Bike won't start after 48 hours - low volt?

[Darkness!]

Where do you guys recommend getting batteries from? From a dealer like a car? Is OEM okay?



My battery is fully charged, according to my battery tender. I will put it back into the bike tomorrow morning and see how it acts. Do you guys recommend going out for a ride after putting a recharged battery back into a bike to help it stay charged?



I'll get back to you on the technical parts... sad face

Do you live near a shop? If you do, take your battery to the shop and have them do a load test on the battery before you put it back in the bike. A battery can charge up just fine and have a static (standing) charge of between 12.6-13.2 Volts initially, but still be bad. In other words, it will lose charge excessively once it is asked to do work (like starting your bike). After a few attempts, it might read 10.0 V (or less). If it goes below 9.0 Volts within just a few cranks, that battery is a paperweight. No bueno. To be honest, if it goes below 11.0 V and stays there after just a few attempts to start the bike, the battery is probably just too old or too weak (or both) to hold a charge. I'd replace it at that point. But don't go throwing parts at a bike...

If your battery checks out, once you put it back in the bike, if you can get it started, put the multi-meter leads on the appropriate positive and negative posts on the battery while the bike is on and idling. Rev up to 4,000 rpm and hold it there. Now check to see what the multi-meter reads. You should see somewhere between 13.6-14.5V. If you see lower than 13.0V or higher than 15.0V there is something wrong with your charging system. Probably a faulty Regular/Rectifier.

NOTE: If you ever need to 'jump' start your bike, try 'bump' starting it first (YouTube is your friend). If you can't, you can hook it up to a car (that is NOT RUNNING) and try to start it that way. I repeat, the car MUST NOT be running.

 

[gt3x24x7]

Do you live near a shop? If you do, take your battery to the shop and have them do a load test on the battery before you put it back in the bike. A battery can charge up just fine and have a static (standing) charge of between 12.6-13.2 Volts initially, but still be bad. In other words, it will lose charge excessively once it is asked to do work (like starting your bike). After a few attempts, it might read 10.0 V (or less). If it goes below 9.0 Volts within just a few cranks, that battery is a paperweight. No bueno. To be honest, if it goes below 11.0 V and stays there after just a few attempts to start the bike, the battery is probably just too old or too weak (or both) to hold a charge. I'd replace it at that point. But don't go throwing parts at a bike...

If your battery checks out, once you put it back in the bike, if you can get it started, put the multi-meter leads on the appropriate positive and negative posts on the battery while the bike is on and idling. Rev up to 4,000 rpm and hold it there. Now check to see what the multi-meter reads. You should see somewhere between 13.6-14.5V. If you see lower than 13.0V or higher than 15.0V there is something wrong with your charging system. Probably a faulty Regular/Rectifier.

NOTE: If you ever need to 'jump' start your bike, try 'bump' starting it first (YouTube is your friend). If you can't, you can hook it up to a car (that is NOT RUNNING) and try to start it that way. I repeat, the car MUST NOT be running.

According to a quick Google search and Yelp, these are the closest shops to me:

http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=motorcyclerepair&find_loc=Concord,+CA

Any estimates on how much shops charge on average for this kind of stuff from personal experience? I've found the Yuasa YB10L-B2 battery online and on Cycle Gear for ~$40-60. Looking at my Haynes manual for the recommended maintenance schedule too. Have you or any others taken your bikes to be serviced by a certified dealer? Or are dealers rip off too? My experience is only with auto dealers - very little to none with motorcycles. Bike is only at 3.4k miles for an 06 and I have a good feeling that it will require maintenance around the 4k mile mark, along with routine checkups every X miles, X time period and so on.

Somethings I will need to get checked out along with the battery according to my manual are:
-gravity of the electrolyte battery
-tightening cylinder head nuts and exhaust pipe bolts
-valve clearances
-spark plug gaps
-fuel hoses
-engine oil and filter
-brake fluid and etc

All shops are trained and certified in performing these services, correct?

Sorry if I'm asking silly questions.

 

[afm199]

I recommend getting a multimeter and check your battery volts after charging and then after one starting attempt. Check charging system output also once u get the bike running.

This.

Stop buying shit to try and fix it. Get a meter, read the charging sticky, and diagnose it.

The "buy parts and throw it at the problem" gets expensive quickly.

Ricky: Super fun working with you at Thill at the school, your improvement was noticeable.

 

[gt3x24x7]

This.

Stop buying shit to try and fix it. Get a meter, read the charging sticky, and diagnose it.

The "buy parts and throw it at the problem" gets expensive quickly.

Ricky: Super fun working with you at Thill at the school, your improvement was noticeable.

Good news - reconnected the battery and bike roared to life. I will pick up a meter tonight and for sure learn how to use it!

 

[Darkness!]

According to a quick Google search and Yelp, these are the closest shops to me:

http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=motorcyclerepair&find_loc=Concord,+CA

Any estimates on how much shops charge on average for this kind of stuff from personal experience? I've found the Yuasa YB10L-B2 battery online and on Cycle Gear for ~$40-60. Looking at my Haynes manual for the recommended maintenance schedule too. Have you or any others taken your bikes to be serviced by a certified dealer? Or are dealers rip off too? My experience is only with auto dealers - very little to none with motorcycles. Bike is only at 3.4k miles for an 06 and I have a good feeling that it will require maintenance around the 4k mile mark, along with routine checkups every X miles, X time period and so on.

Somethings I will need to get checked out along with the battery according to my manual are:
-gravity of the electrolyte battery
-tightening cylinder head nuts and exhaust pipe bolts
-valve clearances
-spark plug gaps
-fuel hoses
-engine oil and filter
-brake fluid and etc

All shops are trained and certified in performing these services, correct?

Sorry if I'm asking silly questions.

Any shop can load test a battery for you. For free.

Not all shops work on all bikes. Some specialize in particular brands or European vs Japanese vs Harley, etc.

I would recommend learning some basics like oil changes and chain maintenance and adjustment at the least. Are you at all handy with tools? I HIGHLY recommend Moto Guild as a place to take classes and do maintenance yourself or with some one-on-one hands on help...

If you're not into that (totally ok, although it's good to know the basics of how your bike works) you can call various shops near you and find out how much the services will be.

With a bike that's carbureted like yours is, those low miles are a bad thing if it's been sitting for a while. I would recommend looking into having the fluids (oil and brake, no coolant as it's air cooled) changed and have it inspected at the least. Old fuel can turn into varnish when a bike's been sitting for a while. You may need a carb clean or run some SeaFoam through the fuel system at the very least...Good luck.

 

[RickM]

This.

Stop buying shit to try and fix it. Get a meter, read the charging sticky, and diagnose it.

The "buy parts and throw it at the problem" gets expensive quickly.

Ricky: Super fun working with you at Thill at the school, your improvement was noticeable.

Thanks Ernie.

Good news - reconnected the battery and bike roared to life. I will pick up a meter tonight and for sure learn how to use it!

Excellent. I hope your charging system also checks out. It's good to have a multimeter(and learn how to use it) and battery tender. Both tools will come in handy moto and other things.

 

[gt3x24x7]

Any shop can load test a battery for you. For free.

Not all shops work on all bikes. Some specialize in particular brands or European vs Japanese vs Harley, etc.

I would recommend learning some basics like oil changes and chain maintenance and adjustment at the least. Are you at all handy with tools? I HIGHLY recommend Moto Guild as a place to take classes and do maintenance yourself or with some one-on-one hands on help...

If you're not into that (totally ok, although it's good to know the basics of how your bike works) you can call various shops near you and find out how much the services will be.

With a bike that's carbureted like yours is, those low miles are a bad thing if it's been sitting for a while. I would recommend looking into having the fluids (oil and brake, no coolant as it's air cooled) changed and have it inspected at the least. Old fuel can turn into varnish when a bike's been sitting for a while. You may need a carb clean or run some SeaFoam through the fuel system at the very least...Good luck.

I will indeed educate myself on the basic how to's and what not. Another member gave me great information and links to tool sets and wrenches that'll really be handy.

Thanks Ernie.



Excellent. I hope your charging system also checks out. It's good to have a multimeter(and learn how to use it) and battery tender. Both tools will come in handy moto and other things.

I rode the bike to my nearest gas station. Filled up and reset the trip meter. Had a blast riding almost 70 miles today with the battery after using a battery tender!! Purchased a multimeter too - will play around with it tomorrow probably.

Is it normal to be sweating a lot with all my gear on? Helmet, gloves, jacket, boots, and kevlar reinforced jeans. It was around 73-74 fahrenheit today.

 

[NoTraffic]

I will indeed educate myself on the basic how to's and what not. Another member gave me great information and links to tool sets and wrenches that'll really be handy.



I rode the bike to my nearest gas station. Filled up and reset the trip meter. Had a blast riding almost 70 miles today with the battery after using a battery tender!! Purchased a multimeter too - will play around with it tomorrow probably.

Is it normal to be sweating a lot with all my gear on? Helmet, gloves, jacket, boots, and kevlar reinforced jeans. It was around 73-74 fahrenheit today.

It's normal to be sweating for a new rider. You cannot really compare seasoned riders to new rider mentality. It's like comparing someone who's never ran a mile before to a marathon runner.

You are using muscles and ligaments that are probably new to you, including core balance. After awhile you start getting more comfortable with normal stop and go methods.

Glad to hear the battery is doing ok for now.