's probably a fuel pump or a relay for it.

Where do you guys source parts for these bikes? I've always gone straight to O'Reilly, but they don't carry a fuel pump for this bike. 99abs

Or maybe it's another common issue that I'm not aware of open to any ideas feedback and information
 

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First check the connector to the main relay. There’s a possibility it’s melted. An easy repair, splice out the burnt bits of wire with new and attach insulated female spade connectors. Take note of where each wire goes in the connector or there’s a possibility of burning out the clutch diode.
Fuel shut off valve could also be a culprit, you can bypass it.
Do you hear the humm of the fuel pump when you turn on the ignition?
 
Uncle Phil said:
Does it still have the fuel cutoff valve in place?
Bypass it and see if it fixes the problem before you fuss with the fuel pump.
Click to expand...

It's under the plastic right where your right knee would be. Once you have the plastic off, it's about a 20 min job. All you need to know is in the first post (with pictures). A bunch of us have deleted the vacuum operated aux. fuel valve. It might take a bit to get the bike to start afterwards because the 4 carb. bowls are probably empty. If that doesn't fix your problem, you can simply re-plumb it. Don't forget to plug the vac. hose.

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/th...an-emergency-bypass-of-the-fuel-valve.165803/

If that doesn't fix it, check back.
 
Last edited:
As others have said: see if it turns with the starter- battery good (yes and always good to make sure leads are affixed well)
Check the fuel vacuum valve (easy) and bypass at least temporarily. If still an issue, may be fuel pump as others have stated.
Check for spark (involves taking out one plug and wire and seeing if there is spark at the spark plug).
 
beaverge said:
was commuting home today and the bike slowly started losing power on me

I got to a busy intersection where I had no choice but to stop and I could tell that it wasn't going to get moving again once I stopped

I'm thinking it's probably a fuel pump or a relay for it.

Where do you guys source parts for these bikes? I've always gone straight to O'Reilly, but they don't carry a fuel pump for this bike. 99abs

Or maybe it's another common issue that I'm not aware of open to any ideas feedback and information
Click to expand...
That sounds like my experience. My 1991 lost power coming up to a red light. Pushed it to the curb and it restarted....I had to hold it at pretty high rpm to ride it the three or so miles back home. Awkward.
Found the problem pretty quickly by pulling my plug wires off alternately, one at a time. A coil had gone bad and its two plugs were not firing. Got a new pair waiting for and temps to drop significantly below 'broil' in our garage.
 
Oldbikefixr said:
That sounds like my experience. My 1991 lost power coming up to a red light. Pushed it to the curb and it restarted....I had to hold it at pretty high rpm to ride it the three or so miles back home. Awkward.
Found the problem pretty quickly by pulling my plug wires off alternately, one at a time. A coil had gone bad and its two plugs were not firing. Got a new pair waiting for and temps to drop significantly below 'broil' in our garage.
Click to expand...
An owner in South Africa experienced intermittent poor spark and difficulties keeping it running and was traced back to corroded wiring in a plug near the coils at the steering head. Just like the red wire bypass, you need to disconnect these plugs to check their condition.
 
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