sfarson

Thanks for the replies everyone. Have a hunch it is the rectifier but will go through the diagnosis.

After seven years the stock battery went to battery heaven. Wouldn't start at a gas station and a push start got me home. Put in a replacement battery from Batteries Plus. Has been fine for two months. Last Saturday on a 360 mile ride, at about 300 miles the speedo and tach needle started pulsating... both would display the speed and RPMs correctly for about three seconds then drop to zero, then back, then drop to zero. As RPMs would drop while going through a small town they both stayed at zero then pulse again as I picked up speed. Friend riding behind noted a slight pulse with the tailight. All other gauges and lights worked fine. Five miles from home as I turned off the highway on to a county road, the bike died. Push start no help. 30 minutes later after fetching my truck, a push start did work but the bike died after 20 seconds. Friend had the idea of trying his XX battery. Took it out, placed in my ailing bike, worked fine. Got me home as he followed in the truck. Batteries Plus replaced the two month old battery for free. Have only taken the bike on a ten mile test ride but all is fine. Keep a battery tender on the XX year round. So, what think? Did I just get a bum battery from Batteries Plus? Is the battery not charging while riding? Is a stator going or gone? Would value any opinions or experience as I get to the bottom of this. Now I'm nervous taking the XX on an extended ride.

Can confirm as others have observed... the FI XX handles altitude just fine. I can't tell a diff between 5,000 and 12,000 feet... though I've never had the bird down near sea level. Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing anything.

Justin... Good to hear from you. Haven't seen you around much. Did you see the modest video contribution to Colorado Rider?

Mitch, Check out the link here: http://www.erionracing.com/product1.asp They have full and slip-on systems. Black aluminum and titanium. The photo at their website shows the slip-on system, but the full is a 4-2-1. Killer system. They also sell a matched Power Commander. As noted previously, seamless powerful delivery.

Would note the Erion 4-2-1 with PC is an outstanding combination. After a serious wind blew the bike over, and the insurance company came through, replaced the slip-on system with this full pipe. Would do it again without hesitation. What a difference. Noticeable. Seamless and deep power. Nice mellow exhaust note versus the louder slip-on system. Not a great image, but shows the side with the pipe...

Same here. Front end wobble on the XX and a Buell. Both caused by a poor tire up front. Solved with a replacement.

Upgraded the suspension for the '99 recently. Went with the Ohlins rear (Improvement immediately noticeable) and decided to go the whole way rebuilding the front with Race Tech Gold rebound and compression valves, and springs. But this bike was almost seven years old. If you have the $$$ consider upgrading both the front and rear, but I also think you would be fine with the Ohlins installation now, and go with an upgraded front in a couple of years. My '99 worked fine with the stock suspension components for many years.

Have a Corbin on the XX, and have experience with Sargent and Corbin on other bikes. Corbin is firm (which I like) and will lower you slightly on the XX, BUT, you don't sink in like the stock seat or even the slightly firmer Sargent. Net, I don't think you'll feel much of difference seat to pegs. But, the Corbin sweet spot is towards the rear, good for taller riders like me, or those who want to scooch back and lean forward. The Sargent seats I have do exactly what you are looking for... put you up against the tank.