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It should not have just "cut out" or died going down the road if a batt gnd issue ... but checking grounds never hurts.

Just a thought here!:cam:

Check plug to rear of battery on top of start solenoid to be sure it's secure. Stock, all electrical power to run bike once started flows through there except that actually used by the starter motor .... big wires .... Honda later sold a new plug kit that added an "in harness link" to jump that plug in effect once running.


Below is a diagram of changes ..... the "link" in blue was the change or addition. Red / white wires from reg / rectifier (alt stator) and batt is obvious, as you can see without the added blue "link wire", all power to run bik via solid red wire flows through that connector.


I updated my '85 Aspencade in 1998 as noted.

 

:welc:

Hi, please update your profile to include your city, state and bike info. That info can be very helpful in these threads so we don't have to keep going back to the first post to find out what year & model we're dealing with, and, you may be very close to someone who's familiar with your bike and can quickly look it over for wiring anomalies.

I think CrystalPistol is in the right area though.

 

You may have more than 1 issue. It did not die because of a bad ground, best guess is the pulse generators and the starter probably needs at least cleaned and maybe new brushes.

 

Check that dogbone fuse. They develop cracks that under temperature, tend to spread.

 

On the 1200s, if all else is well, once the bike is started and running, that dogbone fuse failing will not cause it to then die. It will prevent a restart using the starter.


If his just died like if he had killed it at a stoplight, then it would not be able to restart .... but doesn't read like it?

 

I'd do what Wilmo said first. And then ( because I had exactly the same problem you are describing a few weeks ago) I'd clean the positive terminal and wire connection. I know it sounds too simple, but fixing a bad dogbone fuse connection and that positive lead corrosion is what fixed a broke down on the road total electrical failure on both of my 85 1200 LTD's within weeks of each other. And same deal on my 79 1000 a couple of years ago.

 

Wouldn't hurt to check charging system, if your battery has a good charge you should see 13.5 - 14.5 volts at the battery with engine at 4K RPM.

 

I'm wondering iif the charging system is not the issue. Seeing the battery is fairly new I too will theorize that the bike sat until the "surface charge" was just enough to go again. I would put a voltmeter on the bike and hold the throttle at a high idle. Is voltage trending up or down and what are the readings? Post back for more help.

 

GL,
It does happen. It is normal for a good discharged battery to recover some of it's charge if rested.

https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/question390.htm

 

GL,
It does happen. It is normal for a good discharged battery to recover some of it's charge if rested.

https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/question390.htm

It may recover an amount of charge, but a flattened battery isn't going turn over a starter. Any idea how dead a battery has to be to NOT fire an ignition? There is an ignition problem unrelated to the battery. A bad switch, a bad connector (check at the ignition connector right inside fairing), or pulse generators. Just because the 1200 has a poor charging system design, doesn't mean every failure is related to the stator.

 

I am not saying you are wrong about the PG's. I am just saying don't write off the possibility of just a bad charging system. I had a Celebrity with a bad alternator once. I was driving home with the alternator light on. When I came around the corner the engine shut off. I had to walk home. I ate dinner and headed back over with the neighbor and some cables. When I got there it started right up. No cables needed. Drove the rest of the way home with the alternator light on. Changed the alternator and never had another issue. Keep in mind it was doing more than the ignition. Headlights, tail lights, fuel pump?
It might surprise you how much they can recover by themselves especially a newer. healthy battery. Not hard to check so why not just to be sure. Throw a voltmeter on it.

 

:ROFL:Hey, if you can power and electric motor with a potato or grapefruit who knows?:ROFL: Hope it's something easy.

 

Hey, if you can power and electric motor with a potato

If that were true, wouldn't everybody in Idaho be driving Teslas?
.

 

Actually I can remember before I was born. It was dark.:grin3: