Why Italians are Finicky

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
03/26/2018 at 14:15 • Filed to: Motorcycles, Aprilia, SL1000 Falco

Well Oppo my $1600 Aprilia is deserving it’s Italian stereotype.

Look at that wiring mess. As a previous owner did some magical wiring fitting this aftermarket headlamp after having dropping the bike and then removing all the fairings. Why am I digging into it? Because the high and low beams are both on when the low is on and the handlebar switch turns them both off when switch to high beam.

After some clean up and then rewiring to separate the high and low beam wiring and plugging it all in... the high won’t work on its own. I figure fuck it and wired them both back together. I’d rather be seen than not anyway. And they work so there is that.

Now that is a naked bike! The SO and I tore the bike down looking for more issues and such. I got to ride the bike friday and then it wouldn’t start when I needed to go home... Turns out the Starter Relay had died and of course no one anywhere near me stocks it even if it is the same one used in the Yamaha R1 and other more common bikes.

Got a lot of little projects wiring and other wise fixed and taken care of, sadly that meant we didn’t have time for fluids yet, so that is still to come. I did get to ride it to the gas station full squid in jeans, t shirt, and the appropriate skateboard shoes.

Of course the bike punished me for this

Almost back home and the bike died on me and wouldn’t restart with the hot wire or the jumpbox. So pushing it back happened. It was at least nice out. The new starter relay should arrive later today and hopefully that will also fix the battery not charging (verified via tester). Otherwise the battery is toast and/or the stator is bad. Both of which I don’t really want to have to buy right now.

Yeah motorcycles!

DISCUSSION (26)

benjrblant > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2018 at 14:20

Oh my. That wire loom looks like a bad time.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > benjrblant
03/26/2018 at 14:21

Mama Mia! that is one sight for sore eyes wiring harness!

Noah - Now with more boost. > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2018 at 14:23

That is truly horrifying. Good luck and godspeed

Future next gen S2000 owner > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2018 at 14:34

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Pretty sure that’s how the rat’s nest was created. I feel your pain though. It has been just nice enough here to ride and I’m waiting on a stator with no shipping date yet. I just swapped in a battery after killing the previous one, so the bike just sits in the garage. Half torn apart, just waiting to get a new part.

That’s reminds me I need to get some of those plastic push pin screws......

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2018 at 14:55

And I thought my Ducati’s wiring harness sucked . . .

CaptDale - is secretly British > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/26/2018 at 14:56

Pretty sure that’s how the rat’s nest was created

Yeah, but if I did it in the first place it would have been with care. I just need the bike to run and work well for the season, so if the lights are working then I can’t complain too much.

Sitting bikes really do suck so much

CaptDale - is secretly British > Noah - Now with more boost.
03/26/2018 at 14:56

Thank you

CaptDale - is secretly British > benjrblant
03/26/2018 at 14:56

It truly is not fun

CaptDale - is secretly British > Biggus Dickus (RevsBro)
03/26/2018 at 14:57

Yeah... Previous owners are usually the worst thing to happen to a bike. I am half tempted to get an unfucked harness from eBay

Spanfeller is a twat > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2018 at 15:07

Citing your “Oppo, What have I done?” post

“I did go against the advice of resident Moto guru Peter Black, SV Wrangler and bought Italian”

One does not simply ignore Peter’s advice.

The gods of Italian Ingegneria will haunt you forever.

benjrblant > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2018 at 15:11

Might be worthwhile.