My Kat is back from shop and purring again!

[katrider29]

Actually it never stopped purring but a couple of weeks ago I lost my dashboard electronics, tail and brake light, and signals. A couple of my friends who are supposed to know what they are doing tested my electrical system and couldn't figure it out. All it needed was two fuses! I can't believe that between the both of them, one who is supposed to be good at working on bikes and one who does a lot of electric work, couldn't figure out that all I needed was fuses! I am never letting them come anywhere near my bike again. Ended up spending eighty bucks for two dollars in fuses but I am just happy to be back on the road again. I don't know why I didn't make the connection but during the past couple of weeks of not riding, but I was not very happy and sleeping a lot; I need and love the adrenaline and freedom that riding on a regular basis provides me.

[busarider54]

Good stuff. That is the reason I do as much maintenance as I can.

[katrider29]

I am very interested in performing maintenance on my bike, however I have very little experience with mechanical work so I have a great deal to learn. When I began riding a year and a half ago, I relied on mechanics to do absolutely all of my maintenance. Since then I have learned how to change my oil and perform chain maintenance myself which is great. I wish I could take apart my bike and put it back together like some of you guys but I just don't have the knowledge to do so and I want to be confident that my machine is in safe running condition, so for the most part I still have to rely a lot on the professionals.

[Markk9]

Originally Posted by katrider29

I am very interested in performing maintenance on my bike, however I have very little experience with mechanical work so I have a great deal to learn. When I began riding a year and a half ago, I relied on mechanics to do absolutely all of my maintenance. Since then I have learned how to change my oil and perform chain maintenance myself which is great. I wish I could take apart my bike and put it back together like some of you guys but I just don't have the knowledge to do so and I want to be confident that my machine is in safe running condition, so for the most part I still have to rely a lot on the professionals.

Check out You Tube, there is a video on how to do anything bike related.

[SamanthaSchou]

Originally Posted by katrider29

I am very interested in performing maintenance on my bike, however I have very little experience with mechanical work so I have a great deal to learn. When I began riding a year and a half ago, I relied on mechanics to do absolutely all of my maintenance. Since then I have learned how to change my oil and perform chain maintenance myself which is great. I wish I could take apart my bike and put it back together like some of you guys but I just don't have the knowledge to do so and I want to be confident that my machine is in safe running condition, so for the most part I still have to rely a lot on the professionals.

So how do you plan to learn how to work on your bike if you just say "I have limited mechanical experience" and then take it to a mechanic? The only way to learn is to try doing it. Get a service manual and dig in, it's the way I learned to work on my bikes before there was an internet or forums.

As for the fuses, did you ask here or any other forum? Did no one tell you to check fuses if you did ask on a forum? Yes, whatever you do, don't let your friends near the bike if they are knowledgeable and checked the electrical system but didn't bother to check fuses which is the very first place to start.

[max384]

Originally Posted by katrider29

I am very interested in performing maintenance on my bike, however I have very little experience with mechanical work so I have a great deal to learn. When I began riding a year and a half ago, I relied on mechanics to do absolutely all of my maintenance. Since then I have learned how to change my oil and perform chain maintenance myself which is great. I wish I could take apart my bike and put it back together like some of you guys but I just don't have the knowledge to do so and I want to be confident that my machine is in safe running condition, so for the most part I still have to rely a lot on the professionals.

As Sam said, get a service manual. Doing maintenance work is pretty simple when you have a guide with pictures showing you what to do next. It almost feels like cheating! Once you get one, you'll wonder why you didn't buy one earlier. The first purchase I made (same day) after getting my bike was the service manual.

I'm gonna say that your friends who supposedly know how to work on bikes were talking themselves up a bit... The first step with ANYTHING electrical is to check the fuses.

[SamanthaSchou]

If you don't have a manual, you can download one here. Link provided by katriders.com:

http://www.metal-fab.net/files/98~02...e%20Manual.pdf

[serpentracer]

I'm currently working on a 05 for a buddy of mine. let me just point out how dated this thing is. wow. external alternator, air cooled, carbed, retarded ass sprocket cover with the speed sensor in it along with the clutch cable mechanism mounted to it.

this thing is just a complete disaster of engineering compared to a gsxr etc.

it's an 05 with less than 6k miles on it and it has more problems than any bike I've ever owned.

even the clutch cable snapped. in 6k miles. the carbs will not stop flowing fuel into the engine when it's off either. it's a complete disaster.
poor bike is just falling apart for no reason.

[singram]

Originally Posted by max384

As Sam said, get a service manual. Doing maintenance work is pretty simple when you have a guide with pictures showing you what to do next. It almost feels like cheating! Once you get one, you'll wonder why you didn't buy one earlier. The first purchase I made (same day) after getting my bike was the service manual.

I'm gonna say that your friends who supposedly know how to work on bikes were talking themselves up a bit... The first step with ANYTHING electrical is to check the fuses.

As Max said, Sam said, get a service manual. After you paid $80. to replace 2 fuses you've been beaten up enough, but damn its not really mechanical but common sense. If multiple electrical components components fail at once, check fuses. If the lighting in every room on the 2nd floor of your house go out at once, are your gonna replace 12 bulbs or check a fuses? Same principle.

[Royal Tiger]

Originally Posted by serpentracer

I'm currently working on a 05 for a buddy of mine. let me just point out how dated this thing is. wow. external alternator, air cooled, carbed, retarded ass sprocket cover with the speed sensor in it along with the clutch cable mechanism mounted to it.

this thing is just a complete disaster of engineering compared to a gsxr etc.

it's an 05 with less than 6k miles on it and it has more problems than any bike I've ever owned.

even the clutch cable snapped. in 6k miles. the carbs will not stop flowing fuel into the engine when it's off either. it's a complete disaster.
poor bike is just falling apart for no reason.

Could be why most people say "Katana" with the same level of excitement as "root canal".

[katrider29]

Originally Posted by serpentracer

I'm currently working on a 05 for a buddy of mine. let me just point out how dated this thing is. wow. external alternator, air cooled, carbed, retarded ass sprocket cover with the speed sensor in it along with the clutch cable mechanism mounted to it.

this thing is just a complete disaster of engineering compared to a gsxr etc.

it's an 05 with less than 6k miles on it and it has more problems than any bike I've ever owned.

even the clutch cable snapped. in 6k miles. the carbs will not stop flowing fuel into the engine when it's off either. it's a complete disaster.
poor bike is just falling apart for no reason.

I can't wait to get a newer sportbike, hopefully within a year but I would have to say that my Katana has been very good to me. In a year and a half I have rode it over 16k miles and never had any major issues. Also, it is my first bike and although it may be a little more powerful than the recommended beginner bikes, It has worked very well for me as a learning tool yet is a bike that I will never get tired of riding, although I cannot wait to feel what it is like to ride a supersport.

[katrider29]

Originally Posted by singram

As Max said, Sam said, get a service manual. After you paid $80. to replace 2 fuses you've been beaten up enough, but damn its not really mechanical but common sense. If multiple electrical components components fail at once, check fuses. If the lighting in every room on the 2nd floor of your house go out at once, are your gonna replace 12 bulbs or check a fuses? Same principle.

I checked all of the fuses myself and they weren't visibly blown in the middle. My friend at the shop told me that they can sometimes blow on the sides and you cannot see it which I did not know. Also, my friends checked the fuses with their tester, I watched them do it so I was convinced that it was a more complex issue than that. I don't know.