Thanks for this great video 7 years later. Whenever I am standing or carrying speed through woops the throttle was cutting out. I thought it was a fuel problem at first before realizing it was my kickstand switch.
Maaaan, thank you. This video just saved me so much grief! I've had the bike for about four months, my first DRZ so still a lot I don't know about it. About 2 months ago I took it to an Enduro race and while on the track going over big bumps and especially while going up hills, the bike would just lose power and start bucking, then stalling. Eventually the battery ran out of juice and I had to abort and be towed out of the race course. Very frustrating and embarrassing. I'd been having the same problem on and off, especially when standing on the pegs (didn't realize then that my heel kept activating the switch by pushing down slightly on the kickstand while standing). Today I decided to do an internet search for this problem and found your video. Easily done in 15min and PROBLEM SOLVED!😁 I can finally ride hard in the woods and now the bike does exactly what I want! Highly recommended video and MUST-DO mod for the DRZ400.
Love your drz videos ! Did the clutch and currently doing the kickstand switch bypass ! Next will be the headlight switch mod ! Great videos I subscribed !
Thanks for sharing....My clutch safety switch just gave me some problems...bike would not start etc....Thank God I was able to locate the problem....My next project will be the clutch & the kick stand bypass....to make things safer !!!
While this method certainly works, another method is to prevent the switch from activating. I created a small "bracket" that bolts up with the two switch mounting bolts that keeps the switch in the depressed position. The kickstand can now bounce around (a legitimate concern) without the switch stopping the engine. (I have a picture of mine...how do I post it?)
Unfortunately, TH-cam comments don't allow for pictures to be posted in the comments section like in other forums, but I get what you are saying with using a bracket. Makes it easier to reverse also if you wanted the switch to work for some reason (like maybe teaching a new rider or something.)
I don't, sorry. Here's a link though to the Thumpertalk message board that covers the common fixes in pretty good detail: thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/939138-what-every-drz-needs-protection-reliability-fixes-common-maint/
Can someone help out please? I did all of this and when I put the bike into first gear it straight up kills the engine. As if the killswitch was still active somehow.
Are you positive you jumpered the right set of wires? Was it working before you tried to bypass? If you cut the wires between the plug under the seat and the kickstand switch and then soldered them together like I did in the video, the first thing that comes to mind is perhaps there is some fault in the plug that is leaving the circuit open (making the bike think the kickstand is down.) You can test this by pulling the plug apart and jumpering the female side of the plug. If that makes it work right then you know the circuit isn't being closed between the two sides of the plug. You could at that point just cut the plug out completely and solder the wires together. Sometimes when you are pulling on wires and plugs things can come apart inside the plug connections.
Thanks for the response! After I wrote this I quickly remembered I didn't bypass the wires together and had to take everything apart again and fix this. Works ok now and so far :) Thanks again though!
@@WheeliePete I have a question that I may know the answer to just want another opinion, I followed both your videos for the clutch switch and the kickstand switch. did everything you did. But I ended up blowing my main fuse. now I have no clue how that would have happened, because all wires were wrapped in either plastic or the heat shrink wrap. I got more fuses but wondered if you may have an idea why it would blow? Cheers :)
@@beny00777 Sorry I didn't see this earlier. The main fuse will blow when you short something to ground. You either shorted to ground while you were doing the mods, or there's a bare wire in there somewhere coming into contact with something it shouldn't. Did you find the issue?
Ever had your engine cut out in rough terrain because of a flopping sidestand then refire while you've got a big handful of throttle?...Yeah...that sucks worse. Check-sweeping the sidestand with your foot will be muscle memory after the first time you leave it down.
@@WheeliePete hmm cause I been riding for 35 years and still forget some times. Always took kick stand off my dirt bike. It's my road bike that has a stand. I'll tie a string on my finger I guess
Usually the problem with kickstand switches is they fail at the most inopportune time (like randomly on the side of the road in the middle of a storm) and your stuck there cobbling a bypass together on the side of the road (KLR650 I'm looking at you!). The DR-Z has a good, reliable mechanism, but once you get bouncing off-road it likes to activate at very little movement of the kickstand which kills the engine. If it fires up immediately you can get a nice whiskey throttle, or if it doesn't fire back up, you might be heading over the bars. This is one of those things where when faced with the choice of bike failure (engine cut out due to kickstand bounce) or rider error (leaving the kickstand down), I'll put the onus on me to do the right thing and eliminate the potential mechanical failure. It does wake you right up though when you leave it down though. Although, on the DR-Z all I've ever had it do was jolt the bike up a bit, unload the rear suspension and then knock the stand back. I learn from my mistakes pretty quick, like the time I did a quick take off in a parking lot with the steering lock engaged on my big cruiser. The bike made a hard left and I went straight. That's was embarrassing AF and I've NEVER failed to check the steering lock when taking off on another bike ever again.
@@WheeliePete hey almost all my bike time has been on mx bikes. Only been riding a road bike a couple years. I heard something about a rubber thing that put the stand up if forgot and that was what I was looking for when I found your video. I'm unfamiliar with this rubber thing. Wanted to see a picture. No luck yet. Where can i find a picture? Thanks
There is, but removing it really isn't a problem. There's an extensive explanation on this subject (why removing it isn't a problem) along with technical links in the video description section on TH-cam. If you're watching on mobile just touch the video title on the viewing screen and it should expand the video description section.
Thanks for this great video 7 years later. Whenever I am standing or carrying speed through woops the throttle was cutting out.
I thought it was a fuel problem at first before realizing it was my kickstand switch.
Maaaan, thank you. This video just saved me so much grief! I've had the bike for about four months, my first DRZ so still a lot I don't know about it. About 2 months ago I took it to an Enduro race and while on the track going over big bumps and especially while going up hills, the bike would just lose power and start bucking, then stalling. Eventually the battery ran out of juice and I had to abort and be towed out of the race course. Very frustrating and embarrassing.
I'd been having the same problem on and off, especially when standing on the pegs (didn't realize then that my heel kept activating the switch by pushing down slightly on the kickstand while standing).
Today I decided to do an internet search for this problem and found your video. Easily done in 15min and PROBLEM SOLVED!😁 I can finally ride hard in the woods and now the bike does exactly what I want! Highly recommended video and MUST-DO mod for the DRZ400.
Love your drz videos ! Did the clutch and currently doing the kickstand switch bypass ! Next will be the headlight switch mod ! Great videos I subscribed !
Talk about being thorough! Great video, thanks.
What great information. I couldn't figure out why. I thought it was a fuel problem. Thsnks
Thanks for sharing....My clutch safety switch just gave me some problems...bike would not start
etc....Thank God I was able to locate the problem....My next project will be the clutch & the kick stand
bypass....to make things safer !!!
Excellent tutorial. Super easy to follow and I did it in 10 minutes. Thanks!!!
I like how it was done and not hacked!!! I'm going to be doing it.
The blue looks really good
Why would someone give this video the thumbs down?
Thanks for the video.
They have a KLX400 and thus can't use this tutorial?
an accident I’d say?
Thanks, I’m having throttle Cut off problems while standing on the bike. I read that the kickstand switch is the culprit. I will do your mod!
Thanks i wondered why the hell my bike lost power when i stand. Fantastic video!
Same here. Steep downhills and when rocking back on the footpegs, I'd push the kickstand down with my heel.
Nice and short, and very accurate. Great video mate.
New drz400sm owner here! Keep em vids coming! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 lol
Great video man. This has been on my list to do for awhile. Now I know how to do it.
Awesome. Thank you.
a must do! thank you sir.
Great vid I have the 2017 drz400sm, you have a soothing voice I bet u can sing like a boss too.
Cheers bud.
Again Great vid!
New subscriber, cheers
While this method certainly works, another method is to prevent the switch from activating. I created a small "bracket" that bolts up with the two switch mounting bolts that keeps the switch in the depressed position. The kickstand can now bounce around (a legitimate concern) without the switch stopping the engine. (I have a picture of mine...how do I post it?)
Unfortunately, TH-cam comments don't allow for pictures to be posted in the comments section like in other forums, but I get what you are saying with using a bracket. Makes it easier to reverse also if you wanted the switch to work for some reason (like maybe teaching a new rider or something.)
Your technique is what I want to use because in the service manual it looks like there is a diode with the switch
Hey Pete! Do you have a video for the locktite fixes?
I don't, sorry. Here's a link though to the Thumpertalk message board that covers the common fixes in pretty good detail: thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/939138-what-every-drz-needs-protection-reliability-fixes-common-maint/
You didn't check ignition until you had bike back together 😂😂.. jk. Thanks
Can someone help out please? I did all of this and when I put the bike into first gear it straight up kills the engine. As if the killswitch was still active somehow.
Are you positive you jumpered the right set of wires? Was it working before you tried to bypass? If you cut the wires between the plug under the seat and the kickstand switch and then soldered them together like I did in the video, the first thing that comes to mind is perhaps there is some fault in the plug that is leaving the circuit open (making the bike think the kickstand is down.) You can test this by pulling the plug apart and jumpering the female side of the plug. If that makes it work right then you know the circuit isn't being closed between the two sides of the plug. You could at that point just cut the plug out completely and solder the wires together. Sometimes when you are pulling on wires and plugs things can come apart inside the plug connections.
Thanks for the response! After I wrote this I quickly remembered I didn't bypass the wires together and had to take everything apart again and fix this. Works ok now and so far :) Thanks again though!
Awesome! Glad you got it working!
@@WheeliePete I have a question that I may know the answer to just want another opinion, I followed both your videos for the clutch switch and the kickstand switch. did everything you did. But I ended up blowing my main fuse. now I have no clue how that would have happened, because all wires were wrapped in either plastic or the heat shrink wrap. I got more fuses but wondered if you may have an idea why it would blow?
Cheers :)
@@beny00777 Sorry I didn't see this earlier. The main fuse will blow when you short something to ground. You either shorted to ground while you were doing the mods, or there's a bare wire in there somewhere coming into contact with something it shouldn't. Did you find the issue?
Have you ever forgot to raise the side stand then took a hard left? It sucks.
Ever had your engine cut out in rough terrain because of a flopping sidestand then refire while you've got a big handful of throttle?...Yeah...that sucks worse. Check-sweeping the sidestand with your foot will be muscle memory after the first time you leave it down.
@@WheeliePete hmm cause I been riding for 35 years and still forget some times. Always took kick stand off my dirt bike. It's my road bike that has a stand. I'll tie a string on my finger I guess
Usually the problem with kickstand switches is they fail at the most inopportune time (like randomly on the side of the road in the middle of a storm) and your stuck there cobbling a bypass together on the side of the road (KLR650 I'm looking at you!). The DR-Z has a good, reliable mechanism, but once you get bouncing off-road it likes to activate at very little movement of the kickstand which kills the engine. If it fires up immediately you can get a nice whiskey throttle, or if it doesn't fire back up, you might be heading over the bars. This is one of those things where when faced with the choice of bike failure (engine cut out due to kickstand bounce) or rider error (leaving the kickstand down), I'll put the onus on me to do the right thing and eliminate the potential mechanical failure. It does wake you right up though when you leave it down though. Although, on the DR-Z all I've ever had it do was jolt the bike up a bit, unload the rear suspension and then knock the stand back. I learn from my mistakes pretty quick, like the time I did a quick take off in a parking lot with the steering lock engaged on my big cruiser. The bike made a hard left and I went straight. That's was embarrassing AF and I've NEVER failed to check the steering lock when taking off on another bike ever again.
Your right about having rider error as a better option.
@@WheeliePete hey almost all my bike time has been on mx bikes. Only been riding a road bike a couple years. I heard something about a rubber thing that put the stand up if forgot and that was what I was looking for when I found your video. I'm unfamiliar with this rubber thing. Wanted to see a picture. No luck yet. Where can i find a picture? Thanks
In the service manual it looks like there is a diode with the switch
There is, but removing it really isn't a problem. There's an extensive explanation on this subject (why removing it isn't a problem) along with technical links in the video description section on TH-cam. If you're watching on mobile just touch the video title on the viewing screen and it should expand the video description section.
I support this bypass logic but absolutely cutting something from the bike.
Yeah I totally don't just tie my kickstand up... (it's very annoying but I'm lazy)