The following series of articles and how to guides aims to look at some of the more general aspects of a motorcycle’s electrical system such as the wiring loom, switchgear and battery. Like the other articles on this website, the inspiration behind the articles came from the ongoing restoration of my 1951 Matchless G3LS motorcycle. However they are quite general and so the ideas and solutions I have described can easily be applied to other classic bikes, more modern bikes or indeed to many other types of vehicle too.
There is also a separate section of this website dedicated specifically to the maintenance of the Lucas dynamo and regulator battery charging system found on many old motorbikes. This covers topics such as general fault finding if your battery doesn’t appear to be receiving charge, testing and diagnosing a Lucas dynamo and upgrading a bike to 12 volt electrics using a modern solid-state electronic regulator, amongst others. This section can be found by clicking here or following the Lucas electrical system link in the menu at the top of the page.
Installing a fuse
Most classic bikes never had a fuse fitted as standard, but fitting one is simple and can save you a lot of smoke and fried wiring! This article explains:
- Why a fuse is so important.
- Where to fit the fuse or fuses.
- The different types of fuse available.
- Selecting an appropriate fuse rating.
Battery voltages
This article looks at the typical voltages produced by nominal 6 and 12 volt lead-acid motorcycle batteries, and includes the following sections:
- Normally battery voltages.
- Battery construction.
- Voltage vs. state of charge.
- Correct charging voltages.
Rewiring your motorbike
Coming soon, this comprehensive guide will take you through everything you need to know before your commencing rewiring of your classic motorbike, including:
- Selecting the right wires.
- Designing the wiring loom.
- Adding some new features.
- Plus much more…
