Dies While Riding

[BuddyB1959]

Hopefully the experts on the forum can help me troubleshoot. I've got a couple of ideas of what the issue is, but need other ideas so I'm not missing something easy, or someone else's experience with the same issue.

Situation: (2003MY)
Last week while riding on the Interstate at 70 MPH, ABS light started to blink, no pattern just blinking, after about 5 minutes the bike loses all power. Stop in a parking lot and will not crank, no noise, nothing. Am able to "bump" start since I was on a downhill decline, limped it home and it died again in the driveway. Checked the battery, it was weak, charged it up and the bike fired right up. However, the battery was 4 years old (long time for a battery in the desert) so bought a new one. Rode for a couple of days, no issues.
Now yesterday. same issues pop up (different place on the interstate). However this time I notice the sequence of events. 1) ABS light start to flash, digital readout goes blank, then all instruments zero out, and no voltage showing on the volt meter, bike dies. Pull over and once again no start. Call the tow truck, (thanks to GEICO, included with insurance). When we are getting it ready to put on the MC dolly, it fired up, however, only showing around 10 volts. Get it home, let it sit over night. Tried this morning, fired right up and now showing a little over 14 Volts. Didn't want to risk it, so brought the truck to work.

Also, no other work has been done on the bike for over a year (except oil changes), so don't think it would be the tip over sensor. Bike has 135K on the clock.

Ideas on the problem?

Thanks
Buddy

[AZgl1800]

the charging system is weak.

check the output voltage on the alternator at the post, while the engine is running.
I suspect it will be low, at or less than 12 volts.

not hard to change with the right tools, I have a set of special alternator tools that can get it out in 10 minutes after the panels are removed.

these tools are made by
Jay LaCase
22 Lake Aaron Dr
Pineville, La 71360
318-308-0643
at a very decent price.


https://i.imgur.com/QqDQnDO.png


https://i.imgur.com/nleTFyY.png

[BuddyB1959]

That's my opinion also, bad alternator. Got one on order, should get here this week. Hope it fixes the issue.

Buddy

[GoldWingrGreg]

Before assuming it is an alternator, and since alternators are very expensive, be sure your battery connections are clean and tight and that your battery tests good. Then test the alternator.

If your alternator test bad, save yourself the money and trouble of buying one of those cheap "knock offs" from eBay that many get sucked into buying. Their failure rate in a short time is probably about 30%. The only good alternators that have OEM reliability for many years to come and the ones that come in Honda packaging. It is part #1 in the link below.

https://www.mrcycles.com/oemparts/a/hon ... alternator

[BuddyB1959]

Battery was only 1 week old, so that's good. and cleaned the terminals when I changed the battery. Ordered OEM alternator hopefully will get here tomorrow.

Buddy

[GoldWingrGreg]

Battery was only 1 week old, so that's good. and cleaned the terminals when I changed the battery.

Buddy

Not that it's not the alternators that is needed, but they are expensive. I would have checked that battery, especially because it was new.