Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all,

Have a Bullet 500 (2017) recently converted from EFI to carb using Hitchcock's carb conversion kit with an Amal carb by the gents at GV Bikes in Taunton. Have done more than a few hundred miles on it since and been running much improved.

Have previously had a flat battery at some stage and at least lights etc have turned on even if bike hasn't started so am familiar with what that is like.

Put key in ignition just now and nothing at all from the bike, no lights, nothing on the dashboard, no reaction at all when the key is turned.

Any ideas what this is likely to be? Have only had the bike a couple of years from new and its turning into a real money pit - if its not one thing its the other!

Cheers all

I'd check the kill switch is on. Next I'd check the main fuse (blown?), the battery (flat?) and the battery terminals (connected and tight?). Simple things first.

Side stand cut out switch is also one to check. I disconnected mine after a stone flew out of the front wheel and broke the switch killing the engine on a full tilt left hander at 50 mph, had to pick it up a bit quick.

Battery Earth, give it a good clean..

@Stinkwheel - wouldn't that just cut the engine but keep electrics on? There is literally zero electics. No neutral light etc.

When Thumper died on me, I had similar symptoms. I took months checking wiring for breaks and shorts. When I connected a 12 v supply everything worked.


New battery solved it....

What the kill switch does depends on the bike. I'm not actually sure what it does on the EFI bikes so i mdentioned it. It's easy to check it's on though. I usually mention it because we all do it. In fact, I did the equivalent at the weekend. Spent about 5 minutes trying to start my bullet in front of all my mates working up a muck-sweat. Then noticed the ignition was off...



I just swore blind I was making sure it had plenty of oil at the top-end before starting it.

I once helped a mate push his Honda CB750 five miles over dark country lanes from the pub car park because he said it had run out of fuel. Just before we got to the garage he noticed....the kill switch was OFF.