Any motorcyclists on here?

[Electric_Andy]

I'd like some feedback from anyone who is interested please. it's a bit of a story and some things are probably conincidental:

My son has a 2022 Peugeot Kisbee 50 GT (that's what the V5 says anyway). It had been running fine but he stopped riding it for personal reasons, so I took it out last week to blow some cobwebs out. I got 5 miles out of town and it conked out; symptoms were identical to running out of fuel (but it had 3/4 of a tank). I parked up, phoned my partner, wondered how I'd get home, and then thought I'd try starting it. it started up fine and I rode home fine. I noticed that the headlight (dipped beam) was blown so ordered another bulb.

I've had it on the trickle charger and last night changed the bulb, and it come on and then went out. I don't know if it's blown again or if the battery is dead. I now have no ignition lights at all. My trickle charger is also acting up (it's showing both red light for "battery dead / problems" and green light for "all is fine, battery tender mode). So I've ordered a new trickle charger.

I suspect that it may be the regulator/rectifier, as this is what happened on my old FZ6 Fazer. So my plan is:

Put battery on new trickle charger to check battery health - it may have been toasted.
Check fuses with multi-meter
Check contact/earth points for corrosion
Locate reg/rec and test with multi-meter, order new one if needed.

Does this sound like a sensible plan?

 

[DRM]

Possibly a positive wire in the ignition circuit that's rubbed through & shorting to earth, bad earth, or as you say blowing the headlight bulb, rectifier failing, had that on a Volvo, tell tale was the bulb going bright, then back to normal, also boiled the battery dry, might be worth checking the electrolyte level if you can, and stick the meter across the battery while it's running, should be steady at about 13.8 volts not fluctuating

 

[Profpointy]

For a lightweight v twin have a look at the Suzuki SV650. Not one of my bigger bikes, but probably the one I most regretted selling.

Assuming it's the same model, I had one of them as a loaner from the bike shop. I thought the engine felt lovely but found the machine very uncomfortable and the whole thing seemed almost toy like, but maybe it feels cramped for me as a 6' tall chap

 

[yello]

Yep, since a minibike (basically a motor mower engine bolted into a frame) on the beach at the age of 10. To trail biking with friends in the hills out back of the town where we lived. First road bike at 15, a 125, then traded-up steadily (400, 550, 750) up until I sold up and left the country (bike paid the airfare).

Born again years later in the UK, took it slowly and retrained with a number of advanced training companies (including serving and ex police, SEG etc) and track days (I had an NC30 specifically for that). It was a good time for UK motorbiking generally and there seemed a resurgence. A number of bikes (SV650, BT1100) my fave was probably a Yamaha 650 Thundercat, loved it but it was stolen before we moved to France.

Bought another Thundercat in France (I couldn't think of a bike I liked better!) and eventually swapped that for Honda Deauville 650 (yes, the "dullville"!) It's a great bike that suits the biker I am these days. I prefer the bike to the car (weather dependant)

 

[Electric_Andy]

Yep, since a minibike (basically a motor mower engine bolted into a frame) on the beach at the age of 10. To trail biking with friends in the hills out back of the town where we lived. First road bike at 15, a 125, then traded-up steadily (400, 550, 750) up until I sold up and left the country (bike paid the airfare).

Born again years later in the UK, took it slowly and retrained with a number of advanced training companies (including serving and ex police, SEG etc) and track days (I had an NC30 specifically for that). It was a good time for UK motorbiking generally and there seemed a resurgence. A number of bikes (SV650, BT1100) my fave was probably a Yamaha 650 Thundercat, loved it but it was stolen before we moved to France.

Bought another Thundercat in France (I couldn't think of a bike I liked better!) and eventually swapped that for Honda Deauville 650 (yes, the "dullville"!) It's a great bike that suits the biker I am these days. I prefer the bike to the car (weather dependant)

Yes I get it. I had an SV650 fully faired and loved it, but it made my back and wrists hurt after 30 mins of riding. I had an FZ6 Fazer before that which was probably the best all round bike I ever had; powerful enough, revvy, comfy and practical with a top box on. Had a Bandit 600 before that which was bland and always breaking down. I briefly rode a CB400 Hondamatic which I'd done up, but it was a bit too sedate and old. My ideal bike these days would be a newer Royal Enfield 500. Or one of the Chinese 400s that look like scramblers, but only if I had a garage to keep the rust off

 

[figbat]

…my fave was probably a Yamaha 650 Thundercat, loved it but it was stolen before we moved to France.

Bought another Thundercat in France (I couldn't think of a bike I liked better!) …

I had a Thundercat for 17 years and in that time I rode it all over and it had only one issue - a failed spark plug cap. Fantastic, underrated bike. Oh, it’s a 600, not a 650. 😉

 

[yello]

I had a Thundercat for 17 years and in that time I rode it all over and it had only one issue - a failed spark plug cap. Fantastic, underrated bike. Oh, it’s a 600, not a 650. 😉

Indeed it is. My bad, as they say. 6 or 7 years ago since I swapped for the Deauville, and I'm getting on...

But, yes, absolute stonking good bike. I loved its tank range and comfort - it really was a 'ride all day' bike. And handle, boy did it. I used it on track days too before the getting the NC30 and it wasn't embarrassed (I wish I could say the same for me ) Truth was, I got too old for it and was only really riding it a half pace all the time. So I decided to get something more in keeping for a man of my age. The Deauville, I can zip along without scaring the carp out of myself!

 

[figbat]

Indeed it is. My bad, as they say. 6 or 7 years ago since I swapped for the Deauville, and I'm getting on...

But, yes, absolute stonking good bike. I loved its tank range and comfort - it really was a 'ride all day' bike. And handle, boy did it. I used it on track days too before the getting the NC30 and it wasn't embarrassed (I wish I could say the same for me ) Truth was, I got too old for it and was only really riding it a half pace all the time. So I decided to get something more in keeping for a man of my age. The Deauville, I can zip along without scaring the carp out of myself!

Here’s me on mine at a track day at Rockingham.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Bought another Thundercat in France (I couldn't think of a bike I liked better!) and eventually swapped that for Honda Deauville 650 (yes, the "dullville"!) It's a great bike that suits the biker I am these days.

I'd have loved a Deauville, an extremely practical bike with good weather protection and load carrying capacity. Unfortunately for Honda it came out when the "Here today, gone tomorrow" sports bike fashionistas polluted motorcycling (Rather like they've done to cycling) and got unfairly slated because it couldn't perform like an R1.

I think Honda would be on a winner if they re-released it today.

 

[yello]

Here’s me on mine at a track day at Rockingham

Nice. Mine was yellow, gold, black.

I remember a session at Rockingham where me and a guy on a Hayabusa where playing playing cat and mouse. I was on my NC30. He'd blast past me but I'd close him down into a bend and get past him coming out... only for him to blast past me again! In fairness to him, a Hayabusa must be a handful around a track like Rockingham.

 

[yello]

I think Honda would be on a winner if they re-released it today

I wish they would, mine's getting tired and is probably due a well earned retirement (97k miles on the clock now) but I don't really see anything I'd replace it with. Maybe an NC700. I would have to go 2nd hand, new prices are silly imho. In all honesty, I'd probably go for another Deauville (not the 700, I've ridden one and I found the 650 handled better) I can pick up a clean, lower mileage 650 for money I'd be prepared to pay.

 

[Red17]

Born again years later in the UK, took it slowly and retrained with a number of advanced training companies (including serving and ex police, SEG etc) and track days (I had an NC30 specifically for that).

Just wondering but did you frequent a mango themed motorcycle forum around that time?

 

[yello]

Just wondering but did you frequent a mango themed motorcycle forum around that time?

Yes. Well.probably, And I know why you ask. I've never been particularly adventurous when selecting forum names!

 

[Red17]

Could be just a coincidence, but may have been on the same Brands Hatch track evening at some point. Can't remember which bike I had at the time though, probably either a zx600 or Aprilia Mille.

 

[yello]

I have done a Brands evening, on the short (GP?) circuit, on my NC30. I was off-ed by a guy on a rental track bike, he cut me up on the downhill bend after the pits, I ended up unhurt in the kitty litter. I was with Paul and Steve (also of RS) but I don't remember what either were riding. I'm trying to remember who on RS had a Mille, a few did as I recall.