cowpuc

Ok, here is my guess,, the battery was flat dead from setting. The jumper cables got crossed and took out the fusable. The battery took a reverse polarity charge and that popped the fusable a second time.. At any rate, hopefully the fusable was able to protect any and all computer circuitry,, maybe you got fortunate.. If you have gremlins in the future you may have found the secret to producing them Puc

Also might want to check your carb diaphrams.. I also had something simular to this happens and found a couple bad plug caps - high resistance through the caps.. Blackened plugs (from over choking) can cause it too...

I have experienced that same thing many times over - buy factory if your gonna get one - well worth it!!

Have never personally owned a Beamer but did a bunch of touring with a fellow who had one. Pros and cons that I observed and that we talked alot about while traveling (gotta do something while stopped for the night).. Pros NICE BIKES!! Super gas mileage! Very quiet! Quality parts and pieces! Excellent tour package! Cons High prices for quality parts and pieces. Not a lot of dealerships around. Seemed top heavy at slow speeds. Gotta park on center stand over night or ya get "puff" of smoke on start up. Guy had less than 40k on his and had already had issues with ABS and drive line - not cheap. I am always working on my bikes so I cant really say that the beamers are any worse than any other bikes as far as issues go - kinda all have issues they inherit.. I would love to own one too (I like all bikes) but, alas, money seems to be my ongoing issue (not enough haha)... If I had 5800 to spend on a bike I think I would save a little more and buy a newer Venture,, only cause they have proved themselves to me and got me home over and over again.. Puc

ME TOO!! The wife pointed out a bumper sticker on a cage the other day - it read "I see dumb people" - sure dont have to look to far or hard to get that to be applicable LOL

NICE STEVE - REAL NICE!! I have always wanted one too!! I almost pulled the trigger on one very simular to yours this spring in Michigan, guy wanted 3500 for it, problem was it wasnt street legal - is yours (looks like it is)?. The ONLY other thing I struggle with is that ol "two many toys and to little time to enjoy em" thingy - just selling the last of my huge bike collection and antique air gun collection because of that very thing too.. ANyway, I hope you get alll better soon and are able to enjoy that buggy - oh yea, I do have lots of sand dune fun here (Silver Lake) as well as massive miles of state ORV trails (they parellel our Cross Country Cycle Trail - over 1400 miles of woods riding ) to run those buggys on - you ever wanna come to Michigan and play just let me know and I will hook you up (save ya a bunch of $$ on out of state fees and stuff!!!!).. Get ya out of the heat too!!! Best of luck Puc

This is coming from 1st Gen experiences but probably still applicable. All good previous advice but here is more to think about.. There is probably a set of three wires coming from the stator (alternator) - they are all the same color (white on my 1st gens) and there should be a splice terminal for them (left side while sitting on the bike under the left side body/frame cover??). Split that terminal block and check coloration on terminal/wires for getting hot, also check wires going into terminal and the connectors internally.. Make sure they are clean.. I've had em get so hot from bad connection on this terminal (from resistance made by bad wire connection that the plastic plug had melted) You can do a resistance check on your stator at this connector too.. You just check from leg to leg (the resistance is suppose to measure the same across all three wires (seems like 3.5 ohms rings a bell to me,, maybe 6 ohms limit - I am sure the tolerances are on here somewhere) - just seperate the plug and check the lead going to the motor.. Will the battery take a charge off a battery charger and hold it?? Could be as simple as needing water in the battery..

LOL, I am sure that is doable and I think it it would be AWESOME!! And then toss in some Kold Kutters and hit the lakes on it next winter - THAT would be a blast!!! I gotta hunch the real hard part would be finding DOT knobs for it so it would still be street legal (here in Michigan they are pretty strick about that stuff)..

The wife and I were touring down by the tail of the dragon on our way out to sturgis last year, we camped for the night not to far from a little town up in the mountains that literally was one state on one side of the road and another on the other.. Seems like it was the Georgia/Tennessee line.. Anyway, I am really curious if there are any International border towns like that between our two great countrys..

Couple other things to add, Did you install the pads? did the pads slide easlily on the pins that go thru em? How were the bushings in the calipers. Most calipers are made to slide on pins and bushings (or some faximilie thereof) to equalize the pressure being placed on the rotor from the piston(s) pressing the pads against the rotor. If getting unequal pressure placed on it it will flex.. Another thing to check is the rotor surface - I have seen lots of them with hard spots in them - did you resurface the rotors? Another possibility could be tire related.. A belt slipped in a tire can surely cause brakes to feel funny and go undetected till it finally fails.. Puc

Yea that was hilarious!! Thanks for posting that.. I cant help but wonder what that international border cut thru the trees looks like from space - I some how envision a saw tooth pattern like I used to cut in pumpkins for hollow ween - just a big hollow ween pumpkin floating in space.. Maybe scare away an alien or two.. I know one thing,, if I were one of those cowboys cutting that path back in the 1800's I would have done that hahahah

Been putting a lot of miles on our little Honda Helix, if you have never ridden one they are a RIOT for two up "scootering" but they do handle different than any other bike I have ever owned.. Having ridden down many bikes with flat tires in my life (stuff happens) and knowing the different "feel" the Helix has on wet roads and road snakes, I always wondered what riding a flat tired Helix down would be like - especially with the wife on the back. Tippy (the wife) and I were on the way back from dinner tonight on it, doing about 60 when I felt the familiar rear end wobble, she's ridden down many flats with me (more than one on the fully loaded Gen 1) and knows that when I say "flat" that its time to set still and follow the bike.. This thing was a handful!! Anyone who has ridden a big bike down with a rear flat probably can relate to what I call "guaranteed dog trackin" - especially below 30 MPH.. I have found that you cant over react (unless you want to biff it) you simply gently correct the dog trackin drift so it doesnt drift into on coming traffic or off into the ditch.. Tell you what, that little helix took every bit of tenderness in the drift as ANY big bike I have ridden out - even fully loaded and with a passenger on board!! Last year we had a 1 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/4 inch piece of steel go thru a brand new tire out in Johnson City Tennessee - never seen any thing like it!! This Helix flat was just as freaky - after I got it stopped and on the center stand I check the tire - the flippen valve stem had LET GO!! It has a 90 degree stem (very simular to a Gold Wing) mounted on a cast wheel - it was broke all most completely off flush with the wheel. Has good rubber on it, never a problem losing air, tire bead stayed intact, just wierd - never seen anything like this one in all my years of biking either..... Any way, be safe out there and watch those air pressures and tire conditions.. Spit check those shraders after adding air.. Leave the rest of the strange flat tires to me.. Puc

Yep, done many many miles of off roading on the Gen 1's. Have done miles of sandy back roads while ghost towning out in Arizona and the Utah mountains, also LOTS of two trackin the Grand Canyon area.. All fully loaded with tent and bags and most of the time with a rider on the rear. I jumped on a two track one time at the end of the Spear Fish Canyon ride while out in sturgis, it all began with a "short trip" on gravel to see some falls, ended up doing some single trackin, came out in Wyoming about 25 minutes from Devils Tower - all day in the mountain woods but a BLAST!!! One of the reasons I still ride a Gen 1 are the mid frame foot pegs - I ride alot standing up just like I did racing motocross.. Stay on the pegs, if your a dirt biker you KNOW how to handle sand - throttle on keeping the front end light, for cornering its throttle and rear brake application (not a bad idea to carry xtra pads if your going cross country). Run max air both front and rear in your boingers and set the rear shock at position four, I also run 15 wt in my forks when I go west - they are surprisingly well valved!! . Of course, these bikes are NOT dirt bikes or, for that matter, dual sport bikes. You gotta use your brain when it comes to mud/river crossings/steep hills - if it looks like you might get stuck and your alone DONT DO IT (I got stranded for two days in the out back of Utah once cause of mountain rain - not good - you NEVER want to get one stuck!). Gravel roads are a HOOT on these babys, very controllable on the hot shoe, just got to remember the xtra weight of the bike.. Couple years ago I spent 3 weeks checking out old coal mines in New York, Penn and the Virginias on mine, lots of two tracking and woods riding. One of the things that I learned about on that trip was how low the pipes hang on these bikes - destroyed a set of pipes. While off roading watch for rocks and roots and remember - this aint no CRF your ridin... Wonder if anyone makes an aluminum skid plate for em hahahh Have fun Puc

Yea, years ago my daughter and I stopped in Salina Utah on one of our cross country bike trips, some kids on quads come cruisining into town - passed a cop and pulled in to get gas. I asked if that was legal there, kid smiled and said - you aint from Utah are you.. Than a guy pulls in with a hitch mounted 28 foot camping trailer and a speed boat behind it, or course I, being from Michigan had never seen that before either.. I asked him the same question and got about the same response I had gotten from the kids, yep - we pretty much do what we want out here.. Now adays it is legal to piggy back up to fifth wheel here but I have been told that you have to have a special license to do so and max length is 70 feet..

I cant wait to see the new Indian inveiled at Sturgis this year, did you notice the pricing on it? 18000!! They are going after that HD Market big time!! If I had the cash I would grab one NOW cause if they catch on (and I got a hunch they will) I bet they will be a 28000 dollar bike in five years!! I was actually told buy an HD dealer that HD has dropped the Tour Glide and will be coming out with water cooled very soon... I really dont see water cooling going away, especially if the manufactures continue to get hit with more EPA regs, the leaner the engine has to run the more it depends on something besides air to cool it.. I actually think the days of the air cooled motor are limited..

Soooo, you two seen any "tital bores" out there? The wife and I sat for hours once waiting to catch one - we finally did - it was pretty cool..

I still just dont get why anyone would buy a "street glide" when, for exactly the same money you could buy an Electra Glide Classic - get all the goodies (tour pac - additional chrome) and then remove the stuff you dont want and have a street glide,,, this has always short circuited my brain... And that street glide (HD's best seller) out sold the electra like 10 to 1 - makes no sense (and certainly makes no cents).. I actually "rescued" a fellow bikers right rear bag not to long ago - he had forgotten to click his mount bolts and I could see it was just hanging on,, at first he tryed to out run the yam but when I ripped up beside him and pointed it didnt take long for him to pull over hahaha Not to hijack this thread but another really good point to make here for you HD guys with quick disconnect tour pacs - make sure you use little locks on them - I know a guy who had his fully packed tour pac ripped off - click click and its gone - those suckers are expensise to replace... Oh yea, and replace your Cam Chain Tensioner Shoes!!

Yea Dan but just think of the contribution to keeping these great ol bikes around you are making,, I bet your wife will actually thank you in the long run - I know someday my wife is gonna thank me for doing the same thing...

Went thru those doors back in 03, learned the hard way that it takes a good neuro surgeon and an MRI to find the issue and deal with it.. That nerve bundle down the spine is one sensitive little puppy and NOTHING to fool with.. The pain is excrutiating and fighting it with drugs really complicated matters for me (getting hook on the stuff and than trying to get off it is no picnic).. I really feel for you my friend!!! Get help BEFORE you start experiencing numbness!!

Sooo, yamaha did make some improvements thru the years hahaha.. The combined knowledge in this forum is amazing.. Gotta move the offering to the next guy in line - no fitty no needy BUT THANK YOU for sharing!!! PUC

A smile, a wave and a thumbs up to both of you, and that gorgeous old yammie too.. The bonding between a man and his wife (and their bike) grows exponentially thru experiences like you two are sharing - besides, being just plain fun!! THANK YOU for your thoughtfulness to share it with all of us!! Enjoy the rest of your summer!! Puc and Tippy

Rob, if they are functional and would interchange with my 83 I would gladly put them to good use.. Anyone know if the 88's are the same as the 83's? Regardless, thanks for offering them up!! Puc

Hahahah,, thats awesome Brian!! When she stepped out of the hack you should have said " carnivals pay HUGE money for rides that produce that experience - and to think it came stock with my sweet little Ural". Puc

Personally I like all bikes, its a flaw in my charector thats been with me my whole life. Around here there aint nuttin holding resale value.. I like HD's cause HD (and aftermarket companys) offer all kind of gear head kinda stuff (not just typical bling) that no one else really offers.. One of the things that still gets me about them though is that stupid little chain tensioner shoe that wears out.. I worked on three stranded HDs last year at sturgis (really not bad when you think of all of them out there) and all were due to that little nylon shoe.. I was telling one guy I helped that gear drive is the answer but its the one thing that HD DOESNT offer, gotta go to Andrews for it, weird.. Cant wait to see what Polaris does with the completed new indian being unveiled at sturgis this year,, I like what they did with the three cam design on the motor.. As far as resale value on these ol yammies goes, I love my 1st gens (on my 5th one) BECAUSE of thier low resale value (and lots of other reasons too).. I always fiqured if it broke down out in the middle of no where and I couldnt fix it I would give it to some poor kid who always wanted a bike to play with and I/we would grab a bus home and buy another one Now if it were a 20,000 bike I wouldnt do that.. I am rootin for yam to build on that new V-max motor, than hopefully, the wing stays a cult bike driving down the value of venture (like the 80's all over again) and than in a few years I could afford to have that new vmax touring bike in the stable.. I like the stability of the Vision 8 ball (if you never test rode one you should), the looks of the new F6B Honda, the age ol design of the soft tail, the trunk space on the ultras, the quiteness of the beamers, the size of a boss hog, and the smell of the exhaust on my old KX on Klots...

Wonder if its possible that you have fuel up in the tank vent line that is causing enough of a blockage that the tank cant get air.. Or if you have some kind of a vapor lock in the fuel pump - pump full of air.. Maybe try taking the vent line off and blowing on it while you turn the key on and off - force some fuel thru the pump to prime it.. I actually lost a pump one time on an 84 and drove it for a quite a ways by hooking a section of fuel line to the vent line and forcing fuel into the carbs by blowing on it.. From that point on I have carried a spare pump with me hahaha