Sorry in advance but feeling like MARS is being unfairly labeled so I am kinda reacting a little.
Q. Does it make more noise than the stock?
A. Most certainly.
Q. Did I pay the full stock replacement cost?
A. Nope a fraction.
Q. Is the MARS alternator going to fail from a manufacturing defect?
A. Hopefully not it was rewound in the USA, and rebuilt by an American I have shaken hands with.
Q. Did any of my dollars go to a foreign manufacturer that built a faulty alternator the first time around?
A. Nope.
Q. Going forward will my battery chronically undercharged when the bike is driven at low RPM's for extended time?
A. It certainly appears that that issue is resolved. My battery is so fully charged it now cranks over like the spark plugs have been removed!
Q. Does the bike make any other annoying minor noises that we just accept?
A. Yup, Timing belts and valve train plus drive train noises are the top of those noises.
Some folks, perhaps many folks, seem overly concerned about a minor alternator noise from a bike that:
a. Sings like a sewing machine due to the timing belts and valve train.
b. Has transmission noise that a lot of folks complain about and want to cover up with sound dampening material on the inside of the chrome aftermarket covers or use brand XYZ oil believing it is made the noise better.
In my mind it is a minor tradeoff for a low cost High Output alternator that allows me to keep twin 100 watt headlights and 100 watt fog lights illuminated without draining the battery when driving around town at low RPM's. Also, the quieter stock alternator that I had failed due to a known manufacturing defect that can cause any one of our wonderful bikes to leave us stranded at any time. Being stranded is definitely something which I am unaccustomed to on such a fine motorcycle. Besides compared to most bikes on the road ours although "noisy" are still actually relatively silent.
IMHO the minor alternator "whine" can only be heard when I am specifically listening to it parked and idling. At normal road speed all the other noises including wind noise and the stereo being cranked nearly full blast pretty much make it a non-issue. I notice now that when parked unless listening specifically near the alternator I cannot hear it over the sewing machine noise when standing near the bike idling with stock exhaust. Anyone with a modified exhaust would be hard pressed to hear it at all without putting their head near the alternator.
Thanks again Ken
