Motorcycle Repair: V-Max, gloucester road, new apartment

Question
Hey, Chris. First off, let me say thanks for reading this and let me also say it's nice to talk to a UK biker. I'm American but lived just off the Gloucester Road tube station for a while a little bit of time ago and I know how you guys ride. Now, I just bought a V-Max. I rode the bike home about 180 miles without any glitches, but when coming to a stop or just sitting in idle the bike's rpms start flickering and after maybe half a minute she dies. She'll start back up and the last owner told me she might need a new battery. I'll be taking her in for inspection and service, but I'd like your opinion first. I'm thinking it could be the battery, the air filter, or maybe the spark plugs - that is to say I'm hoping. I don't think it's the fan or something with the cooling system becuase it happens at any temperature. I'm going on a 300 mile ride to my new apartment on Saturday and I'd like this all sorted out before then if the rain ever stops here. I know a lot of Brits ride in the soup, but I'm not doing it in this weather on the Max. By the way, why the hell can't we get some of those great British and German VMax custom parts over here?

Answer
Hi Tony.

The fact that it starts back up is not indicative of a battery issue so much as a short, bad fuse and/or bad connection in the ignition circuit.

What you may want to look at is the connections, fuses and fuse connections in that circuit.

It may be that there is ahort in the wiring or a bad connection in the ignition switch as well.

The battery could be an issue only if the bike refused to start again after dieing.  If it did that, then it could also be a charging issue.

As far as the custom British and German V-Max parts, I really have no idea.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON