Hello!

[SunshineGrrl]

I was on here about 10 years or so ago and met some really nice folks. Quit riding after I had my now 8 year old. Just bought a bike a couple weeks ago.  It's a beater. It needs a little bit of work but it will have to wait for the weather to warm up.  Excited to be back on 2 wheels!

2002 Honda Shadow.

Heather

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by SunshineGrrl
Typo

[GPJake]

Hey @SunshineGrrl!

Welcome back after 8 years! And congrat on the Shadow - such awesome bikes. 

How much work is "a little bit"? 😊

[SunshineGrrl]

I turned on the signal and the head light went out. Other than that it needs new mirrors because the guy removed one and put a tiny one on. I have them and that's an easy fix. But sure about the wiring. It has led lights added so maybe it's to much for the battery. But they weren't on so I'm not sure what the issue is. Guy I bought it from said spray the button with air can and it should be fine. Umm doubt it.

[JeremyM]

Hi SunshineGrrl, welcome back (although I wasn't here 8 years ago)!  Shadows are great bikes, I've had two of them in the past.  I hope we can all get some rides together this year.

 

- Jeremy

 

[SunshineGrrl]

Tried to get tags today after work but the wait was so long I didn't have time. At least the title is switched to my name, and it's insured! I wish my car insurance was as cheap as my bike insurance!!

[GPJake]

On 1/2/2023 at 9:55 PM, SunshineGrrl said:

I turned on the signal and the head light went out. Other than that it needs new mirrors because the guy removed one and put a tiny one on. I have them and that's an easy fix. But sure about the wiring. It has led lights added so maybe it's to much for the battery. But they weren't on so I'm not sure what the issue is. Guy I bought it from said spray the button with air can and it should be fine. Umm doubt it.

Oh man... Electrical scares me...

Did the bike start / crank during this? What type of LEDs? Like, extra added lights? Or replacing OEMs with LEDs?

52 minutes ago, SunshineGrrl said:

Tried to get tags today after work but the wait was so long I didn't have time. At least the title is switched to my name, and it's insured! I wish my car insurance was as cheap as my bike insurance!!

Definitely. I also with cars were as cheap as bikes. And gas mileage!

[SunshineGrrl]

Bike runs fine (though I ran out of gas on the way home) and had to push start it. There are blue LEDs that light up the sides of the bike. I honestly didn't see them lit up so can't say for sure if they work. I wish it would get warm! Or I had a garage!

[GPJake]

On 1/9/2023 at 7:12 PM, SunshineGrrl said:

Bike runs fine (though I ran out of gas on the way home) and had to push start it. There are blue LEDs that light up the sides of the bike. I honestly didn't see them lit up so can't say for sure if they work. I wish it would get warm! Or I had a garage!

I've had LED accent lights on a few bikes. Even when turned off, it's not uncommon for them to have a slight parasitic drain. 

If that's your problem, you can either re-wire them to an ignition switched power source or simply hook a battery tender up if you won't be riding for a while. 

In my experience, an otherwise healthy electrical system + healthy battery + LED parasitic drain can go a couple weeks of non-riding before you get issues with the battery level (that is, a couple of weeks before you need to hook up the battery tender). But that'll vary of course. Best solution is the ignition switched wiring. 

 

I've also had 2 different wireless phone chargers on 2 different bikes. Both of those chargers had in-line "off" switches, and BOTH still had parasitic drain even of switched off! These were reputable brand chargers, not knock-offs. Options were the same as above. 

[SunshineGrrl]

Sold that bike. Bought a Sportster.