All stock '02 Superglide sport. Going to work this morning doing 70mph on the highway and all the sudden engine died. Coasted to the shoulder to a stop. Started right back up got to work. I decided to go through town on the way home and ah ha! happened again. going about 40mph and it died. I didnt make it to the next street but I did get to the curb. It didnt start right back up. Pushed it to the next side street and tried and tried. Nothing. So I sat for a minute ot two trying to decied what to do. Tried one more time and it started. Got home with no problems. Both times it had not been riding more that a couple of minutes. Any ideas? It did blow smoke from the breather but i think that was too much fuel from trying to start it for a couple minutes.

 

My bike has died mysteriously a few times over the past year (with months in between incidents). The first time, it died & would crank but not fire. I turned off the ignition, turned it back on, and the bike started right up. The second time, it died when I got to a light - would crank but not fire. Turned it off and on, still wouldn't. Pushed it to the shoulder, turned it off and back on, fired right up. Ran fine for 8 months after that. This past weekend, check engine light came on - stopped in a parking lot - turned it off and back on - wouldn't crank, battery was dead. Charged the battery for a few hours, headed for home. Half way home, the headlight dimmed, the check engine light came on, then the engine started to sputter and die. Pulled in the clutch, revved the motor pretty good - the headlight went back to full bright, the check engine light went off, and it ran fine the rest of the way home, started up fine and ran fine all day the next day.

I think it's the voltage regulator based on some poking around I did with a multimeter. I have a new voltage regulator and a new battery - probably throw them on tonight. I won't know if that fixes it for at least 8 months - maybe more. :/

 

Electrical problems can be a major PITA to figure out. Could be a loose ground or an IC breaking down. From your discription it might be a coil breaking down. They get hot and can break down, short out, and after cooling off for awhile, work again until they get hot. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

 

@ Bad42
I totally understand your problem. Mine is a 2009 FXDC its been 7 months old, rode on a freeway and speedo was at 70mph then all of a sudden the needle dropped to 0 and the engine stopped.
I restared worked fine...but then the HD dealer was right at the exit I thought i'll take it to them...surprisingly when I rode another 2 miles at 20-30mph it died again...

I left it at the dealership as it was covered under warranty (the dealer told me after inspecting the bike there was a pinched wire and he has changed that)

I havent seen the problem seen the problem till now

 

Crank Position Sensors have a way of acting up like you describe...happened to my friend's E-Glide on his way to Sturgis this year. Keep it in mind if other checks fail to reveal a culprit.

 

+1 on the crank position sensor but don't overlook the main cicuit breaker overheating and opening up (age of C/B) and connections to the Turn signal security module. That module also controls the ignition. Just thought of something, the run/stop switch corroding up?