So it started maybe back in May, I start noticing that my 2009 1200cc is starting to take about an extra second longer than usual to start up after hitting the ignition switch. Thought it was just a one off problem but then this starts to happen 9x/10. I do nothing. Eventually all my instrument pedo/speedo dim out before the bike starts up.

So late June rolls around and while riding for a few minutes my engine light and battery light turn on. I pull of to the parking lot and put it in neutral with the engine still on. then all of a sudden both lights turn off, I continue on with my ride then the engine light comes on briefly and turns off.

About 5 minutes later. Both engine and battery lights come on. And then briefly turn off afterwards. Engine light comes on for a bit during the ride again.

Once more before I come to my destination both engine and battery light stay on for a while so I park, keep the engine on, but the battery and engine light stay on still for a few minutes. SO I turn my bike off completely. Come back after about 15 minutes and the bike starts right up.

I felt abit uneasy about riding the bike after the lights came on so I took it to a mechanic who held on for it a couple days and he throws some BS my way that there was nothing to worry about. That because it's a 1200 it's going to labor abit to start up the engine. I tell him the whole problem I just posted. He persists that the bike is okay. Meanwhile he still charges me for time spent on the bike. Thought the guy was shifty before but now I know he's shifty or lazy.

As I leave the parking lot, the engine light comes on after I pull out.
A couple days later it doesn't come on again ever.

I start noticing that while riding, and while in neutral in park, my low beams dim for abit then return to normal.

Yesterday I was riding and my bike intermittently seemed to skip a beat, speedo almost shut off. I was going about 60, but then the bike continued on as if nothing was wrong.

Then last night I went to start the bike and all my instruments shutoff completely and the bike failed to start up the first time. The clock on my bike went back to flashing 12:00. I tried the second time and the bike started up. But then started jerking / powering down for abit but I made it home.

This morning I started the bike, labored start as usual now. Going down the road after pulling out of my place, then the bike shut off completely as soon as I hit about 45. the red key button was solid red. I throttled the bike, then just hit the ignition switch again and the bike started up again. I jerked a couple times but then it was operating normal.


I just checked the battery posts and they were okay. I also checked the grounding on the starter and it was firm. What else could this possibly be?

 

Do you have any mods done to the bike? Any aftermarket electric mods too?

 

no sir, stock bike. the battery was newly replaced in may as well

 

Check ground on the other side of the battery post...i.e. the frame. I realize it is a new battery, but did you check it with a voltage meter? Perhaps new but not charged properly. IMO just sounds like a battery thing or something connected to it.

What kind of battery did you get specifically?

 

I think it may have something to do with the battery or a bad connection as well. How many miles do you have on the bike? Is there any corrosion on your bike or is it excessively dirty? Is all the maintenance up to date?

 

Voltage regulator?

 

EFI bikes require a good battery to run properly. The Kawasaki Vulcan series, a bike that starts missing or running rough is one of the signs of bad battery or connections.
How old is your battery, and have you checked for clean tight connections?

 

WARNING! All battery connections can "look" good, but not be making sufficient electrical contact. My advice is to disconnect all 4 ends of your battery cables, wire brush or use sandpaper to physically clean them well. Once you've done this add dielectric grease to all 4 ends and reattach. Make sure to snug them down well. Your problem sounds like poor electrical connections off the battery to me. I had the same problems you describe with my '05 XL1200R when it was only one month old, and when I did what I described above, after the dealership had it a week and couldn't fix the problem, it solved the problem completely.