RF900 Overheating

[ManDownUnder]

The RF will normally run at quite a cool temp - the temp gauge indicating only one or two lines above the bottom of the gauge.

If it's actually too hot it could be a lack of coolant (coolant tank is under the seat, mounted on the left hand side and you might (MIGHT) be able to see the coolant level through the tine wee window they built into the fairing.

It also might be the thermostat (located inside RHS of full fairing).

The enging dying I can't comment on but restarting??? That means the starter solenoid would have to be livene in order to spin the engine up... which sounds very VERY strange to me.

I hear Atomic are currently wrecking an RF too - I want some bits off it, and you might get some of the stuff you seek too... dunno what prices they have in mind though.

[Colapop]

I'd have to agree with all that's been said so far. This is not an issue you want to be f*cking around with yourself unless you are a bike mechanic who knows bikes inside out (if that were the case you wouldn't be asking here). Sounds like an electrical fault - RF's are usually fairly bullet-proof. You can one of two things;
a) take back to where/who you bought it from and either get your money back or get it fixed.
b) take it to a good bike mechanic and get it fixed properly - yes it will cost but an RF will go for a hell of a long time so you should get your money's worth of riding out of it.

[Macstar]

Seems my problem has got a few people scatching their heads, obviously including me. There's been some really useful suggestions and advice and I think they guy who questioned whether the temperature guage was even playing up in the first place might have been on a roll. Then there's some people who still would prefer to think bikes can't go haywire and do weird things. Especially that last guy who reckons a battery would go flat from leaving the headlight on for 4 minutes... Anyway, I wanted you all to know that I've handed the RF over to a professional bike electrician / mechanic and I am hoping to hear back from him in the next day or two with his take on what caused it. I'll be sure to post his findings up here when I know cause I am sure some of you will be curious to know how such a bizarre occurance could come about. According to him it is most probably the wiring loom in around the steering i.e. when the handlebar was turned fully to the left to park, it would have stretched the cables and IF there was a worn cable outer etc it could have shorted then. Anyway... stay posted and thanks!

[Macstar]

Thanks, I'll mention that starter solinoid to the mechanic / electrician.

[Colapop]

Good thinking that man! Far better to get sorted profssionally especially if you're not quite sure.

The recpetion you've recieved could probably have been better but with such exceptionally bizarre circumstances ... I'm sure you'll understand. Get out on a few KB rides and you'll find a great bunch of people. The knowledge on here is pretty good - except when someone comes up with something that just bizarre!
Welcome.

[Macstar]

Cheers again. What's the KB? Is that a club? Im defn keen to meet a few others and absorb some of their knowledge & hear biker tales etc. Which club can you recommend for road trips but not so much racing?

[ManDownUnder]

Cheers again. What's the KB? Is that a club? Im defn keen to meet a few others and absorb some of their knowledge & hear biker tales etc. Which club can you recommend for road trips but not so much racing?

See my PM to you

[terbang]

Wow thats an odd one, hope you get it sorted. I've seen small magneto engines self start but something as complex as a 4 cyl bike engine is really odd. Hope your mechanic is a good one and good luck. The KB is just this internet type thing we are all part of here and we have some great rides. See ya there..

[emaN]

Just seen yer thread dude..
looks like you're getting it sorted.
(will check my loom sometime soon & do the 'tape thing' MacD suggests)

Hope this don't put you off RF's; they're great strong bikes.
(just need a tail mod & they're sweet!)

Welcome!

[Lou Girardin]

Has the bike got an alarm with remote start fitted? Look for a black box roughly the size of a packet of smokes under the tailpiece or sidecovers.
If these are wired incorrectly they can start in gear. A fault in the immobiliser can cause the stalling too.

[Macstar]

Hey guys

Finally some answers on the bizarre problems my RF was experiencing. Firstly I'd like to thanks "Lou Girardin", Mac D, "Imdying" and "Man Down Under". These guys were aboslutely awesome in their comments and really showed their wisdom with each member identifying one or more of the actual causes of the problem. If you guys aren't already bike mechanics / electricians YOU SHOULD BE!

Someone in the past had modified the wiring. My repair guy reckons probably there once was an alarm fitted. Apparently where some of the loom had been cut, the newly added replacement wires were not thick enough to handle the load. It was a ticking time bomb and eventually the wires heated up and shorted. This f*&%cked the starter motor solenoid and made it bascially live 24/7 i.e. you didn't even need to have the key in the ignition for the starter motor to go (if and when it wanted to). Apparently it was pretty messy in there and aside from replacing the starter solenoid, all the wiring in that neck of the woods has had to be checked etc. The repair guy is bloody awesome though and has hooked me up with a wicked student discount of around $200 in total. I didn't dare ask how long it took him so as not to jeapordize his generous price...

Apparently the bike never overheated (Sorry for misleading everyone) though some people mentioned-above did question this assumption! But in any case I'm going to give it a radiator flush anyway.

I've ordered a new gear shifter (Taiwanese one) for $55 vs Suzuki standard @ $130 and apart from some scratches and damage to the paint work I hope to back on the road by Wednesday! YEAHHHHHH!

So all up about a $300 run-in (forgetting about cosmetic damage), which I am extremely thankful for and hopefully upholds the RF900 as a reliable bike!
Next is a new rear tyre, chain and sprocket. I'll save up a while for these...

Thanks again guys - really appreciated.

[riffer]

Phew!

Just caught this thread tonight and you had me scratching my head too.

I'm glad you got it sorted. The Rf's are a great reliable bike and hopefully you won't have any problems from now on.

Welcome to Kiwibiker. Good to see another RF rider here.

[Drum]

Good to hear you got your problem sorted.

I hope we all learned a lesson here. Just because we dont understand something doesnt mean it didnt happen!

[The Pastor]

That would have freaked me out man, a bike starting all by itself!

[imdying]

Make sure you take him a 1125 of Jimmy. Good trademan are bloody hard to find in this country, and it'll be quite possibly worth every penny to show your appreciation in this way