When you can just own a bike?

I'm still waiting for the road test waiver to come in from the DMV so I can go get my license. In the meantime, I have time to mess around with my bike and customize it a bit.

First order of business was fixing the charging system. The seller of the bike (an '87 Virago 535 w/9000 miles) told me it needed a regulator/rectifier, so I found one on eBay and ordered it. The exhaust system must be removed in order to get to the old rectifier, so I went about removing it. Problem is the back pipe is secured to the cylinder head by Allen bolts.... and the lower one was stripped perfectly clean inside.

OK, no big deal, I can get to the place where the plug for the rectifier is, so I'll just try out the new one to make sure it works. Well, I plug it in, let it dangle off the side of the bike, and fire up the bike... and the charging system still doesn't work. Damn guy who sold me the bike probably knew about the stripped bolt and that it wasn't the rectifier

So what else could it be? I think the problem might be the stator even though it tests out according to the manual. I don't want to bring it to a shop so I'll just try replacing the stator. Order that off ebay. I sell the rectifier and drop it in the mail to its new owner.

While I'm waiting for the stator to come in, I'm still messing around with the bike....... when I notice something. The output of the rectifier is only a single red wire... where's the ground? Oh no. It must be grounded through the bolts securing it to the frame! And I already sold the new rectiifer!!



So I order a new rectifier, it comes in, and I wire the metal case of it to the negative battery terminal. Fire up the bike. Voila.. everything works.

So, I feel pretty stupid, but the bike finally works. My buddy came over the next day with his stripped bolt extractor kit and we remove the exhaust. I install the new rectifier and we're good to go.

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Next order of business: saddlebags.


It's almost like they wanted saddlebags to be difficult to mount. The turn signals are in exactly the wrong place and the exhaust is so high up the side of the bike that only tiny bags could fit.

Well, at least I can move the turn signals back. I ordered a license plate signal mounting bracket and a pair of LED turn signals. Hopefully the road test waiver will be in by the time I'm done with that.

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your avatar pic is very governator-esque.

anyway... hope you get your lic soon.

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Bikes Owned:
Gixxer 1000 K6 (stolen)
Gixxer 750 K6

Bikes Wanted:
VMAX
a super kewl cafe racer

That pic is of a Sportster, but at least it's a Harley

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yeah, plus your hair and shades.

you should get a black leather jacket, gloves and a shotgun to complete the look.

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Bikes Owned:
Gixxer 1000 K6 (stolen)
Gixxer 750 K6

Bikes Wanted:
VMAX
a super kewl cafe racer

I've got the jacket, boots, and gloves.. no shotgun yet. I need to borrow my buddy's shotgun just so I can pose on my bike with it

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You could sit on your drive-way and pretend to start it up and ride. The crazy frog video comes to mind

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2002 Buell Blast 500 /¦\

Confessions of a Commuter

LOL

I built a ramp yesterday and rode it up the ramp! Woo!

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Came back today from a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure (biggest fastest coaster in the world and the biggest fastest steepest wooden coaster in the US) and camping in Maine at my girlfriend's old church camp to find my official Road Test Waiver! YEEEHAW

Tomorrow: License, inspection, and hopefully getting my leaky valve stem replaced. W00t.

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$50 to replace the tube in the tire because of a leaky valve stem.

Fine.... I got home, mounted the wheel, and rode for about an hour.

YEE HAW!

Somehow I messed up the switch for the rear brake. The light doesn't come on when the brake pedal is pressed. Always something to fix

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