that Old Tangerine Dream (problem bike these days... :( )

[greenohawk69]

You can get one of these rear stands if your swingarm has spools, from Harbor Freight for ~ $30. Probably can get a tire patch kit for ~ $15-$20 and fix it yourself and in the future. 

[MsTek]

I have a stand... my bike is a single swingarm though.  But it doesn't matter- my bike hates me.   


https://youtu.be/D0WXtbY9EEg

But they say to me "She's Italian and fickle, what do you expect?"

https://youtu.be/rm3xfVvj0Bg

You can see the power fluctuation here:

https://youtu.be/ticH3YFF5PU

[Howie]

A problem with lithium moto batteries is DIY diagnosis.  There really is none other than trying a known good lead acid battery.  But what you can do is fully charge it and also check your charging system output.  You want to see 13.5 to 14.5 volts at the battery at a speed higher than idle.  Yes, that blinking tail light can be due to a battery/charging system problem, particularly if it disappears above idle.  It could also be due to low idle speed. 

How old is the battery?  Lithium ion or LiFePo 4? Brand? 

[MsTek]

A problem with lithium moto batteries is DIY diagnosis.  There really is none other than trying a known good lead acid battery.  But what you can do is fully charge it and also check your charging system output.  You want to see 13.5 to 14.5 volts at the battery at a speed higher than idle.  Yes, that blinking tail light can be due to a battery/charging system problem, particularly if it disappears above idle.  It could also be due to low idle speed. 

How old is the battery?  Lithium ion or LiFePo 4? Brand? 

This is what I purchased about six months ago:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GR5DXE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Easy enough for me to take the battery out and put it on the tender.  Would that be why it starts sometimes and sometimes doesn't?  How do I see the volts of the battery when on the bike?

[stopintime]

Charge it    It's going to change your life.... (maybe)  The starter button is supposed to run the starter, without holding it in, for longer than it does on yours. If that's because the battery is weak... don't know, but you're about to find out. Did you heat the battery before pushing the button? (leaving the lights on for a minute, or otherwise)

[MsTek]

No.

But why isn't the battery being charged as the bike runs?

[stopintime]

No.

But why isn't the battery being charged as the bike runs?

It performs better after ~a minute (opposite normal batteries)

At lower revs there isn't enough juice. Short rides won't charge enough.

[MsTek]

Thanks.  I will try it.

[d3vi@nt]

If you have one, or know someone who does have one, a decent bicycle floor pump will work to inflate the tires. It will take some effort, but probably easier than pushing several blocks to a station.

[S21FOLGORE]

I use Joe Blow pump (by Toepeak) for my motorcycle and car all the time.
https://youtu.be/hXggZvISsng

Unless the bead came off of the rim, using bicycle pump is far less work than pushing the motorcycle to gas station.

Tire air pressure drops over time, because rubber used in the tires is porous. Well, pretty much everything in this world is porous, at molecular level.

If you can visually see tire loosing air in a week (or less), then, you have leak somewhere.
Tire valve stem can be a reason of slow leak also.

If the tire's got puncture, then ...


You have a stand.
If you know someone with cordless impact (1/2 drive) gun and socket in the right size, put the bike up on the stand, remove the rear wheel, take it to the shop would be the quickest, least expensive  option.
BUT, you will have to remove the silencers first.

https://youtu.be/eSlpToqxNco

And, you will need torque wrench to tighten the wheel nut, spring hook tool to reinstall the silencers.

https://youtu.be/pv9Rn4HaHGY

Or, you can try to patch it yourself.
(Can be done without removing wheel / tire)

https://youtu.be/pKCsh6jST_U

https://youtu.be/EjmPOrdd5b4

[S21FOLGORE]

Easy enough for me to take the battery out and put it on the tender.

Tender, you mean Battery Tender by Deltran?



Shorai's FAQ page says,

“Smart” lead-acid chargers with automatic cutoff may be used for periodic charging, but will NOT work as a tender/maintainer and should be disconnected immediately after charge has finished.  Older lead chargers without automatic shut-off should never be used. Improper charging is dangerous and will void your warranty.

Basically, if you are not riding at least twice a month (a short ride less than 20 min. doesn't count), you need to charge it.
BUT there's no need to leave it on Battery Tender / any smart charger over the winter.

Just remove the battery as soon as you finish charging.

[S21FOLGORE]

... about shifting ....

I recall, your bike has been down on the left side.
(Someone knocked it over, bike fell down on the left side, then got dragged for a little bit.)

So, it is worth checking your shift linkage and pedal.

Then, adjust the shift pedal height (move it to where you feel most comfortable.)

Also, while you are at it, make sure the angle of the linkage rod and shift arm / pedal are correct (90 degree)

Right example
(Shift arm - linkage rod 90°, linkage rod - arm on shift pedal 90°)



Wrong example

[S21FOLGORE]

About grabby brake touch ...

Most probably your brake calipers need cleaning.

Many years ago, I made a thread but now photos are gone, it's pretty useless.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=61878.0

Well, this is rear brake caliper cleaning, you will need to do this on the front, too.

https://youtu.be/78b7TXREc1c

What's causing that "grabby" feeling is the dirty piston(s) and pad pins.
Brake dust and road germs, they may even be corroded.

The cleaning itself is simple job. It requires to remove calipers from the fork legs.

[MsTek]

Thanks everyone.

I finally got some time in my garage today. I've been working OT like you wouldnt' believe and when I'm not working, I'm sleeping.  Anyway, I'll have to see about getting a heater for the garage and some proper lamps so I can do some of this work over the winter.

That being said, I finally did a little work on the bike.  You're right about the battery- it needed charging.  I may just need to take the battery out for now since I am not riding too much.

THE TIRE...

I used an air hawk that someone gave me to inflate the tire... rode it in the ally, it got squishy again... finally, when I was able to rotate the tire, I saw the culprit-


There is a screw that has punctured the tire.  Can I fix this without taking the tire off- I don't know how to do that and I want to do that in summer actually when it's warm, I have more light and I might have time to figure it out if I mess it up.  I left the screw in for now- I'm not going to ride the bike, obviously.  Will spaying that goo in the tire work to fix it?

[MsTek]

Nevermind... I see the patching video above with the wheel on.  I will try it.

This should work? https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Go-1000-Tire-Repair/dp/B0006NE3KE/ref=sr_1_62?crid=2VWJEC7IQBYSK&keywords=tire+patch+kits&qid=1571591360&sprefix=tire+patch+%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-62


 Thanks, everyone.