Well, an interesting 1st commute on the R65GS yesterday – which I’ve got on the road to be my winter bike.
It started innocuously enough starting easily and though traffic was horrible as usual it rode ok. It strted fine on the E/S at 5pm too until after about 15mins of horrible traffic it just cut out without warning.
Checked over and there was no power. Lights were dim and the E/S wouldn’t work.
After a few minutes I got it started using the K/S and it lasted another ½ mile when it cut out again. I switched to sidelights and the engine cut back in again (old Bantam trick!) but cut out again another ½ mile later.
I gave up and phoned the RAC since the lights were dim again.
About 15mins later the lights were bright again. There was still no E/S but it did kick up.
I rode it an area of lights and habitation when it cut out once more. Once again lights were really dim.
The RAC weren’t too long and diagnosed no charge reaching the battery. They gave me a good 10mins charge and the bike started ok. They followed home just on the one charge though I rode on sidelights.
Strangely however, I was able to restart it on the E/S at home and it started on E/S this morning too – almost as if it had recharged on the way home.
So what is the issue? Clearly it was a charging issue but I’d rode it into work ok with lights and grips on without a problem and it still started ok (didn’t have grips on coming home) at 5pm.
Could it be the alternator, the charging diodes or the regulator … or none of them. Any ideas?
I Will need to get it checked out for peace of mind but I hope it is not one of those annoying transient problems where you just have to replace everything
I Will need to fix the charging light though which I now find isn’t working.
Any idea where to start anyone?
It started innocuously enough starting easily and though traffic was horrible as usual it rode ok. It strted fine on the E/S at 5pm too until after about 15mins of horrible traffic it just cut out without warning.
Checked over and there was no power. Lights were dim and the E/S wouldn’t work.
After a few minutes I got it started using the K/S and it lasted another ½ mile when it cut out again. I switched to sidelights and the engine cut back in again (old Bantam trick!) but cut out again another ½ mile later.
I gave up and phoned the RAC since the lights were dim again.
About 15mins later the lights were bright again. There was still no E/S but it did kick up.
I rode it an area of lights and habitation when it cut out once more. Once again lights were really dim.
The RAC weren’t too long and diagnosed no charge reaching the battery. They gave me a good 10mins charge and the bike started ok. They followed home just on the one charge though I rode on sidelights.
Strangely however, I was able to restart it on the E/S at home and it started on E/S this morning too – almost as if it had recharged on the way home.
So what is the issue? Clearly it was a charging issue but I’d rode it into work ok with lights and grips on without a problem and it still started ok (didn’t have grips on coming home) at 5pm.
Could it be the alternator, the charging diodes or the regulator … or none of them. Any ideas?
I Will need to get it checked out for peace of mind but I hope it is not one of those annoying transient problems where you just have to replace everything
I Will need to fix the charging light though which I now find isn’t working.
Any idea where to start anyone?
yes thats what I wanted to say 
