What, exactly, is the regulator rectifier, and what does it do?

rectifier converts the power coming from the aternator, which is 3-phase ac power to single-phase dc power.

regulator keeps the voltage supply by the alternator within specified limit by consuming any excess power as heat

Just click here for a pretty good description.

Wow, that page implies that there are bikes with real alternators.  Must be the Goldwings or something.  I had thought that pretty much all bikes just shunted one or two phases as needed to keep the voltage in-spec.  But it sounds like some bikes will toggle all three phases.  Anybody know if this is a difference between the OEM R/R and the Electrex replacement?

The Electrex are same as stock in basic design and function, they are just built with better materials(says them). :lol:  I tend to believe them, though, since usually stock items are built to the bare minimum to keep them cheep...thats why an RR and stator from Electrex cost well over two bills.

Ever since I have that VFR750, I know what that is  :lol: (they tend to fail on a VFR   ).