I bought a new 07 bonneville america and have been having some problems with it and was hoping someone might have some suggestions. Bear with me as I try to explain the problem. The bike cuts completely off, mainly when it is sitting still at idle and it does not matter how hot the bike is or how long it sits. It has taken as long as 20 minutes to shut off, and then again it has done it right as I pull in to parking space and stop. As you are sitting on the bike, when the bike shuts off, the right side of the motor will be blistering hot, the left side will be cool enough to grab the pipe. I have noticed that when I first crank the bike the exhaust on the right warms at a normal pace, but the left side stays cool, but not every time. I took the bike back to the dealership and they told me the left side ingnitor was probably bad and so they replaced it and I picked it up yesterday. When I left the shop I did my usual check of the exhaust and they felt the same, so figured problem fixed. However, later in the evening, I decided to ride it to work to test it. The temp outside was around 80* so it was nice and cool, not hot. I noticed that when I cranked the bike up that once again the left side exhaust was cold and right side was warming normally. I went ahead and road it to work, but it did not feel the same as it had earlier in the day. When I got to work, approximately 12 miles, I decided to leave the bike idleing to see if it would quit, and I started a stopwatch. After exactly 20.4 minutes, it quit. I then took a tempature reading 4 inches from the jugs on the header pipe, the right bank pipe had bronzed and checked 220*F, the left side checked 116*F and I could even grab the pipe in my hand without having to let go. The bike would not crank back up until I let it sit for about 10 minutes. About 8hrs later I cranked it up to ride it home, and once again checked the exhaust and this time both sides were firing the same. It ran like it had earlier yesterday when I picked it up from the shop. When I got to my house and pulled in to the parking spot I put the bike in neutral while it was still running and put the kickstand down so I could get off and check the temp on exhaust while it was still running, but, before I could get my gloves off the bike quit. So, that blows the whole theory of the bike being hot and doing it, especially since it was probably about 65*F this morning when it happened and the bike was clearly not overheated. Now enters my main concern, which is, what kind of damage is being created internally on the motor by this. I have discussed this concern with a friend of mine who is also a Hall Of Fame engine builder, and he agrees that there could be some internal damage created by it that may show up a month from now, or maybe a year or so from now even if the problem is fixed. At this point should I be pushing for a new motor as well? I really like the bike and was hoping someone here may know something that could help. Well, there it is, any thoughts at all?!?
Jon
