best inexpensive spinning bike image
Kryle Busc
My friend just bought a Seca and the battery died on him today while he was riding it. Neither of us know much about bikes. Another friend of ours said it didn't have an alternator and it would have to be charged by a quick charger, which seems like it would be a hastle. Do these bikes have an alternator? If not how do you charge them?
Answer
The guy who told you the bike has no alternator is an ignorant. Keep him away from your friend's bike.The bike DOES have an alternator. It is housed behind the engine and above the gearbox in a cylindrical housing accessible on the left side of the bike. This housing has a cover with the word "Yamaha" embossed on it and is held on by 3 hex-head screws.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE should you quick charge a motorcycle battery. Motorcycle batteries are charged overnight on a trickle charger at 1-2amps max.
The 93 Seca uses a sealed battery, so you can forget everything you've been told about getting distilled water.
To remove the battery, remove the seat (it comes off with the ignition key), undo the two terminal cables, detach the breather tube, and lift the battery out. If this whole operation takes you more than 5 minutes, you really are incompetent.
Now put it on a trickle charger overnight. You can buy a cheap one at Wal-Mart but make sure it is a fully automatic model.
If the bike does not charge the battery while riding, the probable culprit is worn alternator brushes. You can access them by removing the alternator cover I described above. inside you will find 3 brush carriers. The alternator brushes are screwed on to these carriers. Replacements are inexpensive and easily installed.
EDIT- OK @waikryder, I should have said ''maintenance free'' battery instead of ''sealed''. But as far as the alternator is concerned, you are confused. The ''stator'' is the non-moving part of an alternator, the ''rotor'' spins inside the stator and together they produce alternating (AC) current. That's why it's called an ''alternator''.
The guy who told you the bike has no alternator is an ignorant. Keep him away from your friend's bike.The bike DOES have an alternator. It is housed behind the engine and above the gearbox in a cylindrical housing accessible on the left side of the bike. This housing has a cover with the word "Yamaha" embossed on it and is held on by 3 hex-head screws.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE should you quick charge a motorcycle battery. Motorcycle batteries are charged overnight on a trickle charger at 1-2amps max.
The 93 Seca uses a sealed battery, so you can forget everything you've been told about getting distilled water.
To remove the battery, remove the seat (it comes off with the ignition key), undo the two terminal cables, detach the breather tube, and lift the battery out. If this whole operation takes you more than 5 minutes, you really are incompetent.
Now put it on a trickle charger overnight. You can buy a cheap one at Wal-Mart but make sure it is a fully automatic model.
If the bike does not charge the battery while riding, the probable culprit is worn alternator brushes. You can access them by removing the alternator cover I described above. inside you will find 3 brush carriers. The alternator brushes are screwed on to these carriers. Replacements are inexpensive and easily installed.
EDIT- OK @waikryder, I should have said ''maintenance free'' battery instead of ''sealed''. But as far as the alternator is concerned, you are confused. The ''stator'' is the non-moving part of an alternator, the ''rotor'' spins inside the stator and together they produce alternating (AC) current. That's why it's called an ''alternator''.
What kind of bike should I use for intense street riding like on big hills?
vegasboy00
I'm trying to build leg muscle and get a strong lower body.
Answer
You don't say how intense or how hilly, but if you really want to get strong then go with a single speed. One of the strongest young riders in this area (very hilly) trains exclusively on a single speed. He just built a new one using a 50 tooth chainring and a 16 tooth rear sprocket.
A fixie won't work for you. You'll need a freewheel in the rear and brakes -- at least on the front, but both ends are preferable. You'll find that it'll take incredible strength to ride up hills on this bike and incredible high rpm spinning to keep up with other riders in the downhills. In the flats this gear setup will allow you to ride in the high 20's with relative ease.
The good news is these bikes are relatively inexpensive and have fewer moving parts to require maintenance. While you can convert a conventional frame to a single-speed I recommend against it, as the parallel rear-insert dropouts on a dedicated single speed work better. Take a look at the Surley Steamroller (link provided).
My single speed is a Bianchi Pista, a track bike with front brakes and a freewheel added.
If you're not tough enough for a single speed, then just buy a conventional 20 speed road racing bike. This comment may cause howls from others, but DO NOT BUY a 27 or 30 speed (triple). They are for loaded tourists carrying 40 pounds or more, or for weenies. I'm 60 years old and live and train in the mountains and I don't need or use a triple!
Forget mountain bikes for the road, unless you get a hard tail with no front suspension. They are just extra weight and parts, and the suspension will bob on you, wasting energy.
Ben
You don't say how intense or how hilly, but if you really want to get strong then go with a single speed. One of the strongest young riders in this area (very hilly) trains exclusively on a single speed. He just built a new one using a 50 tooth chainring and a 16 tooth rear sprocket.
A fixie won't work for you. You'll need a freewheel in the rear and brakes -- at least on the front, but both ends are preferable. You'll find that it'll take incredible strength to ride up hills on this bike and incredible high rpm spinning to keep up with other riders in the downhills. In the flats this gear setup will allow you to ride in the high 20's with relative ease.
The good news is these bikes are relatively inexpensive and have fewer moving parts to require maintenance. While you can convert a conventional frame to a single-speed I recommend against it, as the parallel rear-insert dropouts on a dedicated single speed work better. Take a look at the Surley Steamroller (link provided).
My single speed is a Bianchi Pista, a track bike with front brakes and a freewheel added.
If you're not tough enough for a single speed, then just buy a conventional 20 speed road racing bike. This comment may cause howls from others, but DO NOT BUY a 27 or 30 speed (triple). They are for loaded tourists carrying 40 pounds or more, or for weenies. I'm 60 years old and live and train in the mountains and I don't need or use a triple!
Forget mountain bikes for the road, unless you get a hard tail with no front suspension. They are just extra weight and parts, and the suspension will bob on you, wasting energy.
Ben
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment