I used to have a YZF-600R... Then my daughter was born... So I traded the YZF for a Yamaha Rhino. I grew up riding my mother's Honda Shadow. When I was old enough I bought a Honda VTR. I eventually got the Yamaha. Now I'm thinking about finding an old dual purpose bike. You have to love the Rhino. It does everything. Even my Daughter (terrible twos) throws a fit when she has to go to bed after a day of riding. She keeps saying "wine-o" until she falls asleep.
Went to ride the bike the other day and found out the hard way that my charging system wasn't working. Diagnostics on the charging system points to the voltage regulator/rectifier. I'm gonna take the regulator with me to have it tested by the techs before I order the part and find out I tested the darn thing wrong. Alternator tested out with .8 ohms on all three white wires, the repair manual said it should be .5 ohms but that seems close to spec to me but will ask the tech when I take the regulator in. Bummed that I can't ride
Well damn, let me know when it fixed and ready to go for a ride, maybe we can arrange another meet in central Or?
Amy and went for a short ride today. decided at 4:00 to go and went up the Grande Rhonde River to Starkey, then over the Elk Horn Mnts to Granite, then to Sumpter then to Baker City, hit the freeway and went home, 150 miles and home by 8:30 with one beer stop in Sumpter.
Take both the rectifier and regulator with you to the shop. The rectifier is an easy test, I think you are not in trouble with those readings; you'll find different manuals for the same bike will cite different values. The vr wants variable voltage input and a variable load for really good testing, and you can check continuity before taking it in (assuming it is one of the old coil and contact setups. The electronic ones like a different method.) You did, of course, load test the battery? Now, if it is a Duck or Aprilia, take the whole scooter in. Those are true bastard arrangements to work on, and every one is different. For some reason, the Italian mechanics take pride in being creative on each and every product.
I checked for continuity on the vr and got no readings whatsoever on any of the wires when tested in accordance with the repair manual. Electrical has always been my weak point but learning as I go. You know I did forget to do a load test on the battery, to see if the voltage was low or high. Guess I'll plug the vr in before heading to the shop and load test the battery while running.
Thanks, Quigley. I'm still paying on the Rhino, though. I remember the days when I was an electrician apprentice, I lusted after the infamous Aprilia RS-250. What a bike- able to keep up with (1990's vintage) 600cc bikes, yet weigh half their weight. I would still love to try one out. Lately, I've been looking at some used bikes. There are two Ducati Monsters in the area... I never thought about what it's like to work on them. Before I bought the Yamaha YZF, I went to the local Harley/Buell shop. I walked around for nearly an hour, but nary a glance from a sales rep. Every large around the middle, tank top wearing guy that walked into the shop was inundated by the sales staff. I guess I (early 30's, but look like early 20's; not a blessing but a curse for a man) didn't fit their profile. After asking to see the sales manager, I was finally directed to her office. After waiting through several phone calls, I gave up. No Buell Thunderbolt for me. It's not like I am not used to it; just about every motocycle shop I walked into when I was in my twenties would look down at me, over the bridge of their nose, like- "Oh, so you want to ride bikes, huh?" I hate people like that, so I'd take my money someplace else.
gb- Get yourself a subscription to Motorcycle Consumer News. They have a monthly column on used bikes that I think is available in the online archives. (mcnews.com) It gives a rundown on good and bad deals on used scoots, as well as things to look out for on them. I think it is searchable by model, but I have not checked into that feature. Are you anywhere near Susquehanna County? (Central PA can be interpreted widely.)
I find myself in Dauphin County, mostly. Yeah, Central PA could be considered anywhere the Susquehanna River flows.
July 16th is "Ride To Work Day"! A bunch of us at work are meeting at a local eatery tomorrow morning, then riding in to work enmasse. We will all park together too, in the parking garage - we want to show the cagers just how many riders the Florida Department Of Education has here in Tallytown! I'll be the only Dual-Sporter among a bunch of Cruiser and Harley dudes.
I sold my ol' 79 Yamaha XS1100 Special and bought a 98 Kawasaki Concours Sport/Touring bike. I got a great deal on it and was finally able to take it out for a ride this afternoon. I had to put a new battery in it, drained the gas tank, put new fuel and some Seafoam in it, replace the right mirror and right footpeg bracket. I got the replacement right clip on handlebar this afternoon and got it installed. I changed the oil and filter and the final drive gear oil as well. I'll get some pics of my new ride and post them.
You are going to like the Connie. Solid as a brick, reliable as sunrise. It is a heavy and not particularly elegant machine, but with a bit of a whip it can show the racerboys a thing or two. Has a bit of typical Kawi vibration, but nothing out of line. The motor is bullet proof, capable of gobbling miles at, um, extra legal speeds all day full load, two up. Watch for weak shocks, worn forks, and head bearings that have gone notchy. Congrats.
Thanks ghrit, I really like the bike and the price I got it for - $800. It's a 98 Forest Green with Race Tech fork upgrades, fork brace, custom seat, rifle system windshield, PIAA fog lights, Metzeler tires, etc. The rear mono shock is still like new, and the previous owner most likely had it gone through. He had race tech cartridge emulators and fork springs put in the forks. I took my wife on a ride last night to go eat dinner and she likes the Connie way more than the ol' Yamaha I used to ride. The vibration issue with the I4 engines are the counter balance shaft. You just have to readjust it balance shaft when you start to feel and hear the "buzz". That will be on the agenda this coming Saturday morning when the motor is cold, but it's only supposed to take like 15 minutes to readjust it......
You should consider getting the Kaw shop manual for it before messing with the counterbalance timing, Haynes covers too many different models and is usually too non specific. Sounds like the suspension upgrades are spot on, but do take the time to adjust them, small changes can make a dramatic difference in handling. The price actually sounds low, like he knew something he didn't tell you. From your description, it was down at least once. I'd suggest a thousand miles near home before taking a long trip, just to uncover hidden problems. (Watch your chain adjustment --hehehe.) I've never seen a 15 minute balancer adjustment, never knew of one needed by either of the Connies guys I know have had. So I looked it up on line. It is that easy, I guess. http://will.mylanders.com/mc/concours/notes/read.pl?file=49 The guy mentions deflectors, well worth the money, reverse for winter/summer to put the heat in or out. Both my guys didn't bother for a while, then got a set each. Nothing but raves since. Rather than repeat some of the other stuff he says, I'll just mention that Connies are a heavy scoot (the fork spring replacement supports that observation) and one thing that bears watching closely is front wheel and head stock bearings. They are the same as on lighter Kaws, and may not hold up under Connie's weight with flogging use. (I would NEVER accuse you of heavy handed use of machinery ---) Both my guys upgraded head bearings and reset the wheel bearings pretty regularly. I think, but do not remember for sure, that the head bearings are ball, and should be replaced with tapered rollers. Kits were made for that conversion on a lot of bikes, but I do not remember if Kaws were that way.
I happened to get a factory Kawi service manual with it as well, even though some knucklehead spilled gas on it..... Oh well it still works....hehe. Oh and I got a Givi trunk with the back rest on it for my 2up position too.... The reason why I got it so low, was because my friend at work bought the Connie, an 88 FZR 1000, and a 98 Suzuki Bandit 600 as a package deal from a married couple in NW Washington. My friend didn't have time to get the Kawi running since all 3 bikes had been sitting on a bike trailer in a garage for a while, so he said I could have it for $800 as is. I told him okay, that sounds great, but I want to hear the Kawi run first before I plop $$ down on it. So having my 4Runner off, I jumpered the Kawi with some jumper cables and got it running while it was on the bike trailer. It actually sounded pretty good considering the gas in the tank was in there a while. So I told him I'd take it. I got really lucky because I didn't have to pull the carbs, the Seafoam cleaned them up nicely and it runs great.
Lifetime deal. Congrats again. (Watch those bearings!! Lord only knows how long they have been static.)
3rd week in May for Florence Oregon Rhody Days it is Oregon's Sturgis. YouTube- Motorycles - Florence Rhody days Next year we should try and meet ?<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
