My R65 flat quit on me...

[MrRiden]

what justin listed and perhaps some brushes for the alternator and either a diode board or a pocket of diodes along with [tools,not parts, sorry] a butane pencil soldering iron, a pocket VOM and the knowledge to use it.
rich
Who really does carry bailing wire and chewing gum.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[size=12]I carry a spare rotor when I leave my state (of mind?  ), but it will not do you much good with out a removal tool so you can get the bad one off!  You can make your own out of a hardened bolt long enough and cut to length, or get one from someone like Moto Elektrik.

http://www.motoelekt.com/goodstuff.htm His book on charging systems is supposed to be good, too.  Especially if this is your first airhead.[/size]

[Justin B.]

On my two regular riders I have had rotors expire in the past year or two, one regulator, and zero diode boards although I usually carry one on cross-country trips.  I have replaced worn out brushes but they "normally" give a bit of warning (flickering and/or dimly glowing GEN light) and won't leave you stranded unless you are on a multi-thousand mile trip.  

I will heartily second Rich's mention of a meter and enthusiastically recommend one of the $2.99 (on almost perpetual sale) Harbor Freight DVMs.  At that price I bought several and have one in all of our normal riders/drivers.

[StanG]

Guy, I really appreciate the advice, just what I was looking for.  Now my tasks is to assemble the parts , learn their function and how to install.

[steve hawkins]

I would just add that some of these parts are expensive - even second hand (diode board, alternator rotor, bean can, etc).  So that might colour your judgement.

However, what do I know?  I live in the UK and am never that far from a dealer or recovery.  Might be a different thing in the good old US of A - when I talk about 10s of miles, you talk about 100s.

So it is less critical for me - even if I went to the continent.

Cheers

Steve H