Electrical failure whilst away from home.

[gspd]

Everyone knows the possibility of some sort of failure increases as a direct function of how far you are from help.
BTW, electrical problems never "fix themselves"; they go into hiding until the above rule is in effect.

Words of wisdom, I guess you bintheredunthat right?

How to hot wire your ignition and lights is something every airhead rider should learn.
If the charging system fails, and if you have a dash mounted voltmeter and notice it right away,
you can go many hundreds of miles, probably over 1000 miles, with just the juice remaining in your battery if everything else is turned off.

[StephenB]

In the past 6 yrs on 3 bikes and 30,000km:

Me alone - 1 rotor, 4 tailight bulbs (went home on a new car battery strapped onto the seat behind me)
Me and Bill - 1 diodeboard (Bill)
Me and Bilol (the other year) - 1 diodeboard (Me)

Impact: none (carried spares or had a brilliant idea how to get home)

Statistically it confirms: the charging system is the single biggest problem when you're on the road.

[Airbear]

Hmm, none yet for me, away from home, apart from having to file points by the side of the road a few times. I did have a fuse in the bucket turn into a diode (or something) on the front veranda once. Symptoms were bizarre, and seemed to change each time I turned the key. A twist of the fuse fixed it.

I have just read this whole thread and am now getting paranoid. I know how lucky I have been, and how unprepared I am. I do carry a test lamp and some bits of wire and tape and stuff, but I am yet to fully embrace the BMW electrics. The 36 year old wires are stiff and crunchy in some places - definitely a disaster waiting to happen.

With the first coffee of the day surging through my system I hereby resolve to do the following -
Print and laminate the wiring diagram.
Fit a voltmeter.
Seek out whatever troubleshooting info is out there (Duane, Snowbum and others), print and store with the maps.
Get a decent set of crimpers, nice marine grade wire and terminals, shrink tubing, some of that substance that cleans and protects the terminals and so on, and work my way through the whole harness, paying special attention to those extra recommended earths and so on.
Carry some spares - light bulbs, voltage reg, a coil, (what else?)

There, that feels better already. Have a good one.

[gspd]

Carry some spares - light bulbs, voltage reg, a coil, (what else?)

Rolling papers?

[SteveD]

Carry some spares - light bulbs, voltage reg, a coil, (what else?)

Rolling papers?

Reading thru this thread, the rotor seems to be a common culprit.

On a longer ride like the next boxerworks one, I carry a rotor, fuses, some wire & crimper, a dvm, regulator (bosch re55), ignition cannister. The rotor is a new one from Motobins (cheapest available).



My diode board isn't very old and has the solid mounts, so I'm hedging my bets there by not carrying a spare.

[Airbear]

Carry some spares - light bulbs, voltage reg, a coil, (what else?)

Rolling papers?

O yes, always. Two packs in the tank bag and one in the toolkit, sealed in a zip-lock bag along with a lighter and a small stash of tobacco. Always.

[ME 109]

I always carry a spare lighter (or 2) rolly papers (several) and spare underpants.
Just in case I find mesself in the shit.

[Sibbo]

Hmm, none yet for me, away from home, apart from having to file points by the side of the road a few times. I did have a fuse in the bucket turn into a diode (or something) on the front veranda once. Symptoms were bizarre, and seemed to change each time I turned the key. A twist of the fuse fixed it.

I have just read this whole thread and am now getting paranoid. I know how lucky I have been, and how unprepared I am. I do carry a test lamp and some bits of wire and tape and stuff, but I am yet to fully embrace the BMW electrics. The 36 year old wires are stiff and crunchy in some places - definitely a disaster waiting to happen.

With the first coffee of the day surging through my system I hereby resolve to do the following -
Print and laminate the wiring diagram.
Fit a voltmeter.
Seek out whatever troubleshooting info is out there (Duane, Snowbum and others), print and store with the maps.
Get a decent set of crimpers, nice marine grade wire and terminals, shrink tubing, some of that substance that cleans and protects the terminals and so on, and work my way through the whole harness, paying special attention to those extra recommended earths and so on.
Carry some spares - light bulbs, voltage reg, a coil, (what else?)

There, that feels better already. Have a good one.

Suddenly , strangely all my paranoia bells are ringing !! Did someone mention electrics and the fear of the unknown ?

[gspd]

I always carry a spare lighter (or 2)

In a pinch, you can light a joint (or start a fire) with a coiled up thin wire briefly shorted between your battery terminals.
That's how all conventional car cigarette lighters work.
Wear gloves.

Another useful tip:
If you're on a dark trail and your headlight fails, or your charging system fails and your low on juice, remove a flasher lens. You'd be surprised by how much light an uncovered flasher puts out in total darkness.

[Airbear]

Suddenly , strangely all my paranoia bells are ringing !! Did someone mention electrics and the fear of the unknown ?

Now Sibbo, don't you be worrying about it just now. Plenty of time for that. I'm sure your sweet young Tilly has some lessons for you to learn, but all in good time. I have survived for 8 years knowing dangerously little about the electrics. Reading some of the horror stories here has inspired me. I will embrace.