Has anyone still have stock R/R and wiring with no problems?

When a R/R craps out, it's not one bit fun.. What happens is, in shorthand terms, no juice. The bike quits.

Try downloading one of the free service manuals for your particular bike. There will be a drawing and the procedure for doing the whole job. Seat off-seat pan off-change out R/R is the basic drill. No crotch rocket science required.

Depending on what your current tool kit contains, the best answer is "maybe." Best deal IMO is to either buy a toolkit that will fit under your seat or make one up retaining the spanner for chain adjustment and the lug wrench.

 

I'm no wrench, but i changed out 2 RR's on my 97.
unplugs - plugs - boom .........done.
3 or 4 screws & the tailsection of the bodywork comes off (IIRC) the whole process only took a few minutes - 1/2 hour tops. took me a little longer the second time 'cause i added a cooling fan, but it was still really easy.
The RR is nothing to contemplate ad nausium & ruin your ride.
Buy a RR & stow it on the bike.
relax & take a ride......enjoy.
Life is short.

 

Until recently my 99 was on its original battery and RR.
Yes thats 10 years from the battery and with 55,000km on the clock
Then I made a mistake. Came home after 6 weeks away and rode the bike on a hot day without first charging up the battery (it started fine) - result one cooked RR.
Replaced the RR with the now upgraded unit. Two weeks later starting problems again. This time it was the battery.

The lesson from this is that for the RR to last you need to keep a good battery in the bike, and not ride on hot days.

 

2001 with 34K Kilometers and original RR No problems even after sitting all winter. Statune high pipe might be a problem in rush hour traffic.

My friends 1998 VFR 46K Just had RR problems. He ordered the replacement from Wire my bike and 20 minutes after it arrived problem solved.

 

I`ve got 44,000 klms on my `99 model with the original r/r set up.And maybe the original battery(not sure)
I ride about 1000klms per month in all weather.
I also try not to think about the r/r !!!!
Maybe i should!!!!
:smile::smile:

 

Spoke to soon. 2001 37K dead battery after a long ride. New R/R kit on order. Rush hour is a killer.

 

Wired a standard computer box fan from my tail light and mounted to my r/r on my 2000. No problems as of yet. *knock on wood*

 

98 model w/stock RR 6k miles on the clock. Planning on upgrading to the new version and keeping the original under the seat.

 

2001 w/43K mi. Orig R/R. I *did* heat up and drive solder into every frame ground connection (green wires on right side; both ends of battery neg. cable).
Several years ago an EE friend help me diagnose the same problem(s) on my '91 750 which had melted the starter relay connector. He said bad grounds can cause more problems easier than anything and are easy to fix. If your ground connection is weak, the circuit can't be completed so the current backs up and overheats the first component that can fail. I Tender my battery in winter but never during riding season even with a week or so off.

 

99 with 39,000 km's all original harness and RR. She did give me problems once in heavy traffic, I shut her off at a light and then she would not start, but i think this was due to the extreme heat and drain of my fans running for over 1 hour going almost nowhere.

I use a tender all the time. I'm thinking of getting the vfrness as I agree it is probably wiring and grounding issues that cause these failures.

Fingers crossed, big ride coming up!

 

My 2nd gen has the original style r/r. Dont know if it is the one that came with the bike. The previos owner added a couple of extra ground wires to it. So far no issues and it charges at 14+ at all rpm's.