Hello everyone,

So a few days ago I decided to run my 2018 cforce 500HO that had been sitting for a few weeks and I noticed that when I was turning the handlebars and using the EPS that my screen was dimming a little (very slight, potentially this is unrelated). I paid no mind to this, turned it off at home and inspected my drive belt with the belt case off as I do yearly. 

I turned it back on without an issue to move it, and when I went to turn it off again (key out and kill switch off) the bike kept trying to start uncontrollably and the display remained illuminated. I put the key in and flipped the switch back on and it started without having to hit the green button. I'm assuming here my starter was stuck on. It then slowly died and white smoke began seeping from under the front end and I disconnected the battery, at which point all was well no more smoke. I have not since tried to start it obviously, thinking I've burnt out the starter.

My question is, has anything like this happened to anyone, and aside from just replacing the burnt starter what should I check and replace to make sure this doesn't happen again (assuming the thing will even start again LOL). I'm a little nervous to think how this happens given my bike has low hours and low miles. Electrical gremlins are the worst.

Stuck solenoid? Issue with the power cable? ECU problem? Bad start controls?

Any help would be great folks, thanks in advance!

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

May now be a burned starter but better un-hook the battery as there may be a short in the harness leading to the bars..because of your statement about the back light dimming when turned. A full inspection is warranted here.

Battery was left unhooked until I get a moment to start removing plastics to find exactly what was melting. If the key was out though and the kill switch off, I cannot imagine the control box being the problem (only an assumption). Anything is possible I suppose and I hope it's not that complex

***I'll also add that the dimming wasnt side specific, or how far I was turned. Whenever the EPS was being used there was a slight slight dimming. This could have been always the case being that it uses the 12v system for power and I just never noticed. I felt the need to include it considering I don't wanna smoke any more parts lol

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I don't wanna smoke any more parts lol

Good thing to avoid.