Starter Relay?

Quick question for the KZ650 guys...
The last few days I have been having intermittant problems starting my bike with the starter with the button. After checking my neutral switch (good); battery (good - new) I went to the starter relay and jumpered across the terminals and the bike started right up. As far as I can tell, it could only be the relay, a bad button or ignition-switch, or a pinched wire somewhere (which is possible because I had the head assy apart earlier this spring to replace indicator lamps). The bike still starts with the kicker and occasionally with the starter button but not often.
I suspect it is the starter relay. So my question is: when a starter relay goes bad does it fail intermittantly? Or is it just good or bad? Should I just go ahead and replace the relay or do you suggest I trace out my wiring? BTW...the wiring "looks" fine but all electrical components are original.
Thanks.

yeah they can be tempormental just like starter solinod (spell check)on a car

It could be the relay, but odds are it isn't that. One of the small wires going to the relay is ground, the other wire gets 12v to energize the relay when desired. You have 12v whenever the ignition switch is "on" on one terminal of the starter button. When you press start 12v is switched to the other terminal and from there goes to one terminal of the clutch lockout switch. If the clutch is pulled in 12v is switched to the second terminal and from there down to the relay. There's potential for bad connections or bad switches anywhere between 12v and the relay or from ground to the relay. It may not be easy to get to places to check voltages, but first check should be do you have 12v on one terminal of the relay and zero volts(ground)on the other when the start button is pressed and the clutch lever pulled in? If so bad relay if the relay is not energized at that point. If volts are not there, problem is elsewhere and more likely.

Ok...I'll check this out. Thanks guys.

I have replaced my start button switch due to it falling apart from use, it's a good place to check first since you know the relay worked when you jumped it. One would think the clutch switch would fail first due to it's constant use, but I think start buttons fail first for some reason.