[jettgirl]

Bike: 2003 VTX 1300R, no functional mods; just a little chrome & leather.
~48,500 km (30,000 mi)
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Hey there VTXers (and friends):

Went for a 3-hour breakfast ride and this happened:

On the trip out:

• First 30 mins: a-ok
• Next 30 mins: speedo needle starts flickering a little, but bike not losing speed (traveling around 100kph (~60mph, for my friends to the south))
• Last 30 mins: speedo needle up and down, odo/digitial display flashes on and off, engine starts losing power -- throttle on, but decelerating -- may sound weird but it felt like a slipping belt... catches/misses... except that it's a shaft

Breakfast:

• Tasty

On the way back:

• Started, no problems - everything looks/sounds/feels fine
• Slow speeds (in town) - no problems
• Back on the country highways (again, about 100kph/60mph) -- starts again with the speedo flickering - now it's doing a crazy dance all over the place
• Digital display flickers on and off consistently
• Throttle on, power is on, off, on, off, fast, nothing, speedo doing the chacha

Bottom line is that the bike pushed through this way for the last hour home...

Does this sound familiar to you? Is there a checklist I can go through to try and figure it out?
Battery newish (2 seasons) - properly tended, full.
Fluids up.

Help?

Thanks & ride safe,
/Jett

 

[Vinish]

In many cases, this is caused by a loose cable on the battery. Cross your fingers and hope that this is your cause. Tighten both battery cables to the battery with a socket not a screwdriver and report back if this solves the problem. You might also make sure the green connectors from your dash to the bike electrical system are tightly together and not corroded. These are located inside a black rubber boot between the bike frame and the front right inner side of the tank. They can be accessed without pulling the tank.

G'day,

Vinish

 

[Charlie D]

battery cables first use a wrench or socket

 

[jettgirl]

I know - sound obvious, but it was the first ride out and I just put the battery back in. BUT.... since the consensus was battery leads, I went to check again anyway. And yep - simplest little thing. Well isn't that embarrassing? Thank you both!