OK, here's my reader's digest version....last November I noticed that the 30 AMP fuse holder was a little discolored, but no melted insulation. My accessories include heated grips, 2 jastek plugs (for garmin-very little draw; and the rear mounted jastek for the heated vest), fork mounted driving lights, autocom...all within the alternators load capacity (yup, I did the math).
The funny thing was--I had the bike in the garage, with a multimeter hooked up to check voltage and @ 2000 rpm the voltage spiked to 18.2 and then the bike died. Fried 30 AMP fuse holder, melted battery harness at the holder and melted fuse. Battery toast. Hmmm, timing is everything.
Now, It's an '03 with an extended warranty, but I didn't want to dick with the worthless dealer ("VFR, thats a Yamaha, right")and with all the accesories on the bike, so I inspected the wiring harness and decided that I could do the main harness swap. I purchased the main and battery harness, RR and Ron Ayers. Battery I got locally.
The swap was a PITA. But I shielded, covered, and dielctric greased the crap out of everything. I mean everything. Plus I took the opportunity to rewire and conolidate the accory wiring with an aux fuse box and install a digital voltmeter....
So, I know I didn't report it, scream about it or poke Honda in the chest--but I didn't need the extra stress--I threw my money and time into it. My choice, but at least I know some pimple face 18 YO excuse for a mechanic touch my bike after waiting for the bike to become sun bleached while waiting for its turn to be worked on....
See ya next week at the Gap. I'll be the one with extra 10 GA wire.....