My '98 VFR has developed an electrical problem that hopefully someone has experience with. After about an hour of hard riding, I'll stop for fuel or something else at which point I'll turn off the ignition and then, it won't restart. When I turn on the ignition and push the start button, the lights dim, the clocks reset to zero, and the engine won't turn over. Since the battery was stock, I replaced it about three months ago thinking that it was the problem. But no, it still goes dead and then I have to roll the bike and pop the clutch to start. After it restarts, it's fine. When I get back to the garage and plug in the Battery Tender, the "charged" light is green. Sometimes, it's only been a half mile from the roll-start point to the garage. Any one have this problem or an idea of what's the deal? THANKS!
perhaps it is the constant rectumfinder...oops rectifier... problem the slower older than the 6th generations vfr's seem to have. you need to check voltage of the battery while the bike is running and you should show around 13.5 to 14 volts or so. run through some rpms and see if reading changes. you should also have about 12 volts on the battery with the bike off. if you pass both of those tests you can take the battery to an auto zone to have them check the battery for a dieing cell.
My '98 did the same thing - even with a new battery. Thought it migh be the RR running hot so I mounted a PC fan to the regulator. Unfortunately I wrecked the bike before I was able to attribute it to my regulator. Interestingly, I experienced the same problem with my '02. Hoping that is due to a bad battery cell - but having the stator/generator check when I get the PVC valve checked at the dealer. Good luck finding the problem
Some might not agree with this but here is my 2 cents. Replace the rectifier and replace the stator. Its a bit pricey but it cured all my eletrical woes.
The same problem has happened on my 96 and my 98. On the 96 I just replaced the rectifier and within 8k it was doing it again. The next time I replaced both the stator and the rec. and went 20k with no problems. So when my 98 started doing wierd crap with the clock losing time and lights flickering. I bit the bullet and replaced both. Problem solved. I get the correct voltage at the battery.