Bike not starting! Is my engine seized?

First of all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

My WR250R decided that my holidays have been too merry, and refused starting when I tried riding it on Christmas day. The starter motor makes a noise for a fraction of a second and stops dead, unable to turn the engine.

It just makes no sense that it would seize when cold starting instead of mid ride. Is that even possible?

I checked the oil (changed about 500 miles ago) and the amount is good, except it looks suspiciously clean. It was so clear, at first I thought it was missing.

I have another WRR that works fine and swapped starter relay and battery with it, no go. So those parts should be good.

Pulled the battery out and connected directly to the starter motor - it clicks like attempting to start, but locks up right away. So I guess it's not anything between the battery and the starter motor.

The other weird thing is that I cannot move the bike in 6th gear - it moves maybe half a foot and then just drags the rear wheel. The other WRR can move (with some effort, obviously) without any locking up.

I'm familiar with the failures where it just keeps cranking and not starting - such as with bad fuel, no fuel, or low battery - and this is very much unlike that. After a split second of noise from the starter motor it is dead quiet and making no attempts.

What could it be?

Put the bike up on a stand.
Have a look at the air filter.
Remove the spark plug, put the transmission in 6th gear, leave the ignition switch OFF, and try turning the rear wheel forward to see if it turns over then.
Don't look down the spark plug hole while doing that in case something comes flying out (like liquid).

YZEtc wrote:

Put the bike up on a stand.
Have a look at the air filter.
Remove the spark plug, put the transmission in exhibition 6th gear, leave the ignition switch OFF, and try turning the rear wheel forward to see if it turns over then.
Don't look down the spark plug hole while doing that in case something comes flying out (like liquid).

haha  that's great!

I just got a bike for free cause if this issue. He said the bike started and he put it in the rack (after sitting in a nice garage for a year or more) then unloaded it and it does what you described. Have you found the issue?