No Start

Joined
Jul 16, 2026
Messages
3
Age
45
Location
New Mexico
Bike
ST 1100
1998 ST1100 most of the bike is completely rebuilt minus the plastics. I got it from the shop and ran/rode great. Come home shut the bike off, now no start. I've taken it back to the shop several times he gets it going but says he doesn't find an issue. I get it home fires up, go for a ride come back, next day no start. I have taken to the shop several times and always the same thing. I've removed the fuel cap thinking vapor lock and still no start. The bike shop is just too far to try and keep it going. Any advice, something I'm missing?
Thank you in advance!

It turns over easy. It's definitely getting gas, can smell it. I've pulled the plugs and getting spark. Just not firing.
 
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1998 ST1100 most of the bike is completely rebuilt minus the plastics. I got it from the shop and ran/rode great. Come home shut the bike off, now no start. I've taken it back to the shop several times he gets it going but says he doesn't find an issue. I get it home fires up, go for a ride come back, next day no start. I have taken to the shop several times and always the same thing. I've removed the fuel cap thinking vapor lock and still no start. The bike shop is just too far to try and keep it going. Any advice, something I'm missing?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Jaxon. I dont have any experience with the ST 1100 but there will be many people here soon that will have suggestions for you. Dont get frustrated with them. their knowledge is from many years or riding ST 1100s. Sometimes a suggestion is repeated by many, just be patient. And WELCOME from Southeast Georgia USA.
 
1998 ST1100 most of the bike is completely rebuilt minus the plastics. I got it from the shop and ran/rode great. Come home shut the bike off, now no start. I've taken it back to the shop several times he gets it going but says he doesn't find an issue. I get it home fires up, go for a ride come back, next day no start. I have taken to the shop several times and always the same thing. I've removed the fuel cap thinking vapor lock and still no start. The bike shop is just too far to try and keep it going. Any advice, something I'm missing?
Thank you in advance!
How do you get it back to the shop? How does he, the shop, get it started? Are you using the choke, does it fast idle with the choke on? Did you try opening up the throttle to see if it's flooded? What do you mean by "try to keep it going"?
 
I put it in the back of the truck to get it to the shop and back. Nearest shop is 6+ hours round trip. It runs great when i get it back from the shop but won't start again after shutting it off. I usually have to use the choke to start initially. But after 1 ride no start. Loading into the truck and driving 6 hours round trip twice is getting old, that's why I'm hoping someone here will have a solution.
 
"Won't start" - does that mean it will not turn over (as in the battery is dead) or it turns over but will not fire up?
It is normal to turn on the choke (technically a fuel enricher) before you start a ST1100 regardless of temperature.
Are you smelling gas when you try to start it?
Is fuel visible in the fuel filter?
Have you checked to see if you have spark at the plugs?
If it is a 'fire' issue you should be able to pull the spark plugs and they will be wet.
What is your voltage at the battery before trying to start it?
Does it spin pretty easily or very slowly?
 
before going any further, please be specific about what does and doesn't happen when you try to start the bike.

Its turning over, but not firing?

not turning over at all?

can you hear the fuel pump priming upon turning the key to the "on" position?

We can eventually help, but you're going to have to provide more info on what exactly is happening to narrow down the potential causes.
 
Many will recommend starting with either the fuel pump being faulty or the fuel vacuum valve (which is easier to correct and bypass)- that would be the first thing to do.
I didn't even think about the Vacuum valve and I've replaced or bypassed it on other bikes. I'll give that a shot tomorrow.
 
"can you hear the fuel pump priming upon turning the key to the "on" position?"

The priming only last approximately 5 seconds if the pump relay is working properly. It will do the 5 second run every time the key is turned on. However, if the vacuum operated fuel valve is in place, the fuel will not go past it. It must have the motor turning over to create vacuum to open the valve.

Do you have a meter to check the battery voltage while trying to start the bike? Have someone push the start button while some one is checking the battery voltage (unless you can clip meter leads to the battery).

Will it start if you "jump" start it (car motor off)?
 
I put it in the back of the truck to get it to the shop and back. Nearest shop is 6+ hours round trip. It runs great when i get it back from the shop but won't start again after shutting it off. I usually have to use the choke to start initially. But after 1 ride no start. Loading into the truck and driving 6 hours round trip twice is getting old, that's why I'm hoping someone here will have a solution.
When you go to the shop to collect, do they start the biker several times to make sure it starts?
Do you ride it home, or use the pick up to bring home?
If you ride it home, that is approx3 hour drive - any problems?
If you bring it home in the pickup, does it only start once, then ever after it will not start at all?
 
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