BELOW ARE ALL OF MY POSTS COMBINED TO MAKE IT EASIER IF YOU ARE READING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME. CHECK OUT MY NEW THREAD WITH PICTURES: http://www.vmaxforum.net/showthread.php?t=16659
Hi all, looking for some help. Twice now my bike has left me stranded on the side of the road, once while going 80 in traffic, pitch black outside and four lanes from the off ramp. To top it off, all the lights died.
I thought it was a battery issue but I have since replaced that portion and it still happened today. I will ride it, after the motor warms up the lights dim a bit and then the ignition goes. Just coasting while in gear will keep it running but obviously it is sputtering and slowing down. Once I pull the clutch in, it completely dies. Throttle has no effect.
I park the bike and it won't crank at all. Thirty minutes later I hit the starter and it fires up like nothing ever happened. I live in Southern California and this didn't become a problem until the first day that we had temps in the 70s so it would seem to me that it's a heat issue with something.
To sum it up again, the bike shuts down after 10-20miles on the freeway when it's warm and won't turnover until it's cooled after 20-30min. Then it cranks like normal. The bike is an 87 and the battery was replaced as well as the coils and the problem continues to exist. Any suggestions? I am desperate, this is my daily driver and it's affecting my work.
Did the crimp/splice fix mod, used plenty of solder, forgot to mention that. I/m sure it must be something bigger, like a part failing with the increase in heat. As I said, battery is new, COPs are installed, crimped is soldered, and I was having this problem before AND after all of the said fixes.
Both times it has happened about 15-20 miles into a ride on the freeway with wrm ambient temps (70-80). I have taken longer trips of 30-40miles when the weather was cooler and had no problems at all, so I am really convinced that this problem has to do with the heat outside
Well I was thinking it was just the rectifier but the consensus here seems to be grounding sources so I will give it a good once over. It's not a charging problem or a hot start issue. After riding 30miles to the airport and stopping for gas, the bike started back up with full choke and a little bit of throttle. The only time it doesn't start is after it does 10-20miles at full speed in warm weather. And even then it starts up after it sits for 30minutes. Thanks everyone for the help, I am impressed by the number of responses. Let me know if you have another opinion or what you think about it being the rectifier. Going to hammer away at it this weekend.
The last time it happened, I was keeping it at 75mph/5000rpm and it still had problems. The temp gauge never even gets to halfway, so I am really lost here. Seems like something is not getting sufficiently air cooled.
After it dies, until it cools, it behaves like the battery is dead. Hit the switch and the lits dim, tach swings to 4000rpm, and bike makes the sickening ticking noise. It behaves like any bike where the battery is not enough to turn the starter, but it tries.
Are there any good tutorial threads that explain bypassing the kickstand switch? Pictures would be great. Also, where the heck is the r/r? I was trying to check all my wires today. Do you guys recommend soldering the battery grounding cable directly to the mounting bolt/case? Seems a little too permanent for my liking.
Hi all, looking for some help. Twice now my bike has left me stranded on the side of the road, once while going 80 in traffic, pitch black outside and four lanes from the off ramp. To top it off, all the lights died.
I thought it was a battery issue but I have since replaced that portion and it still happened today. I will ride it, after the motor warms up the lights dim a bit and then the ignition goes. Just coasting while in gear will keep it running but obviously it is sputtering and slowing down. Once I pull the clutch in, it completely dies. Throttle has no effect.
I park the bike and it won't crank at all. Thirty minutes later I hit the starter and it fires up like nothing ever happened. I live in Southern California and this didn't become a problem until the first day that we had temps in the 70s so it would seem to me that it's a heat issue with something.
To sum it up again, the bike shuts down after 10-20miles on the freeway when it's warm and won't turnover until it's cooled after 20-30min. Then it cranks like normal. The bike is an 87 and the battery was replaced as well as the coils and the problem continues to exist. Any suggestions? I am desperate, this is my daily driver and it's affecting my work.
Did the crimp/splice fix mod, used plenty of solder, forgot to mention that. I/m sure it must be something bigger, like a part failing with the increase in heat. As I said, battery is new, COPs are installed, crimped is soldered, and I was having this problem before AND after all of the said fixes.
Both times it has happened about 15-20 miles into a ride on the freeway with wrm ambient temps (70-80). I have taken longer trips of 30-40miles when the weather was cooler and had no problems at all, so I am really convinced that this problem has to do with the heat outside
Well I was thinking it was just the rectifier but the consensus here seems to be grounding sources so I will give it a good once over. It's not a charging problem or a hot start issue. After riding 30miles to the airport and stopping for gas, the bike started back up with full choke and a little bit of throttle. The only time it doesn't start is after it does 10-20miles at full speed in warm weather. And even then it starts up after it sits for 30minutes. Thanks everyone for the help, I am impressed by the number of responses. Let me know if you have another opinion or what you think about it being the rectifier. Going to hammer away at it this weekend.
The last time it happened, I was keeping it at 75mph/5000rpm and it still had problems. The temp gauge never even gets to halfway, so I am really lost here. Seems like something is not getting sufficiently air cooled.
After it dies, until it cools, it behaves like the battery is dead. Hit the switch and the lits dim, tach swings to 4000rpm, and bike makes the sickening ticking noise. It behaves like any bike where the battery is not enough to turn the starter, but it tries.
Are there any good tutorial threads that explain bypassing the kickstand switch? Pictures would be great. Also, where the heck is the r/r? I was trying to check all my wires today. Do you guys recommend soldering the battery grounding cable directly to the mounting bolt/case? Seems a little too permanent for my liking.
Last edited:
![Bovemanx Motorcycle Phone Mount Holder, [150mph Wind Anti-Shake][7.2inch Big Phone Friendly] Bike Phone Holder, Motorcycle Handlebar Cell Phone Clamp, Compatible with iPhone 16 Pro Max Smartphones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51F+1sontPL._SL500_.jpg)
