Motorcycle Starter Solenoids & Relays

In a motor vehicle--whether it be a car, truck, motorcycle, or personal watercraft--the starter solenoid (starter relay) is the link that connects the battery power to the engine. Large current from the battery, along with small current from the ignition switch, is applied to the starter. The solenoid closes off the high-current contacts which, in turn, allows for the starter motor to crank the engine. Symptoms of a dead or dying starter solenoid are fairly obvious: audible clicking, engine refusing to fire, etc. However, most will readily assume that it is the entire starter itself that is the problem and are ready to replace the whole unit. In many cases, the starter motor will be fine but the solenoid will have failed. Instead of spending the extra money on an all-new starter, check out Discount Starter & Alternator’s massive online inventory of brand new, aftermarket replacement starter solenoids, starter relays, and switches for popular cruising, touring, and sport bikes by Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and other leading motorcycle manufacturers.

Check out our helpful How-To series and learn how to bench test a starter, as well as testing a single post starter with bendix and testing starters without solenoids.