Long distance trips

80650xs

XS650 Enthusiast
Messages
34
Reaction score
61
Points
18
Location
Washington state
I have a long distance trip planned for the end of the month. Just wondering what you guys pack, replace and carry for spares for something like this.
I have been riding this thing daily to work and on weekends without a hiccup. I'm worried about the 40 year old electronics kicking the bucket and leaving me stranded.
I've replaced/adjusted- brake pads, chain & sprockets, f&r tires, valves, timing chain, fork seals and will be replacing alternator brushes.. Wheel, swingarm and steering head bearings were all in good shape at 12,xxx miles.
I plan on bringing extra cables, and tools for everything. What else?
 
Assuming you have the stock TCI system, a minimum of 1 extra TCI box.. 2 if you can find 'em. Wouldn't hurt to have a spare crank sensor... although those are pretty reliable. I picked up 2 Honda MP08 (goldwing) coils on ebay for 20 bucks. Installed one in my 80SG TCI bike and the other is in the tail bag for a spare. I'd suggest you do that. Yeah... and a spare set of plugs... although are easily had at most parts stores. If it's the original reg/rec, might consider that also.
Small multi meter or test/trouble light, elec. pliers, a few feet of wire and a handful of splices.... you'll be set for the zombie apocalypses. ;)
 
Assuming you have the stock TCI system, a minimum of 1 extra TCI box.. 2 if you can find 'em. Wouldn't hurt to have a spare crank sensor... although those are pretty reliable. I picked up 2 Honda MP08 (goldwing) coils on ebay for 20 bucks. Installed one in my 80SG TCI bike and the other is in the tail bag for a spare. I'd suggest you do that. Yeah... and a spare set of plugs... although are easily had at most parts stores. If it's the original reg/rec, might consider that also.
Small multi meter or test/trouble light, elec. pliers, a few feet of wire and a handful of splices.... you'll be set for the zombie apocalypses. ;)
These bikes have a crank sensor?? I had no idea. Where is it located? I've been on the hunt for a tci box for some time- If anyone has one I have $. If goldwing coils work would the 3 ohm dc1-1 Dyna coils off my cb900 work as a backup? I'll add a reg/rec to the list. Thanks Jim
 
While on my ride home from work tonight, I noticed my headlight randomly but consistently dimming.i forgot to mention it has a new battery, as well as new handlebar switches. Headlight on its way out?
 
In 2002, I planned a 2,000 mile trip on my 650 Special. I asked the same question on the Micapeak List. Someone told me I should take an alternator rotor. I went without it. I went 150 or so miles before I was on the side of the road wondering why my bike quit. I didn't find anything and it magically started and ran flawlessly to maybe 800 mile. The main fuse opened. ???? I replaced it and continued. Somewhere along the return trip, the main fuse opened again. I made it all the way home, parked the bike and forgot about it for a few weeks.
The next time I got on the bike, I went two miles and the battery was dead. I brought it home on a trailer. The rotor was zero ohms! Lucky me. The rewound rotor has been just fine for the last 18 years. It wasn't long after that that I quit getting sparks out of the plugs. One of the coils in the pick-up assembly opened up. A used one replaced it as that's all I could get. My TCI just returned from repair. I believe solder joints had failed.

If your bike has the original alternator rotor on it, the only question is when it will fail, not if. The technology used for wire insulation was nothing compared to what we can get today. Custom Rewind or @Jim for piece of mind offered by a fresh rotor. The new one will likely outlive the bike.
If my headlight was intermittently dimming, the rotor would be on of the first things I would check. It should show approximately 5 ohms between the copper rings. If it's intermittent now, failure is imminent.
 
PS Jim's crank sensor AKA pick up coils
top right in this pic
late rotor.jpg
 
I didn't get around to working on the bike yet. My weekend starts Monday and it's at the top of the list. IsI do think the charging system is on its way out. If I rev the bike up at night in the dark garage , the headlight doesn't get any brighter. Maybe the bike has been running solely off battery juice? But it has been starting and running without a hiccup. Strange.
 
I didn't get around to working on the bike yet. My weekend starts Monday and it's at the top of the list. IsI do think the charging system is on its way out. If I rev the bike up at night in the dark garage , the headlight doesn't get any brighter. Maybe the bike has been running solely off battery juice? But it has been starting and running without a hiccup. Strange.
Want me to start a rewind? :rolleyes:
 
In that rotor rewind link I gave ya above... comment #3 is a copy of the charging troubleshooting guide with a few other items I added. One of the first check items is to verify the headlight brightens with revs. That's a fail, so you better have a look.
 
In that rotor rewind link I gave ya above... comment #3 is a copy of the charging troubleshooting guide with a few other items I added. One of the first check items is to verify the headlight brightens with revs. That's a fail, so you better have a look.
If you could get a rewind going that would be awesome. I'll whip out the multimeter asap and report back
 
Back
Top