Bonneville Blues
Q I have a tech question for you. I have a '06 Bonneville with 7500 miles on it. Here's the problem; I went for a ride yesterday. The bike started right up and ran perfectly. I parked in the garage, took the key out and hung it on its nail. When I went out this morning I turned the key and nothing, no lights, the bike wouldn't turn over.
So far, I've done the following;
* Checked the kill-switch: It's on.
* Checked the battery: cables tight.
* Checked the fuses: all good.
I tried to bump start it three times. The engine started to run for a few seconds, maybe three, then quit. I tried to jump-start it, which brought the lights on, but the starter button was still dead. I moved the key around in the ignition while trying to jump-start it with no results. Any ideas?
James Collins
Via e-mail
A It sounds like you have a bad battery, perhaps compounded by a charging system problem. First, fully charge the battery and test it, using a voltmeter, ideally with the battery fully-charged you should have a reading of between 12.8 and 13.5 volts across the terminals. If the battery is much below that have it load tested and replace it if need be. With a fully charged battery, my guess is the bike will start right up, and you can check the charging system output.
With the bike running at a fast idle you should be reading somewhere around 14.0 volts (DC) at the terminals although anything from about 13.5 on up is fine, at higher speeds you might see 15 volts. If the charging system is at fault you'll have to take the necessary steps to trouble shoot it.
As a last thought, it occurs to me that you may have inadvertently removed the key with the switch in the PARK position, which would have left the tail and headlight parking lights on and drained the battery overnight. In that case recharging the battery should have you back on the road in short order.
Chopped Liver?
Q It has always puzzled me why most (Japanese anyway) middleweight cruisers only have one front disc brake. Last time I checked, at under $10k only the Star 1100 trio had dual front disc brakes. For a while, the Suzuki M90 was $9999 and so it slipped in and the Harley 1200 Sportster Roadster also had duals in the front but I believe both of those bikes are over $10k now.
Even some larger cruisers have only one disc brake in front. Why is this? No serious sport bike would be without duals and not only that they would have more pots and pads, sometimes as many as 4 per disc.
My experience with dual front discs on a Suzuki 750 convinced me they are easily worth whatever extra cost they may create. What are we cruiser riders: chopped liver?
Richard
Via e-mail
A I don't mean to seem like a smart ass here but the simple reason the bikes you mention don't come with dual front discs is because (A) they don't need them, and (B) those bikes are built to a price point, adding the second disc would increase the bikes price and add very little in "perceived value." Bottom line; while a second disc would be of undisputed benefit, all of the bikes you mention stop perfectly well as they are.