Never had this happen before.

[Tropic traveler]

Coming home today from my travels today I was about 4 miles from the house when the black 'n silver starts cutting out then just shut down completely. Coasted to a safe spot & tried to restart... turned over real slow then battery petered out. Called Kim to bring the truck & trailer then about 10-15 minutes later hit it again-Vroom! Cranks right up so I take off headed home. Pass Kim going the other way with the truck & of course she does not see me waving like a fool. Get about another mile down the road at another freekin' redlight the bike cuts out again. Pulled into a parking lot & called Kim who is looking for me in the original spot. Anyhow, she gets there, load up the Valk & head the 2 miles back home. Get it in the garage & after about 30 minutes or so it cranks right back up.
I suspect alternator or a wiring problem which means I had been running all day on the battery. Now I have a 3rd bike problem/project to deal with.   

[Thunderbolt]

Sounds like the alternator alright.  Put a voltmeter across the battery terminals and read the voltage before you crank it.  If it doesn't run up to about 13.5 or increase at least increase quite a bit it is either the alternator or the 55A charge fuse or a connection somewhere.  I just replaced the brushes in mine and they were around 40% worn at 50,000 or so miles.

[Tundra]

Sorry Eddie, glad you got home safely.
You won't wake up in the morning wondering what to do owning 5 motorcycles.

[Thunderbolt]

If your alternator is bad other than the brushes, this is the Gold Wing unit that will work.  I helped Keith do his.  Just look at the old one and spin the cover 120 degrees, I think it was the front one so that it looks like the Valkyrie alt.  I think it was about $200 for this one, about $100 cheaper than the Valkyrie alt.

'97 Goldwing Aspencade
Part # is 31100-MT2-015
"The terminal & plastic insulator are different where you connect the alternator battery wire. You have to take off the capacitor that is mounted on the Gold Wing alternator and rotate the front housing to match the holes from the Valkyrie model so that it will fit."

Or you might try Pinwall cycles etc.
 

[Tropic traveler]

Sorry Eddie, glad you got home safely.
You won't wake up in the morning wondering what to do owning 5 motorcycles.

Well not quite Doug....
Back down to four, all Honda again!

Roland riding off on the Yami Easter morning.



As soon as the title gets here from the state I'm mailing it to him. The tag is good until September so after that it's totally his bike!

[Tropic traveler]

If your alternator is bad other than the brushes, this is the Gold Wing unit that will work.  I helped Keith do his.  Just look at the old one and spin the cover 120 degrees, I think it was the front one so that it looks like the Valkyrie alt.  I think it was about $200 for this one, about $100 cheaper than the Valkyrie alt.

'97 Goldwing Aspencade
Part # is 31100-MT2-015
"The terminal & plastic insulator are different where you connect the alternator battery wire. You have to take off the capacitor that is mounted on the Gold Wing alternator and rotate the front housing to match the holes from the Valkyrie model so that it will fit."

Or you might try Pinwall cycles etc.
 

Thanks Terry. I was going to look that # up later tonight. I'm going to check the wires & fuses first then pull the alt. & have it checked out at a local shop. I'll slow charge the battery & hope I didn't kill it completely. 
So now I have a Valk with a busted bag, a Valk with charging problems, a Shadow in the process of being brought back from the dead, & Kim's Valk that runs & looks perfect!
One out of four.... Yikes!!

[Thunderbolt]

O.K. pulling that alt. is no fun, putting it back in is a trick too.  Gotta line up all the rubber (thingies) technical term.  Keith had his rebuilt and it went bad again about 4 months later, then we put the Gold Wing unit in and when he sold it, that one was still in service.  I think I read where most of the ones that die open up on the field winding at a solder joint.  I know you have another bike to ride, but if you need it I have a spare alternator until you get yours fixed.

[Tropic traveler]

Thanks Terry, I should be OK- I'll let you know.
I have pulled the alt. on the '97 before at 78,000 miles. Took it to a local shop who checked it out. Said it was well over 50% brush wear & in good condition. 115,000 miles & still good! 
I'll probably get the GW alt. you suggested after checking it out then send the bad one to my guy to go through for a spare. With 3 Valks in the family........ you know!

[DD]

Wifes bike find so what's the problem?       
Good luck