I need some advice about a problem with my '08 XB9SX Lightning CityX '08. Please bear with me as I'm not a technician and might make some errors describing the problems. Also, I realise that it is difficult to make a proper judgement without actually seeing the bike, but I'm not looking for a concrete answer - any knowledgeable help is very much appreciated.
At the beginning of last week:
I noticed that the oil pressure lamp rapidly 'flickered' on and off usually when stopped and idling (e.g. at lights). The flickering wasn't constant and came and went.
I also noticed an occasional lack of power when pulling away in 1st (not necessarily at the same time as the flickering), although I put this down to the engine not being warmed up correctly or my lack of familiarity with the gear box (my first big twin).
On Friday :
I found time to take the bike to the dealer and, of course the problem didn't happen while I was there, but did when I was about 200 yards down the road!
I was told that, as the lamp wasn't lit continually, it may be a faulty spring in the oil pressure switch or a similar part of the filter itself, but I didn't have time to have the work done at the time.
AFAIK, the last oil change was about 300 miles ago and there is definitely sufficient oil.
On Saturday afternoon:
The flickering returned and was accompanied by very erratic power delivery and rapidly rising and falling revs. The oil lamp was more solid this time (rather than flickering), but still turned on and off; the check engine lamp was also lit solidly & also came and went.
Obviously this was a bad sign so I decided to pull over asap; this was made a necessity as the bike actually died and I had to push it home (400 yards).
At home when I turned it on, there was absolutely no power to the dash or plugs with no headlights or engine spark. But strangely the parking lights came on.
On Sunday morning:
It started up as normal with no flickering lamps or weird revs and idled away happily, bouncing enthusiastically around and begging me to take it for a blast on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
I felt sad that I couldn't oblige.
Notes:
1. I installed some hot grips last Wednesday and forgot to turn them off (I thought the new Oxford ones had a cut off!
) which lead to a dead battery. I recharged it and was back to normal.2. After being advised that a higher grade of unleaded would be more suitable, I filled a half full (of regular 95) tank with 97.
3. Before all this happened (2nd day of ownership), I had a 'side swipe' collision with a grass covered verge near Box which resulted in some scratched plastics and bent gear linkage.
This was very embarrassing
I don't intend to ride the bike again until it is fixed and luckily it is still under warranty from the dealer. I just need to get it there! (recovery service anyone?)
I would love to hear some opinions on all this and please ask questions about anything as there may b something I have missed out that would be a vital clue as to the problem. To be honest, I'm interested in getting clued up about things before going to the dealer so that I'm not just blindly accepting what he says.
Thanks very much in advance,
Garret
Hopefully Maz will be able to offer a bit more help 
