So currently I can't get my bike to start, on friday I was riding home on the highway when i noticed that despite adding throttle the bike was not getting power, it slowly started to cut out and reduce on me, when I let off throttle the engine cut out all together, my lights dash and everything was still on.

I assumed it was maybe gas, however after filling up it wouldn't start only ticking at the relay, so I assumed maybe battery, we attempted a jump start and it did nothing. I finally decided to leave it overnight and pick it up the next day, upon towing it home the bike started to turn over again, after a trickle charge over night it will turn over and even start however it seems to be running at really low rpms even with choke engaged, I can start the bike if i give it a bit of throttle but as soon as I let off it cuts out again.

I tried searching for this issue for a bit and couldn't find anything I could really use some help thanks in advance!

 

Check under regulator/rectifier

 

Thanks for that, its a 98 Superhawk, I've heard several people recommend reg/rec so I just wanted to ask if the reg/rec was dead would it still be able to turn over and start?

*I lost my job the same day my bike broke down, so I can't just throw money at it as diagnosis, if you can still start but not stay running with reg/rec I'll pick one up to try. The only thing that made me skeptical was I heard when it goes you'd get a few spotty problems first like certain things going out before the bike dies all together and it seems like my problems just hit all at once.

 

There has been quite an array of symptoms from "stopped running" to "why does my stator connector look so, so fried ?".

 

I would not buy an r/r just yet. First look at the r/r connector and see if it looks melted/ corroded. You may also have your battery load tested at autozone or similar. If you trickle charge the battery, it should start without a working r/r (unless it is over charging in which case you'd be blowing fuses or frying computers). You may want to start the bike without the r/r plugged in to avoid this.

If the r/r destroyed the battery, there is a chance it is shot; holding enough voltage to keep the electronics on but not the starter, but I agree with your thoughts- it doesn't line up with the rest of your symptoms.

Did you do anything to the bike in particular before you rode? Does holding the choke help to start it or do you just have to hold the throttle open?

 

I have to do both choke and throttle, it would start with choke but throttle to keep revs up.

 

Update: Thanks for the help everyone, after multiple advice to check my rec/reg I decided to pull it, as I went for it I knew there was something wrong right away when I couldn't pry apart the connector to the RR.

After some spinach and elbow grease I yanked it off and I think I found the culprit.

 

Read the mofset thread and get yourself a good r/r. If you look hard you will get a much cheaper than oem one and it won't continue to overheat.

I think I got lucky but I got mine for $30 shipping included and all I had to do was cut the plug and connect a few wires and was good to go.