I got this bike used a month ago. She is a 2009 Suzuki S40.

She ran fine in the morning, but started her up in the evening, and she turns over, but there's no ignition.

Now I'm troubleshooting, and wanting to remove the seat to get to the air filter element (which I found out hasn't been cleaned in a year) and she's nearly at 4K miles—her second big "check everything" mile marker, so I'm thinking of checking everything—and saddlebags are obstructing my reach to get to the seat bolts.

I can't seem to see HOW to get the saddlebags off. They are Viking Soft bags, but hard mounted (no quick-release). Anyone have a clue?

I'd appreciate any and all help, as I am a complete mechanical newb, and a motorcycle newb, only riding her around in the parking lot (getting to know her) before this happened.

THANKS so much, in advance.

A picture would help!  So many different ways to mount things, especially if it was done using a homemade bracket, which is what I had to do for my Viking bags.

I suggest you open the bags and look inside for a bolt on the inside that goes through to a nut on the outside (between the bag and the bike). If you see one, that's it.  If it is on the stock brackets, look for zip ties going out and around the brackets, and if you see them, snip them off.

Pictures are worth 1000 words...

[Viking Soft Saddlebag Hard mount Removal]

Worked out the saddlebag obstruction.

As Stew said, the bolt to loosen was inside (!) the bag. Seems obvious, but it took me way too long to come to that conclusion, and then to get my hands and fingers to work (see: newbie)

Loosened the forward bolts on both sides which let down the bag enough to have access to the seat bolts. Seat bolts came off easy with a ratcheting socket wrench (which I learned was 10mm from this forum, so I was all ready to go once I had access--thanks.) *insert smiley wrench emoji here*

(For the bags—there was no flipping a bag up as they are stiff and strong (hard brackets)—good for keeping stuff on your bike...not friendly for access, though—seriously considering some easy detachable method after all this fuss.)

*I checked the battery level / water as mentioned, at least from the view window the level looked fine, though The Manual does say you don't get an accurate reading from just looking there--is that correct? What do you all do when you want to get a good read on your battery level?

There's one more screw toward the back of the seat keeping it on. Now, I gotta look for an Allen wrench. Which I may or may not have, because, see: newbie.  

Thanks for all of your help and encouragement.

Unless I buy from a friend or know how old and what
maker and the history of the battery, I would be slapping a new glass mat in it.

batman wrote on 06/13/17 at 09:51:53:



Because it's that important.

Distilled water only

So you started it 6 times in a row?  Just to be sure the battery was near dead again?

If the battery is weak.....it won't properly supply the needed voltage to the ignition system, and they will run like crap.

Do you know how old the battery is....has it been tested and proven to be good?  I think you likely just need to get a new battery......you are making a lot of needless work and worry for yourself.

Buy a new battery,then you 'll know how old it is! don't start the bike 6 times in a row and not drive it ,the battery doesn't recharge that fast at 4000 rpm much less at idle!and the starter motor and headlight are the heaviest draw on the battery! Running the starter for long periods  or to many times in a row without letting rest can over heat and ruin it !