Looking to buy 25 y/o bike, worried electrics are knackered.

[alex965]

Hi all,

Went to see a 1992 42k miles XV750 earlier. Mechanically it seemed fine, but both left hand indicators were flashing really quickly (as was the left hand dash indicator light) and I saw two black wires hanging in front of the engine - they looked like they had been crimped and they were sealed off with electrical tape.

I would be using the bike for work and have no other transport so I'm really worried the electrics on the bike might make it less than reliable.

Has anyone got any advice regarding checking the bike before buying etc.?

Thanks
____________________
Passed A2 licence 19th Dec '14.

[uberkron]

Check that it doesn't have 10 watt bulbs instead of 21 watt.
Have seen this before, and if they didn't care to fit a 2 dollar bulb correctly I'd avoid this one.
Also the "extra wires sealed with tape" could be hiding a wiring repair or bypassed side stand switch.
____________________
i ride a zip 50 2smoke. It overtakes a hundred times a day.

[P.]

If it's only transport...then buy the best bike you can afford. I'm fed up of electrical issues so bought something low miles, near mint etc. Depends on budget.

[mudcow007]

In my limited experience, the wiring that gets fucked about with most are for indicators & lights.

Indicators - someone has replaced the standards ones with leds then found they are flashing their tits off like they are are on 5g of magic.. so then cut into the wiring to add resistors etc oh then cover everything in electrical tape

lights - normally because rider was going touring an needed a ciggy lighter to charge their phone an "scotchlocked" cables into headlight wiring grrr

[Pete.]

Yamaha - check
Cruiser - check
Old - check


Yeah it's going to be rotten.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Baffler186]

sounds like aftermarket (cheap) indicators have been used which have a lower impedence and will often flash faster. This is what happened to my 1978 CB400. £3 variable flasher relay should sort it
____________________
Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[alex965]

[Polarbear]

Those faults wouldn't worry me if everything else is ok.

Indicators running fast. Wrong or blown bulb, easy fix.

Two wires cut. Probably side stand bypassed. Start bike on centre stand, put in gear and put down side stand to see if it cuts out. Fix if required.

If bike is solid
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[stevo as b4]

If you love the bike and also need it to be reliable then, just budget £100-200 for someone to go all over the loom checking, cleaning, greasing and replacing connector blocks and terminals and things. You can cover alot of exposed connectors with heat shrink tubing, and cover connector blocks with silicone sealant etc.

I took ages and fucked about finding and sorting out an electrical issue on my bike, but if I couldn't have fixed it I'd have had no problem deciding to buy a new loom or have one made if needed. Electrics can be a bastard to sort and fix, so if I needed a bike to be reliable, I'd just save up for a couple of months and get someone to rewire the bike to make it usable and dependable.

[Baffler186]