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So...got up to make an early breakfast run this morning. Start up my 2012 SG, and the engine light and battery light are on. Hmmm. Then they both go off so I take off to breakfast. Get 100 yards done the road and they are both back on! By this time I'm on the frontage road headed out and the voltmeter which started at 12V is gradually dropping. So I head home and don't dare shut it off because it might not start. FEAR creeps into my head and I'm thinking new battery? New Alternator?
Visions of dollars signs are dancing in my head! And then I remember I am riding a Harley! Check the battery connections dummy! The bike is 4 yrs old and only has 4K miles on it so it's been sitting and the seat has probably never been off!
What was the culprit you may ask (or already know from experience)?
Now might be a good time to go ahead and check the other ends of those wires for good, clean, tight connections. Don't forget the grounds under the seat and starter wire as well. Also the connectors at the regulator and regulator mounting bolts.
Since you've got good voltage now they're probably ok but checking never hurts and may save you trouble next week.
Voltage regulators were recalled on some 2012. Mine was replaced in 12. Had around 27000 miles on it up in the mountains of wv last year and the same thing started to happen. Battery light low voltage etc. never thought my voltage regulater went bad again. Figured battery gave up so I went to the closest auto parts place I could find because there wasn't a bike shop to be found. Broke out the tools and checked the basics for tightness etc. advanced tells me my battery is fine. Took off and like you said lights came back on decided to turn around and replace the battery. $160 later finished the ride with no problems. Got home and it started giving me battery light and engine light issues again. I put it on the lift and started checking voltages. I found one bad leg on the voltage regulater. Contacted my favorite down home Harley in Burlington nc. They could only suggest my bad one was replaced by a bad one. They installed a new voltage regulater and been trouble free for 10000 miles and counting. The repair was free, the dealership filed it under a special warranty thing where the part they put on was not up to spec etc. so the dealer will get reimbursed by HD.
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Bad alternator? Battery? Lesson re-learned!
