99% likely it's the carb which is quite normal for these bikes, It's like Kawasaki engineers said, lets make this thing as hard to start as posssible, and they succeeded.

I also do the crank and rest as dynobob suggested, otherwise I'll flatten the battery if the bike has been sitting.

 

The choke **** has a sweet spot about half way out, you have to hold it in that position as it wont stay there on it's own. Even though we don't have a pumper carb my bike still likes a little flogging on the throttle and it can be coaxed into starting most times as long as it's above 20 or so degrees.

 

[B]Happy Thanksgiving folks,

Got my KLX fixed and running today. The neutral connector plug was loose and had a dirty connection to the stud located on the neutral safety switch. It's on the left side of the crankcase below the shift lever. I removed and carefully squeezed the plug with pliers(to tighten the connection), sprayed it with contact cleaner, and pushed it back on. It sparked properly and started. ]

 

A lot of us have bypassed that switch as well as the clutch switch. Both tend to cause problems at the worst possible times. Both are "lawyer" switches; bikes never used to have either one.

 

ol'klx-er,

I would do that except that I can't guarantee that my son who rides it won't take off with the kickstand deployed. I own 3 bikes and I have mistakedly tried to start out with the kickstands deployed at least once on all 3. My intent is to maintain the kickstand safety interlocks to prevent injury. I chose not to bypass them a long time ago. Thanks for your input though.

 

I finally bypassed my kickstand switch a couple of years ago, and I was at the post office and forgot to kick it up, and nearly high sided in front of people, so be careful with that.

 

Hey guys...let me back up here a minute. My "lawyer switches" have been gone so long that I can't remember exactly what happens here. I thought when any of these switches were engaged and operating, that the engine will not turn over with the starter at all...thereby alerting you to a possible safety issue. If the OP's bike would crank, is that really part of the clutch, neutral, or sidestand switch operation? To me this would indicate another problem. What say ye?

 

Duh;

 

I think you sir are correct. ???
I have disabled all of my switches too.
I have since left with the kickstand down, but only once. I was able to kick it up before anything catastrophic happened.
Dan

 

Fuzzy memories:
Kickstand switch: kickstand down, neutral - engine runs; put it in gear, release clutch lever engine dies.
Clutch switch: interacts with kickstand switch ie overrides it when clutch lever pulled to handlebar. Also lets you crank engine when in gear as long as clutch is pulled in.
remember - fuzzy memories.