Quote:
I often don't have a choice. I would hope that as a touring bike, it can handle a deluge..........
Three electrical failures on one mainly wet European tour was a contributing factor to me trading in my otherwise lovely TVL. Regrettably I think it's a tour, but only in the sun, kind of bike so not practical for me.
Failures were:
QS sensor - one already replaced under warranty. This one I worked with penetrating oil and WD40 on my return to restore function. The alternative was to replace with OEM or, at around the same cost,
buy an HM sensor.
Side stand switch - this failed cutting the engine whilst overtaking a line of trucks at speed on the German autobahn, needed new underwear after that one. Unplugged for rest of the trip and then stripped and cleaned on return to UK to restore function.
Clutch switch - typically, the last day in France it was hot, dry and sunny. The UK had been in a heatwave whilst we'd been riding in a wet northern Italy, Austria and Germany... The clutch first seemed to be dragging and then finally the lever started getting 'mushy'. Limped it back to the channel tunnel with clutch-less changes and once parked up waiting for our slot saw hydraulic fluid leaking from the rear of the clutch switch where the spade connectors attach. Stripped the switch out and screwed one of the tiny fairing screws into the hole in the brass body. Had to then snap that off to enable me to put the switch back in. Clutch action was sufficiently restored to enable me to ride home. Switch was replaced by myself, Motocorsa had them in stock.
The last one wasn't due to the wet weather admittedly, the opposite in fact. The leak was through the potting or whatever resin material the switch manufacturer had used to seal the switch. This had either broken down through age and/or heat.
Whilst all of the above were fixable (had I kept the bike I would have gone the HM route on the QS sensor) it somewhat dented my confidence in setting off on a long tour. Famous last words as I'm off to Portugal on the Multistrada in a few days...