Motorcycle Club » Star 1100 Classic & Custom

1100 died at 65mph

17 posts from 8 voices
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  1. Member
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    I was cruising down the interstate today at 65mph when the bike just quit (It's a 2005 1100, 5500 miles, all stock). I first thought maybe I hit the reserve fuel level. But, just the way it quit, like I hit the kill switch, didn't seem like a normal out-of-fuel situation.

    I coasted to the side, and the bike was completely dead... no lights, no odometer, no neutral light, etc. I thought maybe it would be a loose battery connection. I was about a 1/4 mile from the exit, so I pushed the bike and then coasted down the off ramp and into a gas station to get off the highway.

    Couldn't find any obvious loose connections anywhere. I called the Yammy dealer and they came and got the bike. They haven't looked at it yet, but I thought I'd ask here and see if anyone knows of common problems. Could it be a blown fuse or some other electrical issue?

  2. Member
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    Check your main fuse. If everything's out, as in the fuses for everything else are ok, then it's your main fuse. Usually, they put a spare fuse there.

    Good thing you were able to get help.

  3. Member
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    Could be your main fuse.
    Could also be the harness under the instruments came loose, but that shouldn't kill the bike since there are a couple connectors and I doubt they'd all come loose at the same time.

    Good luck

  4. Member
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    That is really strange. I've not heard of anything like that happening very often. Could be the fuse, maybe the stator....the rectifier maybe....

    Please let us know what you find out. I'm really interested to find out what it was!!!!

  5. Member
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    The same thing happened to me. Check the resistance & ohm's for the pick-up coil that resides with the stator in an oil bath under the left cover above the oil level window.

  6. Member
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    I haven't experienced this with Yamaha, but with an OLD BSA in 1970. It had a wire short and melt due to a crack and it was a mess.

    I saw a brand new Indian do this on a ride. About 50 of us and he just lost everything. Coasted to a side and a couple that knew him well dropped off with him... Never heard the cause.

  7. Member
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    Thanks for the ideas guys... still no word from the dealer, don't expect I'll hear anything soon, takes them 3 days just do to an oil change. The dealer is swamped since it got nice outside, and they are constantly short-handed too.

    I didn't really want it to go to the dealer, but I was a lot closer to them than home when it died, so it was cheaper to haul it there.

  8. Member
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    Still no answer on this yet. I'm worried now. This Yamaha shop is pretty lousy. The only other time I dealt with them was on an oil change and it wasn't good. When I called this morning, I got the "my mechanic quit" story. The service manager had a chance to check the fuses and the battery, which he said seem to be good,. He was stumped and needed a mechanic to go into it deeper. He sent the bike over to their other shop 25 miles away where they have a mechanic that supposedly knows what he's doing.

  9. Member
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    Uh, the Service Manager is supposed to be the best, most qualified mechanic in the service department. Even if nobody else is certified in any professional capacity, the SM should be. Where is this dealership?

    - JJ

  10. Member
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    Uh, the Service Manager is supposed to be the best, most qualified mechanic in the service department. Even if nobody else is certified in any professional capacity, the SM should be. Where is this dealership? - JJ
    The dealer is Sioux City (IA) Yamaha.

    Yeah you would think the service manager might know something about motorcycles. However, I know he used to be an HD salesman since I talked to him in that capacity a couple years ago. I guess if you can't sell Harleys you go fix Yammy's???

    Anyway, just got a call from the other shop (Bob's Bike Shop, LeMars, IA). They've tested everything, and the only problem they found is the battery is shot. I bought it new last summer from Batteries Plus. The Yammy guy said he doesn't recommend anything but the Yamaha battery which he wants $160 for. I told him the other one is still under warranty so I wouldn't be paying another $160 for a battery. But, I'm not impressed with the Batteries Plus unit if it has gone bad so quickly. What a pain.

  11. Member
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    This is just my opinion, but I'd go get my bike and not let them touch it. Find an independent bike shop and take it there...... Sounds like you;re getting the song and dance and the possibility of someone very inept working on your bike. That is scary...

  12. Member
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    It's real inconvenient now... the bike is 25 miles away from where I work, and about 40 miles from where I live. I don't have a trailer so I'm at their mercy to get the bike transported back to Sioux City... what kind of shop loads a guy's bike up and sends it somewhere else without asking or telling him first?

    I got a referal from a buddy to an independent shop. It's safe to say I'll will never go to the Yamaha "stealership" again.

  13. Member
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    This is a great tale of disaster and adventure...I am ready for the next chapter. Whats going on with it?

    Dwayne

  14. Member
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    It's a mess is what it is...

    Since I purchased the battery elsewhere (Batteries Plus), it's up to me to take it in and exchange it (it's still under the full replacement warranty). I'm not about to buy a brand new overpriced Yamaha battery when the one I have is under warranty.

    I told the dealer to send my bike back to the location where I dropped it off. Once it's there, I'll go get the old battery, get it exchanged, go back to the dealer, install the battery in the parking lot and be on my way.

    I will never set foot in that dealership again, unless they've changed owners or I've completely lost my mind.

  15. Member
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    I am sorry you've had so much trouble. If I ever buy a Harley, it will be mostly because the metric service departments suck so bad where I live, too. I've learned to do a LOT of work on metric bikes because of the local service - even some of the independent shops around here are bad.

    I had a batteries plus battery fail prematurely on me, too. I'm not saying that their batteries are junk, but I think they have some less-than-great product on their shelves - particularly if you buy their "budget" batteries.

    With regard to your original problem, I would suggest that you check the connections to your regulator / rectifier. I had a very odd problem with my wife's bike (a Honda) that it took me about three months to find. The connector from the regulator / rectifier was corroded and not making good contact. This would cause the bike to start and run fine four out of five days. On that fifth day, though, it would just shut off without warning and leave her stranded with a completely dead battery. There was no visible sign of corrosion on the exterior of the connectors - I never thought to actually take them apart. Finally, we were on a ride together and it happened while I was right there with her. When she drifted off the road and stopped, I could smell the burning plastic. The connector between the regulator / rectifier and the main fuse box had gotten so bad that the whole thing was smoldering.

    I know the Yamaha does not have the same kind of connectors as the Honda, but it still has the same basic components. I would think that this same type of failure could potentially happen on a V-Star, too. Your battery might be bad, but you might want to check your connections just to be sure.

  16. Member
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    Thanks bkman!

    As a former HD owner, I was used to a much better dealer/service experience. My HD was also easier to work on than the VStar.

    The dealer claims they checked the electical system fully, including all connections. But, I will definitely find a service manual, and try and check everything I can find on my own.

    I know it's not completely unheard of to have a battery go bad. I wonder how long the one I got was sitting on the shelf before I got it?

    Hopefully I'll have the bike back in the next couple days. No hurry now since it's raining buckets today and supposed to do so again tomorrow.

  17. Member
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    Got the bike back today, everything is working as it should. The battery was shot and Batteries Plus replaced it under warranty without any hassle.

    I guess the good news in all of this is that the dealer only charged me $35 to come get the bike the day it died. I was expecting a lot more than that, especially since I didn't buy a new battery from them.

    Oh, and a sign is posted at the dealer saying they are looking for a full time technician...

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