Stupid question but I have to ask. I saw a post from someone about the safety switches on the side stand and clutch. I bought a used 98 awhile back and never thought any thing of this, but I can only start the bike in neutral. Should I be able to start the bike in gear with the clutch engaged? If so I guess my clutch switch is bad.

 

Yes there is a clutch switch. Look for the wires going to it. It could be unplugged or dirty contacts. There is a screw underneath. Take it apart, clean it and try again.

 

You can jump the wires going to the switch to verify that the switch is indeed the prolem.

 

Strange issue. I have it too. I tracked it down to the switch not getting engaged when the clutch lever is pulled. The switch works fine, but for some reason pulling the clutch lever in doesn't engage it adequately. For any that have had this assembly apart, is there anything that goes between the cam at the end of the clutch lever and the button on the switch? If so, it would seem that this is what I am missing...

 

no, but mine did this too and I just glued a little plastic shim on the cam to make it deeper and it is fully functioning now. Sooo nice being able to start the bike in a gear that's not neutral

 

Or you can disable to switch all together. Mine failed on me at a gas station and I couldn't leave, it would stall everytime I put it into gear.

I can start it in any gear now, I just don't have the safety light reminding me the stand is down.

 

I think he's talking about the clutch switch where the lever meets the MC, not the sidestand switch like your little adventure .

If the clutch switch is not functioning, you can put it in gear after you start it, you just have to start it in neutral...

 

Ya, mine never started in gear either so I just though it was just the side stand switch. It does now though.