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**my98xplorer** · 10-12-2005, 09:51 PM

I have ridden a couple times in a downpour. Here in Fl you never know whats gonna happen with the wheather. The problem i ran into was (i think) either the coil packs or the spark plugs getting wet and when i would stop at a light the bike would die. I had to push the bike 1 1/2 miles home (about 1/4 uphill), then when it dried out a little the bike started right up. So if you do get stuck in a downpour, dont stop!

**Boondocks** · 10-12-2005, 09:58 PM

So far, my electrical system has been fine. But......... Will I quickly ruin things, if I start riding in heavy rain frequently???

No.

Will I likely start having stator and R/R, problems??

No. The stator runs in an oil bath, and the R/R and wiring are not out in the open.

Or, problems with the 25 year old wiring, grounds etc if the bike is going to get soaked a couple times a week??

No.

Is there anything that I can do as a preventative measure?

Make sure that your battery is in good condition (fully charged with electrolyte topped), with terminals tightened and greased to prevent corrosion.

Inspect the connections from the stator to the R/R. If they are burnt or corroded, cut out the bad parts and reconnect them.

If your headlight is on all of the time, connect the three stator wires directly to the R/R, bypassing the wire going through the headlight switch.

Always garage the bike when not in use.

When riding in heavy rain (especially when dark) I would also recommend a reflective safety vest such as found at Night Train Safety Vests or some other reflective clothing.

If I want to keep this bike nice, should I modify my commuting plans, and just save it for the nice days??

The worst part of riding in the rain is cleaning the bike afterwards. There are so many nooks and crannies on a motorcycle that it is a real PIA compared to washing a car. This is especially true with the "naked" GS type bikes, what with all of the degreasing, swabbing inside of cylinder fins, etc. A bike may look horrible after extended riding in the wet, but if scrupulously scrubbed, it will retain its good looks with no evidence of riding in the rain. After all, it's only water.

**jimcor** · 10-12-2005, 10:23 PM

There are some measures you can take to help preserve your electrical system. I really don't get a commission from these guys, honest.

Clean and preserve your bullet, multi connector, and swith contacts with Caig Laborotories DeOxit and ProGold. One is a cleaner the other is a preservative. Do the entire harness and pay particular attention to the engine and frame ground connections and the fuse box. (Check that fuse box carefully. Nothing should jiggle around. If it does, fix/replace it.) This stuff works. It is expensive. You can buy it in a bubble pack at Radio Shack in two teensy spray cans for $15. Check their website for commercial electronics dealers who have larger sizes at better prices. Use both of these products once or use similar products and do it over and over.

Do you have a leaf blower? 'Lectric or gas doesn't matter. When you get back home from a rainy day ride blow the water off the bike. Pop the seat off and blast away. Be surprised how many folks don't think of this. Do it at 3AM. Your neighbors will appreciate your attention to detail.

Ride that bike, have fun, be careful.

**Poot** · 10-12-2005, 11:42 PM

I've ridden my '80 850 in all weather, for extended periods of time, and it never gave me problems.

follow the above advice and you should be safe.

poot

**bwringer** · 10-13-2005, 01:09 AM

My 850 is a veteran of umpteen pounding rainstorms, with no electrical problems yet.

And no %$#!@! chain to rust and fuss with afterwards.

As hinted earlier, you most likely need to upgrade the coils and spark plug wires -- aftger 25 years, the original spark plug wires and boots are pretty permeable and could cause problems in the wet. Upgrade to Dyna green coils and your favorite wires, and you'll eliminate any potential problems there. Just smear the insides of the boots with that white ignition grease before installation.

Inspecting and protecting all the electrical connectors as Jim outlined is essential even if you live in the Gobi desert. I think it's just something you MUST do at some point if you want a 25 year old vehicle to be reliable, rain or no rain.

The only other thing I can think of is to make sure you retain the stock airbox. A lot of folks with pods have problems in the rain when the foam gets waterlogged.

Cleaning is your choice -- personally, I hate cleaning my bike and it normally wears a goodly layer of grime from rain storms for several months until I get bored enough to clean it again. Of course, that usually triggers the next inundation...

**duaneage** · 10-13-2005, 01:28 AM

Check the gasket on the right side where the coil trigger pickups are. It is the aluminum cap that says suzuki. If that gasket is not perfect cut a new one or replace with one from the dealer. Water can gather in there and cause problems with the advance mechanism and even short out the pickup coils , preventing the engine from running.

**xifer** · 10-13-2005, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by bwringer

The only other thing I can think of is to make sure you retain the stock airbox. A lot of folks with pods have problems in the rain when the foam gets waterlogged.

Ah. Now I've been thinking of switching to pods when I can afford
a new decent exhaust (and obviously rejetting the carbs)[1). This
makes me pause for thought though. Is there really a problem
with pods and rain ('cos where I live we can get a lot of rain).

If so, is there a way to deal with it ?

1. (don't mean to hijack thread - but I'm a usenet kid[2] and we
don't mind that so much)
2. No-one has called me a kid for 20 yrs so I thought I 'd just do it.

**bwringer** · 10-13-2005, 03:25 PM

On the 2004 Brown County SCUBA Ride, several of the bikes with pods had trouble. None of the bikes died, but there was a lot of rough running and missing until they were able to rev enough to keep airflow through the foam.

Of course, that was the heaviest rain I've ever seen on or off of a bike. And about the closest I ever want to be to that many lightning strikes.

In ordinary everyday rain, pods don't really cause too many problems. On my old Kawasaki KZ650, the outer two pods would sometimes load up with water temporarily, but it's more an annoyance than a huge problem.

**fastpakr** · 10-13-2005, 03:31 PM

(*Note - this is not to argue, just to add to the info you can cull from for your opinion on pods*)

So far, I have had no noticeable effect on my bike based on rain. Dry day, light rain, monsoon, it seems to run just fine. This is with the pods (of unknown brand) that were on my bike when I got it a year ago.

**Sandy** · 10-13-2005, 05:29 PM

The 850G should do excellent as a regular commuter in the rain. The shaft drive will be nice so you don't have to constantly keep an eye on the chain. Just go over the electrics as mentioned because moisture has a habit of finding the weak points at the most inopportune time. The real key will be good rain gear. The last two years I lived in Vancouver, BC (1977-78 ) my only transportation was a 1977 Yamaha XS750 (shaft drive). It and myself saw a lot of wet weather riding and had no water related issues. I spent the money on expensive rain gear and to this day still use the same one piece nylon Belstaff rain suit. Yeah it's a pain to get on and off but it kept me perfectly dry, even in the crotch, on a 500 mile trip from Roseburg Oregon to home and it rained heavily the whole day. One other issue if you're in stop and go traffic will be your visor fogging up on the inside. There is stuff you can put on the inside if there is a problem but I've never really had to resort to that myself. Riding with the visor slightly open seemed to work for me. One major problem I did have though was the brakes didn't work in the rain. The solid brake rotors on that particular motorcycle would take a few seconds to dry themselves before the brakes would work. Quite terrifing and dangerous I might add. The slotted rotors on your 1980 should work OK but you want to verify that. The next thing would be tires, while most work well on dry pavement there are some that will be downright evil in the wet. Some other members here, or your local shop, should have a better idea than I of what works in the rain. The last tires I rode any distance with in the rain were older Avon Runners and they worked quite well, but tires have changed a lot.

**snowbeard** · 10-13-2005, 06:09 PM

my particular bike likes to take care of my safety, one such feature is if I let it get rained on really hard while parked it won't start for me, even with the ether... she's really just trying to save me from the danger

g'luck!

**GregM.** · 10-13-2005, 07:22 PM

Awesome!!! You all are MOST excellent!!
It's good to know that with the right prep. my bike will be fine with what ever weather I'm ever going to throw at it.

Just some follow up based on your suggestions and comments (BTW I'm very grateful to learn from all the trial and error that has gone on before me) -----

Why does a bike stall if water gets in your coil or spark plug wires??
Is there a way to test that system to see if it's sound, before going out in a downpour? Or do you just replace it because it's 25 years old?

Yes , I already put a new battery in, and I'm keeping it up as you say.
I'll have to find the connections to the R/R (probably in my Clymer's manual) and check 'em as you say.

Yes, my model does have the headlight on all-the-time... And as such a rookie that I am to mechanics - what I'm really the MOST confused about is electrical understanding. ---------- So, what's this about connecting the 3 stator wires to the R/R, bypassing the headlight?? Could you please tell me WHY this is a good idea? And explain the process a little more... And, why didn't Suzuki do this in the first place?? Or, is this a change they made to later models?

And yes, my bike will be garaged at home and at work - so that's good - most all the rain and soaking puddles we're going to go through will be while riding.

Safety vest... I looked at the link... may get one.

OK... go to Radio Shack and get the product that - Jimcor - suggested. But, "preserve the bullet, multi connector and switch contacts" ??? Sorry I'm such a newbie here... but could you be more specific??? Hey! I just figured out what a Pingel was, that you all are talking about, a few weeks ago

Leaf blower

Cool idea, and no, I don't think I would've thought of that.

Stock airbox ---- Yeah, I'm staying with that for now. What a hassle to work on the bike though with that big thing though, eh??

BTW, What an awesome link to Brian Wringer's site. I've already been purchasing parts to do just some of those things. I'll be referring back to it.

Check the gasket where the "coil triggers" are? OK...

And Sandy... Wow, you had a '77 XS750!! So did I. Bought it brand new (it was my 4th bike, never did any major wrenching though,,, obviously

I rode it approx. 5 years then I just got into other things and was out of m/c till 4 months ago. That was a good bike for me back then... And the GS850G is even a better one for me now. GEEEEZ!! Do I seem kinda boring

Or is that stable and consistent

Good point on brakes... and, yes, my bike has good Metzler's on it.

Great comments... All. Any more explainations would be appreciated.

**Boondocks** · 10-13-2005, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by GregM.

Why does a bike stall if water gets in your coil or spark plug wires??

For the same reason that you shouldn't drop your hair dryer in the tub while bathing. 8O Water is a good electrical conductor if it contains impurities. Rainwater is relatively pure, the coils are probably out of the way under the tank, and the spark plug boots do a good job covering the plugs. This isn't generally a problem. If it were, every time you hosed down your engine with relatively impure household water your bike wouldn't start. Someone with a stalling problem due to wetness might have some dirt or crud on the electrical parts which acts as a conductor when wet.

Is there a way to test that system to see if it's sound, before going out in a downpour? Or do you just replace it because it's 25 years old?

Yes, thoroughly hose it down. Otherwise, I would wait until it's 50 years old before replacing it.

Yes, my model does have the headlight on all-the-time... And as such a rookie that I am to mechanics - what I'm really the MOST confused about is electrical understanding. ---------- So, what's this about connecting the 3 stator wires to the R/R, bypassing the headlight?? Could you please tell me WHY this is a good idea? And explain the process a little more... And, why didn't Suzuki do this in the first place?? Or, is this a change they made to later models?

See my reply at Third Stator Wire to Headlight is Redundant for an explanation.

**jimcor** · 10-13-2005, 11:53 PM

Originally posted by GregM.

preserve the bullet, multi connector and switch contacts" ??? Sorry I'm such a newbie here... but could you be more specific???

The ProGold product will lubricate and protect the metal contacts where the non treated contacts are again subject to moisture and humidity. Big claims, but I've tried it and it works. Lasts a long time too.

I forget the name of the huricane in '98 where the remnants traveled up the Mississippi into Iowa. I got caught in that deluge on the 550. Even with the stock airbox I was scared to death it was going to stop on me. Man, the water that engine must have ingested going into Des Moines, morning rush hour, road construction, heavy, heavy truck traffic, to stall was to die, nowhere to pull over both shoulders closed. Interstate 80. I think I was about redlined in third gear to keep running. Got off of there as soon as I could. Very, very scary. Wet, too.

BTW, my cousin had a red 750 Yamaha triple second year of production. Nice bikes.

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GS electrical systems & riding in an extended downpour

GS electrical systems & riding in an extended downpour

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