I've traced my starting issues to my starter. I found that if I tap on the starter motor while turning the ignition it will start. I the first time I tried it started right up. The second time it sounded kind of cluncky. What should I check first, the starter motor or the starter drive? How hard is it to remove the starter? It looks like it's going to be a pain to me. I'm wondering if this could have anything to do with my RPMs reading 0 at idle. I can't think of how this could cause the battery light to flash.

 

can you just take it apart and clean it to see if its bad conections or bad brushes?

 

How many miles on the Quad?
Does it get used start/stop alot around the yaed?
Reason I am asking is that I have two Sp 450's one with over 2500 miles and no starting issues.....
You may just have a bad battery or weak one.
Did you check the battery both off and running?
Did you have the ECM update done?
It may not be your starter ,Just some things to check first.....Caper............

 

My sp 500 was doing the same. Had to tap on starter to make it work.
I took it off ,opened it up and found one of the brushes stuck open. In my case it had small debris hanging it up.
Just disconnect batt.,conections, 2 bolts, and (dissect) another 2 bolts holding it together, and inspect the brushes. Might be all you need.
my .02 cents.