Cooper BMW

Off to Tunbridge Wells today, if my arm holds up, so my son Callum can have a look at what he wants to get when he comes off the license restriction (only 21 months to go!). We both like the look of various BMWs, but he's even shorter than me, so a GS might not be the best idea! He likes the R1200R, and you can get lower seats and even suspension on BMWs, but still quite a heavy bike. The F800ST looks good, too.

 

Ohhh have a ball!!! That's all the fun

 

hmm if he likes the r1200r, how about the f800r ? I think a large factor is going to be the 800 is going to be somewhat cheaper than the 1200 on insurance....

 

The R1200R fitted him rather well. The GS with a low seat fitted me very well too, but that's something I won't be able to afford, hmmmm, let's see, ever! He likes shaft drive (lazy like me) and just fancies a big boxer engine.
He came on the back of my VFR for a change, really nice ride out there, little traffic on the way back so even better, but then we stopped at Laguna and the bike wouldn't start. It did this a week ago, the battery seemed dead, got the shop to check it was charging and put a new battery on. Did it this morning when I stopped to check that I had indeed gone past the turning I wanted, bumped it turned the lights off to make sure it charged, was ok leaving the BMW shop but then dead again at Laguna. RAC called, still charging ok, suggested a faulty battery. Battery seemed to charge again (lights off) on way back, popped it down shop and checked it, seemed ok, taking bike and battery back later for a check up. Still, at least we could enjoy the sun when it wouldn't start, could have been worse!

 

Classic symptoms of a nackerded Honda alternator.

 

ITs charging fine, so not that simple unfortunately. Battery is also good.

 

Just trying to help....... I have come across the same problem before, one/two of the coils in the stator are starting to break down when they get hot.
Put a meter on when engine is cold or warm and it will show a good charge and be perfectly ok for days/ weeks at a time.
I would suggest you take the cover of and have a look.

 

I wasn't having a go, if I was abrupt it was because I was having trouble posting from my phone! No obvious sign of the regulator going, could be the generator or, as you say, something gradual with the alternator, but I'm not up to sorting it myself. Unfortunately, my local shop is a bit over run at the moment. He's trying to help, but having lost half his staff (ie the young bloke that worked with him!), might be a little while before he can work through the electrics properly and find the problem. It's annoying, as I had a great ride today (paying for it with my neck/shoulder/arm tonight), but won't want to risk going too far if I can't rely on the bike. If only I could afford one of those shiny new BMWs, they never have electrical or other problems!

 

Not according to Hanna.

 

Must practice getting my sarcasm and irony over via posts, texts and emails. It get's me into trouble!