I don't remember it doing anything special on first start-up, and rendering the card useless ... sounds dodgy to me.

I had my MC28 apart and when it was back together the card didn't work any more. It turned out to be something stupid -can't remmeber what- but I doubt it would spontaneously die with no symptoms.

Get a voltmeter and start at the battery, testing for 12V (what happens when card goes in and out), then open up that black box under the tank at the front with all the connectors in and look for voltages there, then move to the back of the PGM unit and look there.
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MC28 SE -sold-
MC21 with RS250 engine -for sale-
MC21 race bike -soon for sale-