Skid Mark wrote on 08/22/08 at 20:14:11: You will also notice when you hit the start button, the bike kills the lights to help save the battery.
On the newer bike..... Not on my 2001....
As for the delay... that is 100% normal. There is a timer circuit that triggers the Decompression sloenooid first, then the starter. The fraction of a second delay allows the mechcanical parts time to engage.
Aaaaaa...... I didn't see anything written saying you heard the solenoid engage...... I hope you hear the clunk (or maybe it is better described as a clack....)