Motorcycle Repair: 2003 Suzuki Intruder VL1500LC: Lost all Power which returned 10 minutes later, suzuki intruder, lousy weather

Question
Greetings . . . .

I was wondering if you have any ideas regarding the following.

I went out for about a 50 mile ride (one way) on my 2003 Suzuki Intruder VL1500LC this past Friday night at 6 PM.  Probably did about 40 miles at highway speeds (60+ MPH).

After tootling around the destination city for about an hour I pulled up to a traffic light, thinking it was time to head home, when suddenly the engine stopped and ALL POWER was gone.  No Ignition light, no Neutral light, no fuel light.  I could not start the bike no way, no how.

I pulled off to the side of the road wondering "Now what", as I had no cellphone and I was thinking how I was gonna get ME back home, never mind the bike.  I made some vain attempts at pop-clutching the bike, as I was on a slight incline, but to no avail, although I did note the red ignition light flash on one occasion.  On top of that, I had taken my socket set out of the bike earlier in the week, so I couldn't have fixed anything anyway!

I must say that my bike had been in commercial storage over the winter (removed April 20, 2009) and I have only had a few short, local rides since (lousy weather hereabouts in Ottawa) without issue.  The commercial storage place had removed my battery and BatteryTender cables so they could connect my battery up to their charging system, so wondered if the battery cables had come loose somehow, as I'd had a bit of a bumpy ride (lots of construction) or whether I had blown the master fuse.  I noticed that the Red (Negative) cable was sitting out under the battery cover, along with some electrical tape, so I pulled at the electrical tape and it came off in my hand.

But, wonder of wonders, shortly after that, the electrics reappeared on my console!!!!  I immediately tried the starter, but one push and it was dead again.  This happened three more times.  I then decided that the next time there was a sign of life I would turn the ignition off for a while (I think I waited 2 minutes!!) turned it back on and and was able to start the bike!!!!!

I immediately hightailed it home, arriving by 8:30 PM.  I shut the bike off in the garage and started it again immediately, and it fired without any problem, so I'm at a loss to understand what went wrong.

PS:  Recent changes to my m'cycle:

  1. I installed a new Mustang passenger and driver's seat with backrest.  Electric cables run under the passenger seat over the back fender to the luggage trunk mounted several years on the rear luggage rack.
  2. I installed new Kuryakyn ISO Grips, including a replacement throttle, adding a Kuryakyn ISO Throttle Boss and a Kewl Chrome CNC Billet Helmet Lock to the end of each ISO Grip handle.

I have actually had a 100+ miles round-trip on the new seat without any problems, so doubt that is the issue.

Did I foul something up when I opened the throttle housing to install the new throttle?  Did I mount it correctly, as I had to take the accelerator and decelerator cables off the old throttle to connect to the new one?  I presume I connected the cables correctly, as the throttle seems to work properly, accelerating the bike when pulled backward and springing back when released?  I noted some backfiring when I first started off on this (mis) adventure, but assumed this was a consequence of working on the throttle and linkages, so paid no mind.

I have just taken off the battery cover to see if there's anything obviously amiss with the battery (replaced 2 years ago) and/or wiring, but all is as snug as a bug.  The tape that I had pulled off on the road simply held some plastic armour shielding in place around the "+" cable

I restarted the bike just fine after my "dabble" this afternoon.  but I am hesitant of going for a ride of any distance on my own if there's still a chance of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere . . .!

Thanks for your answer.

Regards,

George

Answer
George,

 I don't think that your seat is the problem, unless it has a metal base and could actually make contact with the top of the battery somehow...aftermarket throttle will have no effect on your ignition, nor could it.   What it sounds like to me , is that you have a either a loose or a partially broken battery cable .  Check your cables at both ends...just because they are tight at the battery doesnt mean that they are tight at the other end..lol

Good Luck
Deron