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Messages - JustWantToRide

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1
Xciting 500 / Re: Alternator is rated at 240 Watt Max at 5,000rpm - so how much is left?
« on: March 28, 2013, 05:12:23 PM »
I added the majicblinkers before I got the LED bulbs - and under normal riding conditions the battery was draining.  When my LED's came in - I hadn't realized that the front and rear turn signals were different.  With 2 replaced it was charging rather than draining.  So, under my stop and go, around town riding - I had bewtween 20 and 40watts to play with. 

Add a battery gauge so you'll know if you need to turn down your vest or turn stuff off - and keep it at 40w or below.
 

2
Xciting 500 / Re: LED lights
« on: March 01, 2013, 08:07:57 PM »
My Venture vest will use 85w on high.  I used it on my VStrom which had a 400w alternator - but haven't used it on my X500Ri.  I added the MagicBlinkers before I had my LED bulbs in hand - and the 40w additional use was draining my battery.  With the LED's only pulling 10w it's fine.  The EFI system and it's associated sensors on my bike use an additional 20 to 30w over your X500 - so my best estimate would be that you have between 30 and 70w.  I would think that an average vest run on low would be fine on your bike - but if you spend an additional $40 to add a battery charge indicator - then you'll know if you ever need to turn it down (or off) to let your battery catch up.

FWIW:  Heated clothing normally is fused for twice what it will use.  My 85w vest has a 15a fuse (12v * 15a = 180w).  If it has a 10a fuse and doesn't list wattage - then it is probably a 60w or less vest.

3
Xciting 500 / Re: LED lights
« on: February 27, 2013, 04:06:43 PM »
You've got about 30w to play with on the X500, the X500i and X500Ri only have about 10w left - depending on your riding habits.  The alternator maxes out at 240w at 5,000 rpm - but your alternator may no longer be putting out the max, and you probably don't always ride at 5,000 rpm. 

I turned my signal lights into running lights using magicblinkers and led bulbs.  They are brighter than the standard bulbs, blink off to signal, and only added 10w.  Your bike would be fine also running the Denali's - but I'd suggest adding a battery charge indicator onto your dash so that when it inevitably is low - you can switch the Denali's off.

http://www.kymcoforum.com/index.php?topic=5723.msg57326#msg57326


4
Xciting 500 / Re: Strengthening Shad Top Case Mount
« on: February 25, 2013, 04:24:03 PM »
I've got the arms for my Kappa box but haven't mounted them yet (they came with it).  I don't really like the look of the arms sticking out the way they do.  Years ago I had a top box stolen by someone who kicked it off of the mounting plate (don't you love it when people witness it but don't stop it?).  Since then I haven't been a fan of removable cases.  I'm considering removing the mounting plate, getting a 3/4" thick white cutting board, drilling through the case/board/rack - then bolting it together.  I've used a poly cutting board to support a large basket on a DR650 and was really happy with it. 

I wonder if you could remove the Shad mounting box, transfer it's hardware to a cutting board, and firm it up that way? 

Does anyone really remove their topbox and take it with them anyway?

5
Xciting 500 / Re: Found a free Service Manual for the 500 Ri as well as Parts List.
« on: October 02, 2012, 01:00:33 AM »
It's a legit link - but it's for the 2006 XCiting 500, things specific to the R and Ri won't be covered.  Front fairing, mirrors, windscreen, and of course fuel injection system are different on the Ri.  It WILL show you you how to change the oil, the spark plug, the rear tire and such. 

6
Xciting 500 / Re: Side Stand safety switch
« on: September 25, 2012, 02:10:05 PM »
Another option is to take the bike to a welder and have the centerstand lever for your foot lengthened to give you more leverage or have the stands legs shortened so it doesn't have to go up so high.  The poor mans fix would be to put a piece of scrap wood or a piece of rubber mat down where you park.  Roll to where the rear wheel is on it but the centerstand won't be.  If you find the thickness you like then you'll know how much to shorten the centerstand if you decide to do it.

7
People 250 / Re: Slow top speed
« on: August 23, 2012, 03:14:28 AM »
Check the easy stuff first.  Is your throttle cable adjusted too loosely so that you can't give it full throttle?  Check the brakes - make sure you aren't dragging a brake. 

What rpm is it at when you are topped out?  It's possible they changed the weights for max acceleration which would make the top speed drop.

The belt shouldn't have a problem with only 2000kms - but for all you know the previous owner rode it through creeks or something. 

It could also be a clogged fuel filter or crimped fuel line.  It could be a carb problem with a slightly clogged high speed jet or a pinhole in a diaphragm.   



8
Xciting 500 / Re: temperature gauage issues...
« on: August 13, 2012, 07:42:44 PM »
Probably a loose wire between the sensor and the gauge.  I could also be a damaged/pinched wire.

9
Xciting 250 / Re: scooter won't start
« on: August 10, 2012, 10:41:55 PM »
It's easy to accidentally kill the battery by not completely closing the seat.  I leaves the underseat light on (and an indicator on the dash).  A low battery will will make the starter do that.

10
Xciting 500 / Re: 2010 Xciting 500Ri Stalling
« on: August 06, 2012, 03:32:02 PM »
Does it do it when idlling, accelerating, slowing - or a combination? 

You said it does it within 15 or 30 minutes - does it ever do it before 15 minutes?

You had another X500 with an "engine that came apart" with under 5000 miles - can you elaborate?

You "cooled the engine with a garden hose" - How did you do that?

You drilled the gas cap gasket - what else have you done?  Are you adding any accessories like lights or horns?

11
Xciting 500 / Re: Fuel guage
« on: August 02, 2012, 04:20:11 PM »
Mine is fairly accurate.  It reads past full when full, half tank in the middle, and runs out just short of the end of the red (about as far below the white bars as it goes past them when full).  I think the people that assemble the tanks may bend the sending units when getting them into the tanks.  The gauge on my Vstrom was pretty wild - but as you filled the tank up it went from skinny, to wide, to skinny, to really wide...

12
Xciting 250 / Re: Where to get replacement mirror?
« on: August 02, 2012, 04:10:34 PM »
You don't need the motorcycle Mobil 1 since you don't have a wet motorcycle clutch.  Doesn't make a noticeable difference though.

13
Xciting 500 / Re: Stalling issue on a '09Ri
« on: August 02, 2012, 04:07:04 PM »
I rode mine in 114 degree heat.  The 500Ri decals slipped off - but it never sputtered (not even at long lights).  Most engines don't even run clean until they are 140 to 160 degrees.  Idling it for 3 minutes in the heat is a different story because it can't cool itself.    What did the temp gauge on the dash say?  As long as I'm moving I'll pass out from the heat before the bike does...

14
Xciting 500 / Re: 2010 Xciting 500Ri Stalling
« on: August 02, 2012, 03:57:25 PM »
When it stalls, can you start it right back up?  Do the lights or display blink or anything?  Does it do it when idlling, accelerating, slowing?  Does it do it after hitting a bump, only when cold, only when warm?

Other than a clogged gas tank vent - common stall reasons on any bike are:

1)  A bad connection on the handlebar kill switch.  If it sits outside the contacts could be bad.  Check the wires to make sure they are connected securely and not in a bind anywhere, open the switch at the handlebar and spray it with contact cleaner.

2)  The sidestand kill switch.  Make sure it is mounted securely.  With the bike on the centerstand move the sidestand and make sure that the switch isn't too sensitive (wiggling the sidestand shouldn't trigger it).  Spray the switch with electrical cleaner.

3)  The tipover switch.  These little buggers are designed to kill the engine if you fall over - but they can be bad or loose - and kill the engine while riding.

4)  Clogged fuel filter - check or replace it (they are cheap).  I like to use clear fuel filters so I can see if there is something in it, or if the filter has become discolored. 


What are you doing when it stalls, is it when warm or cold?

15
Xciting 500 / Re: Mirror Stem Issues?
« on: July 23, 2012, 08:12:36 PM »
Not that I've heard of - but then mine is a 2009 and they were no longer using the same mirror stem as on the 07.

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