skipkb wrote on 01/19/12 at 07:12:41:actually justin, I'm just wondering what the decomp timer is? ha! (newbie!)
short story: it is the thing that first goes *click* when you want to start your bike
long story: it opens one of the valves on the engine when the starter is engaged so that the engine is easier for the starter to turn over. the timer part is all about when it kicks in and for how long.
location story: under the tank (you'll have to have the tank off) on the right side you'll see a short fat black cylinder, maybe 2" in diameter and an inch wide. that is the solenoid. it actuates a lever that pulls up on the cable do-hickey on the opposite side of the bike mounted on the head of the engine.
Though, right now, I'm leaning towards a safety switch issue on the kickstand/clutch, a brain fart (we all have those days...), or a loose connection somewhere. If you're going to take off the seat and tank, might as well make sure all the terminals have a decent connection and they aren't starting to work themselves apart.
I don't know how much of a newbie you are, but sometimes it helps rolling the bike forward/backward a foot or so while lightly touching the shift lever to get the bike in neutral. for first, on our bikes, sometimes you have to let the clutch out and pull it back in again too.