2014 KTM 500 XCW Self Starting Mystery

[Sideboom]

While waiting in a traffic jam today, the guy behind me approached my truck and asked if I knew that bike was running. I didn't. I hit the kill switch and went to jump out of the box and it started itself again!
I hit the kill switch but it would not shut down. I ended up having to unhook the battery.

Has anyone seen this happen before? WTF is wrong with it?

 

[Jon Mutiger]

The logical reason is a shorter out starter switch or the wires to the switch.

I'd guess it's probably the wires, follow and trace them to figure out where the problem lies.

 

[eskimojoe77]

Evil

Your Austrian beauty is possessed (spelling probably wrong). Sorry. Maybe a Husaberg would be more agreeable?

 

[up-high]

Your Austrian beauty is possessed (spelling probably wrong). Sorry. Maybe a Husaberg would be more agreeable?

LOL!! Sounds like a wiring problem. Bare wires completing the circuit and the switch acting like a momentary disconnect

 

[Sideboom]

Got it figured. The positive cable was situated ( from the dealer) so that it was rubbing on the frame. It rubbed through to the wire, shorted out on the frame, engaged the starter relay and fried it. I can jump the the terminals of the relay and the bike will start, but the button does not work. I put a test light to it and I do get power going to the relay when the button is pushed, but no action any further than that. Easy fix... new relay.