Bike Just Dies

[Harleyman1]

I have a 1990 FXR which will just die as i ride along, sometimes it will do 150 miles fine. Another time it will do just 5 miles.

There is no spluttering or backfireing. I have changed all the breakers and checked the wiring to the kill switch.

Any suggestions would help a lot

[zimmy]

After it dies, what are you doing to get it going again?

[hbmc]

When it dies... does it go silent and coast or does it sputter and crap out? And what happens to get it to start again? gas? Cool down? Full moon?

[1949shoebox]

check ground connections, pinched wire somewhere or a bad speed sensor

[Harleyman1]

When it dies it just cost to a halt, no spluttering or anything. To get it going I just hit the starter and she fires up straight away. there are no speed sensers on my FXR.... I have checked the main ground wire to engine.

[plugeye]

sounds electrical. kill switch dirty, ignition switch dirty, bad coil, bad ignition module, bad pickup

[feguy1]

Check ground wires to frame and battery.

[hbmc]

Well definitely electrical.... Do the lights stay on or does it just ghost? Black out till you hit the starter again? Also the battery if it is staying charged then you have a good ground and complete circuit. As mentioned prior; module or pick-up perhaps? wondering if it happens at certain RPM's? Like an ignition but usually ignition is noticed at start up, hard start etc.... coils either work or they don't. You know it could be something as simple as a loose wire or hanging by a thread kill switch or ignition switch.
Might consider double checking your connections really sounds intermittent like a wire about to break and then may not start at all. Look under the dash. But what throws me off is the fact you mentioned it dies when it wants and starts with a flip of the switch yet does not bump start as it should if you are rolling and in gear with switches on. Maybe if it happens again and you are rolling don't hit the starter rather click the dash switch on and off see if there is a result then click you're Run/Start switch and see if it bump starts as you are rolling or ghosting. This may help you narrow it down. If those two steps are not responsive then it may be the module as it (I am not sure about this part) but may being reset on the stop and starter re-start you say will get her to fire again?
Wish i could just say it was the ka' nuder valve and a way you go but electrical had so many spots to forgive.

[avgjoe]

have you checked spark after it dies? could be ignition as metioned. is your exhaust resting on your cam cover? could cause excessive heat to pickup.

[ole57]

Happened to my 88 on friday. Just died out after a good ride . No warning , just popped, and that was it. But it would not start after . I have no juice at all . No lights ignition complete power failure . Haven't had the chance to check it out yet though , been working 7 days .Let us know if you figure it out .

[springer-]

Check Gas - Vacuum operated petcock. If you have a problem with the vacuum line or diaphram, the gas could be shutting off on you.

Wiring - Check the ground strap under the bike that goes from the frame to the engine/transmission. Also under the side cover are lots of misc. ground wires and other wires that get corroded over the years, very common problem on the FXR's.

[Harleyman1]

Thanks guys for your input... I will have to go through the whole wiring loom by the looks of it. I will let you know how I get on..

[BigAlD]

Gas cap not venting.............

[JERRYS 89 FXR]

I Had The Same Thing Happen To Me And All It Was, Was A Wire Had Been Breaking. Till It Finally Broke Totally. It Was Located Behind The Coil. Luckily I Found It And Fixed It On The Side Of The Road! Good Luck With Your's. Jerry