Help me diagnose why my bike is not starting up

[virtualbong]

Hey guys,

Hoping someone can help diagnose what my issue is.

I haven't started up my track bike for 1 1/2 years and I decided to clean it up yesterday in preparation to sell it. When I tried to start it, it just keeps clicking. Is it the battery? I did have a trickle charger on it so I didn't think that would be the issue. I also noticed that when I put the bike in gear and I squeeze the clutch, it does not seem to be engaging so it never gets to neutral. Not sure if the two issues are related.

Let me know what you guys think.

[Kurlon]

Boy that sounds like a pissed all to hell starter solenoid. Check your batt voltage while hitting the starter, it's likely dropping too low to actually fire the bike up.

[Tekime]

Yeah I'd check battery voltage then maybe jump the starter solenoid (check the connections first), if it fires up you found your problem.

[carsick]

Every bike won't start thread ever-"Bike sat, won't crank. Can't be the battery, it was new ten years ago. OMG it's something impossible!"
The replies-
"That happened to me. Battery."
"Have you checked the battery?"
"Have you CLEANED the battery cable connections?"
"Have you tried a known good battery?"
"What's the voltage while cranking?"
"Does the engine turn freely if you put it in top gear and push it?"
"Sure sounds like a battery."
"Did you turn on the key AND the switch??"

OP tries one hundred twelve more times to start it, now there's smoke coming from the solenoid and/or starter and the plugs are soaked.
"It's been on a tender forever. I think the crank is broken."
"I jumped it off my phone, it can't be the battery"
"The dealer says I have to send it back to the Motherland."
"Where do I spray the starting fluid?"

58 posts later... "New battery, starts fine. Must have been an electrical problem. Traded it in."

Yes, as Kurlon said, the battery has enough strength to light up the dash, but as soon as the solenoid closes and puts the starter load on it, the voltage drops and the solenoid is unable to stay closed. Repeat twenty times a second and you've got your noise. Some bikes only click once, some just go dark.
Sometimes it's the cable connections, either loose or a dull gray instead of shiny lead/tin/copper/brass. They can be tight and look clean but drop voltage like hell. More likely is a toasted battery. Powersports batteries are notoriously shitty at lasting very long, moreso if not used.

[jasnmar]

So you're saying he should replace the spark plugs?

Just because it was on a tender doesn't mean that the battery is good. That's where I'd start.

[Falko]

Fill with Rotella, call it a day.

It's a wet clutch, they have a little drag to them.

What kind of trickle charger? Just a straight 1A feeder charge? Or a real tender where it monitors the battery condition and shuts down when necessary. If you had it on a slow charge for a long period, you could have plated out the battery and it is junk.

[Speed serpent]

I'd start with a fresh battery, or jump start. If it still clicks then look at the starter.