RSV losing power/cutting out issues - definitely electrical

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Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Messages
2
Location
Leicestershire UK
hi there guys.

riding an '03 RSV mille, had it for about a year with no issues or worries. currently it's my only means of transport (commuter bike? sure)


recently an issue cropped up. i'll explain it in as much detail as i can:

- when at idle, or low RPM flat-throttle (i.e. constant speed about 3-4k, not climbing in revs) the engine sometimes loses power (feels like it's losing a cylinder, or running out of fuel, it sort of jerks forward and backward because of the lumpy power delivery. once it nearly threw me forward) and the headlight/dash backlight flickers at the same time.
- a couple of times it has cut out entirely (on a roundabout, along a country road). once it wouldn't start again for a minute or so, but the other occasions it has started again just fine.

things i've noticed:

- the headlight flickers, and sometimes gets brighter for a moment, while i'm riding along, and it seems to go along with the engine spluttering (although it seems to flicker anyway, with normal riding?). the dash backlight seems to flicker when the engine splutters, but not otherwise. i don't get any warning lights or messages on the dash. just the backlight dropping as the engine does.

- give it some higher revs, and the spluttering disappears temporarily. it pulls smoothly when accelerating. this makes me think there's a dodgy connection somewhere that a higher voltage is able to overcome, when you pile on the throttle. this has led me to wonder if it's a battery charging issue (like, the alternator or something) but i'm afraid i don't have any electrical equipment to help me test this theory.

- i was able to make the issue disappear for about a month. i liberally sprayed WD40 on every connector on the bike, took off the R/H switch gear (killswitch) and WD40d it as well, pressed the switch a gajillion times to get any water out. cleaned the sidestand switch and also did the brown-connector mod, as well as replacing the ***** old battery which had to be recharged every day. however, yesterday, i went over a load of speed bumps and the problem returned with vengeance. ugh!

- the killswitch itself is suuuper sensitive. is this normal? i only have to touch the thing lightly and it kills the engine. i don't actually have to "actuate" the switch, just brush against it.

- this spluttering also happens if the bike is in neutral, when stopped at traffic lights. this leads me to think it's not the kickstand switch (looks intact, at least).

other information:

- i ride the bike (daily commute) in all weather. it rains quite a bit, and the bike has to cope with this. i always clean the bike down with cloths/rags/WD40, and at home it sits in a garage, but it does get left sitting in the rain sometimes when i'm at work.


things i've done so far:

- brown connector mod
- new battery
- fiddled with connectors and WD40d them (seemed to temporarily fix the issue?)


any ideas? i'm pulling my hair out. what little insignificant part of the bike is making a dodgy connection?
 
Last edited:
sort the kill switch..the bike vibrates and could be causing the kill switch to activate

check all the earth connectors..including the one from engine to frame etc

failing that book it in with aprilia performance he is over in tamworth...Griff will sort it
 
The kill switch is the favourite for me & also check the battery terminals just in case - both will cause the faults you highlight.
 
sorrt for the thread-necro.

just wanted to say thanks to the community for commenting and offering advice.

fixed the original problem as far as i can tell. it's actually morphed into a similar but different problem.

instead of cutting out at low, flat rpms (really now the bike is issue-free when riding around normally), the bike now cuts out on hard acceleration at about 9000rpm. no other times noticed. it also doesn't come back in again for a few moments and if i switch the engine off, it takes a while before it will start again (no cranking, no priming, nothing). this leads me to believe it may actually be the alarm.

but it also might still be the kill-switch. i cleaned it up before but didn't actually replace the bugger. i'm on eBay now and i'll give y'all an update if it fixes the issue. as i previously mentioned it's hyper-sensitive and only brushing it kills the engine.

weirdly though i checked the kill-switch mechanism and it looks like it's set up to behave that way. there's no mechanical way it won't break the circuit when you push on it lightly. that's a pretty crazy manufacturing issue right there. anyone else noticed this?

once again thanks. any advice appreciated and i'll provide an update when i can.
 
I think yu need to change the kill switch it shouldn't be that sensitive maybe vibes at certain revs are affecting it?????you sure you are not hitting the rev limiter at about 9 - 9.5?
 
it sounds like the voltage regulator ,i had similar symptoms on my 2004.5 rsvr took it to rockridge aprilia in berkely california and they fixed the problem and ****** me for $700 thgis is a part you can buy for $100 on ebay so do it yourself its 2 plugs and thats it
 

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