HalLootsinator

The problem turned out to be the stator. Two new rectifier/regulators did not help so I checked the three stator wires at the connector under the battery and a continuity & ground check with my meter showed the stator wires were grounded. I installed a Rick's high output stator from their New Hampshire plant (they actually make the ones there for the RSV). It now puts out over 13.2V at idle and goes over 14V at only 2000 rpm. The bike starts quicker and runs better. It took a while to replace it but wasn't difficult.

My auto parts store used a computer to check the system on the bike. Says battery is strong but charging system has an "open diode" per the computer. He said to check the stator. Does this make sense?

My '04 Midnight RSV occasionally turns over slow while starting but eventually starts. Most of the time it starts fine. The battery is 6 months old. The only accessories drawing on the battery are the radio and passing lights. This started a few months ago and I thought a new battery would fix the problem but it didn't. Answers are of a more urgent nature now because last night, after being parked 15 minutes, it wouldn' start and the battery appeared to be almost totally dead. After waiting a half hour for AAA I thought I would try it and it spun over fine and started. Battery is 12.4V engine off and 13.2V at idle......then just need 14V at 2500 rpms. I live in the Tampa Bay, Florida area so cold isn't a problem. Does anyone have an idea as to what can be causing this occasional difficult starting?

I am wiring a trailer light plug on my 2004 Midnight. I apparently need a converter because the running lights and brake lights are separate wires on the bike and my trailers have the standard flat 4-pin connectors including the ground. Is there a converter that solves this problem or something I can make?

it actually both speeds up and down a few mph. I will clean the switch and check out that vacuum assembly Beau-Kat mentioned. Thanks guys.

My brother has a '99 RSV (mine an '04) and his cruise control varies by as much as 8-10 mph on our flat Florida freeways. Is there an adjustment to tighten this up? Could there be some sort of vacuum leak? It engages well and stays engaged....it is just inconsistent.

Hey Don, thanks for the info. That hide a hitch wouldn't be hard to fabricate. That one visible hitch is only $125 and a guy can't hardly make one for that. I may go ahead and make that hidden version and like you said, I will have separate chain hookups. I really appreciate your feedback.

Has anyone made their own hide a hitch for a 2nd generation RSV? I am a welder and have metal hitch material.

I installed a new battery and my clock holds time now. Thanks for the suggestion....it worked. Of course, it also starts much better as well.

The lights I mounted on the lower/outer corner seem to work for me. If these scrape the pavement on a turn the bike is on it's way down. My foot pegs and floorboards catch the bike if it tips over. I used a separate circuit straight off the battery through a 7.5 amp fuse energized by a separate 20 amp rocker switch thus isolating the circuit from the bike's electrical system. I did not want lights mounted on the forks as they jump around on our back Florida roads. My only future change would be to LED's but not sure if they would adequately illuminate the close-proximity roadway. I really appreciate all of the input you guys provide. Alot of creative ingenuity is available on this forum.

I got my lower fairing lights installed. I bought them years ago for a different bike but never used them. I mounted them with chrome fork light brackets and modified them to fit the 1" engine guard. I mounted a remote switch where the schrader valve was located for my old OEM air shock (I have a Hagon shock now - no air).

Thanks, Atoolnut. This is what I am looking for. I will check these out.

I am looking at installing running lights under the front fairings of my 2004 RSV. They could fasten to the engine guard. Has anyone done this? Did you make your brackets? What lights did you use? I have the Silverbright Sylvania headlamp and light bar light but want lights near the road surface.

I live in Tampa, FL and put 23,000 miles each on my first 2 rear Michelon Comander II's. I get 19,000 on the front. A dealer accidenlty put a rear Michelon rated tire on the front and I got 33,000 because of the hardness and it handled fine. i keep the pressures at 38 psi. They wouldn't install a rear on the front again. I now have a car tire on the rear of my RSV and it's got around 10,000 on it and it shows no wear at all and I keep it at 35 psi. Car tire is the best improvement on my bike as it stops and rides better plus the cornering feels more secure as there is a larger footprint on the pavement. This helps with our wet roads and sugar sand that can build on turns. I suspect the tire will dry rot before it wears out and I expect to get around 50,000+ miles on it. Another plus is you can safely plug a car tire if you are left on the side of the road. I have found the cheapie $9 brake pads on Ebay eat the rotors rapidly. EBC's work well for me. By the way, I have an '04 RSV Midnght.

I live in Tampa, FL and put 23,000 miles each on my first 2 rear Michelon Comander II's. I get 19,000 on the front. A dealer accidenlty put a rear Michelon rated tire on the front and I got 33,000 because of the hardness and it handled fine. i keep the pressures at 38 psi. They wouldn't install a rear on the front again. I now have a car tire on the rear of my RSV and it's got around 10,000 on it and it shows no wear at all and I keep it at 35 psi. Car tire is the best improvement on my bike as it stops and rides better plus the cornering feels more secure as there is a larger footprint on the pavement. This helps with our wet roads and sugar sand that can build on turns. I suspect the tire will dry rot before it wears out and I expect to get around 50,000+ miles on it. Another plus is you can safely plug a car tire if you are left on the side of the road. I have found the cheapie $9 brake pads on Ebay eat the rotors rapidly. EBC's work well for me. By the way, I have an '04 RSV Midnght.

Thanks. I'll give Pinwall a call.

So, what is a good rear rotor that won't break the bank?

I have put 300 miles on my Hagon shock. It is like a new bike.....maybe better. The shock is quiet and hides the bumps on the road. I am very impressed. I also made new dogbones too raise the rear of the bike back to stock height as it had a lowering kit on it. I made the dogbones for $5.00. What an improved ride. Riding one-up or two-up makes no difference. I do not need the air assist like the stock one.

Thanks, everyone. A new battery is on my shooping list. Checking my records shows this one to be over 3 years old.....how time flys! You members have been so helpful I have decided to join and become a member.I only have 68,000 on this RSV midnight and really like it. I've had boo-koo bikes since 1959 and this is the best one yet.Thanks again......

The dash clock on my 2004 RSV loses it's memory about every 4th or 5th time I start it up. Fuses are all good and I have, more than once, cleaned and greased them and their sockets. All other electronics are fine, such as trip meters & radio stations. Does the clock have a capacitor or some power storage of it's own? The clock keeps accurate time once set and as I mentioned works most of the time IF I have it in clock mode when I park the bike. Any ideas?

Yes, the Hagon shock is not air assisted...only gas over oil. it comes with an adjustment tool however I mostly ride one-up (wife rides less than 5%). I put 68,000 miles on the original shock but it has been dripping for maybe the last 5,000 and finally pooped out. I don't like scraping my Bub mufflers on the pavement! This is supposed to be the last shock I'll ever have to buy. When this one wears out I ship to Hagon in CA and they said they don't actually rebuild them as it is more cost effective to put my spring on a new shock and send it back to me....cost = $150. I will set it for a medium ride then if I ever pull a trailer I would tighten it up a bit. Thanks again for all the input.

Today I ordered the Hagon mono shock. They are selling them like hot cakes, they said. Your comments are very encouraging and I thank you guys for your input. You helped me make what I feel is a wise choice.

My rear shock leaked out the oil. What is a good replacement?