Buzz

This is where I found the info. It takes about one hour. http://www.ixxra.com/ground.html http://www.ixxra.com/spacers.html

Obby, both Hugo and I had a charging issue as well, but caused by different problems. We both documented it here. Hope this helps. http://www.cbr1100xx.org/forum/viewtopic.p...ight=cycle+stop

Just did the same 6mm modification last week before my wife and I rode through Yosemite for the weekend. Even riding two-up there was no problem with bottoming out. The size of fender washers recommended on the IXXRA forum is 12mm inside diameter and 28mm outside diameter. I used 4 washers wich equated to 6mm thickness, but were a few mm larger than the recommended just because I used what I had rather than making a special trip to the hardware store. Worked fine. One comment, I measured the chain sag before and after the spacer modification and noticed that my chain loosened up by at least 1/2" afterwards due to the different angle of the swingarm.

Sounds right to me. That's what I paid except the dealership prepped the battery with electrolyte.

I paid $126 for mine (full price Honda dealer), so your dealer may have some expalining to do. Hugo Hugo, the battery you purchased for $126, was that the older or newer style?

How old is your battery? Also, is the idle adjusted correctly? I just went through the same issues and found out: A. Idle set 200 rpm below recommended 1100 rpm DRAWS 3 amps from the battery; B. The service manager at the dealership I took my Bird to get checked out stated that there have been a lot of problems with the battery used in the newer model Birds, '01-'03 as I recall. Mine gave out in less than 5 months. I had the older style battery put in (which was only $70 insttead of $170 for the new style) and it has worked great since.

???? $ ???? I just added everything up that I spent on it: $280- Etrex Vista with PC serial cable (in excellent condition, purchased new from Amazon.com on 03-24-2003 for $330 with a $50 mail-in rebate); 90- Mapsource Metroguide USA, version 5.0 (purchased in early 2004); 60- Two DC adapter (cigarette lighter) cables (for two different vehicles); 20- Bicycle mount; 10- Carrying case with belt clip; $450- Total What would be a fair price for this?

Craig, I own an eTrex Vista with Garmin's latest Metroguide program. Had it since April '03 and works great overall. The side buttons design and five position "click stick" allows for easy access while riding with gloves on. Actually, I have been considering selling it since I am planning to purchase a new model with a color screen and will no longer need the Vista or software (new unit prefers a different software program than I have). If you are interested in this, let me know. Picture of it here. http://www.cbr1100xx.org/forum/viewtopic.p...highlight=etrex

The doesn't seem to be that great a volume in business around this area to get away with that kind of attitude. I don't hear about very many motorcycle accidents in this area, but also may not be aware of them.

Didn't think I would be adding one more post to this thread, but..... I just got a call from the service manager at Cycle Stop asking when I was planning to bring the bike by the shop to get it checked out. Obviously, they got a call from Honda's customer service dept. I reminded him as to what he told me during our last call when I was trying to make an appontment about going to another shop (where I bought the XX) and that they have never done an electrical diagnostic before. I also told him another shop did work on my bike was doing great now. His response was, "Oh, okay. 'Bye" No apologies or what could we do next time to improve service. Felt like telling him how much business he lost, but I figured he already knew that and just didn't care.

Glad to hear the bike is back to normal and you are not going through withdrawals anymore. Left my bike for 5 days and it fired right up this weekend. The new battery did the trick.

Glad to hear the bike is back to normal and you are not going through withdrawals anymore. Left my bike for 5 days and it fired right up this weekend. The new battery did the trick.

Hugo, How's the stator holding up?

Hugo, Thanks for the update. I feel for you. I went without my Bird for a week and my wife knew I was going through withdrawals. Funny, motorcycles are kind like an addiction. Bummer on the wrong part coming in. Sounds like Murphy's Law of stators. What dealership did you go to, Milpitas? How was it determined that the problem was the stator? Haven't heard of a stator being replaced on a bird before.

Other than allowing someone to do a burnout, what possible benefit did Honda see by designing the rear brake to actuate ONLY when the bike is moving forward? Pehaps so the rear brake won't actuate when backing up. Seems like another unnecessary complication of the braking system.

Good news, problem seems to be solved with the new battery. I can leave the bike sit for two days and the starter still turns faster than it ever did with the old battery. I'm still somewhat apprehensive when starting the bike out of habit, though (got used to a crapshoot every time I went to turn on the bike). Will have to work on that. One correction: the bike draws 1/100 amp when turned off, not 1/10 amp. Hugo, thanks for the Honda Customer Service number and info from their FAQs. I did file a complaint on Cycle Stop as well as commend Monterey Peninsula Powersports for their excellent service.

Just talked with Monterey Powersports regarding the battery/charging problem. They did a full diagnostic on the system. The service manager stated that one problem was the idle too low (900 rpm) which was drawing 3 amps from the battery. I did turn down the idle since it was running 1400 rpm warm, but used the tachometer to gauge engine rpm. Perhaps there is some calibration error on the tach? After the service department brought up the rpm to 1100, he said it was charging the battery at 3 amps. Also, when the bike was turned off, any remaining draw (i.e. clock) is 1/10 amp. A change that I was not aware of is the battery used from '01 to '03 models is different from previous years. He stated that the newer style battery used circuitry to limit the discharge rate as well as be designed to be a more maintenance-free design as the older style needs to be prepped first (fluids added, initial charge). He did not like the newer battery as much as the old one because of this. One other possibility would be with the age of the battery itself. Although I purchased the bike in December '03, it was manufactured in October, '02. I would assume the battery was installed in the bike at that time. The dealer stated that they recieved the bike about a month before I purchased it. This would mean that the battery was sitting in the bike for a year and be almost two years old by now. Because of this, I am purchasing the older style battery (about $70, which is $100 cheaper than the newer style counterpart) and see if this solves the problem. Will post all feedback, good or bad, on this thread.

Haven't thought about the grounding wires. No problems with the digital gauges fluctuating (not sure if either of yours are digital as well or if it would even make a difference), but I will check those areas out before taking it in for service. Thanks for the suggestions.

Gary, Thanks for the post. Small world, isn't it? Unfortunately, the experience you mention still seems to to be the norm for this shop, no help whatsoever. Not even an offer to help. This is the closest shop to me as well. Today, I was driving by the shop while working and, as it usually seems to be, not one customer in the store. On the flipside, that was some incredible customer service he has had with Powersports. I am not planning to purchase another motorcycle for a while, but if the service continues as he has described and I've seen so far, it won't be a very difficult decision on where I will buy next or recommend to others. Thank your friend as well for the information.

Hugo, I remember your bike was in the shop. Did they find anything wrong with it at that time?

Same opinion here for the same reasons. One idea I had is to buy the relcalibrator and change it by 2.5% so the odometer is spot-on and the speedo reads a little more accurately. Or perhaps adjust it by 6% and split the difference, then everything would be inaccurate! Oh well. BTW, you missed a couple of dollar signs when referring to the GPS. :roll:

Hugo, Very interesing. Thanks for the number. I will will be calling them withing the next day or so to discuss my experience and their lack of ability to be able to resolve it as HRCA stated they should be.

In addition to Pace's reasons, there is one more why I don't like LBS: When I engage a gear (engine braking) while applying the brakes, I'm in the habit of releasing the rear brake slightly to avoid locking up the rear wheel. Now, I release the rear brake, which will also partially release the front brake. To compensate for loss of front brake power, I have to apply additional front brake pressure and, thanks to LBS, is now also applying additional rear brake pressure which brings me back to where I started. Arrrgh!

Wouldn't hurt my feelings. Anyone know their number/email?

I checked the exchange rates a few days ago. The 321 Ignition kit with clutch line and shipping is just under $600. Not sure if there is any additional credit card fees for currency exchange, but that would be additional.