charging issues

I made a 1100k trip this weekend. From Toronto to Watkins Glen, Skaneateles, Watkins Glen, Toronto. I had some charging issues only when traveling the highways, the slower I moved the better my bike would charge at 65 mph or higher the volt meter would stay around 12.8 to 13.1, riding around 40 it would say 13.6 and sitting idling it would say 13.9 to 14.1. Twice at a gas station after doing 60 for a while the bike wouldn't start the battery was dead but if I would let it idle for about a minute and shut it down there was enough juice to start it after filling up. What could it be? Stator has never been changed but the r/r was change a few years ago

 

There must be at least 100 threads about this. Do a search here for "The Drill"...it should be next on your list of things to do.

 

Do the drill, but understand it is current that will charge your battery. High resistance connection can read proper voltage, but the can not carry the current (amps) to charge battery.

Look at it this way, you have two identical batteries, you connect a 12" piece of #24 wire to the + on one, and a 12" piece of #10 wire to the other, without a load across battery, both will read the same voltage (potential). Which will carry the most current?

Ever had a car where the lights come on, and when you go to start it they go dim? Battery terminals corroded, carries enough current to run lights (not quite bright) but not the 70-80 amps to crank starter.

Check battery terminals, stator connectors, and R/R output connectors for indications heat discoloration. Hi resistance connections will heat up just like your toaster. Low voltage systems in motorcycles, autos and boats all suffer the same problems with low voltage/high current devices, VFR's aren't the only ones.

 

Thanks I'll check all the connections again I did check the R/R connections at the beginning of the season and haven't had any problems until now. I was with the PO this weekend and he changed the R/R but not the stator

 

Cheap method for cleaning contacts, get some small emery boards and trim to 1/4" wide, peel coarse sand paper off one side, and insert into female connectors, turn over and do other side: