05 1150 GS Adventure. She dead?

[Taff]

Never thought I'd start a thread in this section, as I own one of those super-reliable 2005 1150s. Well it was super reliable till this morning.

Wheeled her out of the shed, Got kitted up for my Fathers Day blast around West Wales and ..... nothing. I suspect the battery is flat, but I find it strange that it is totally lifeless today, but we took it out for a 300 mile blat over 2 days just last weekend and it was fine then.

There is no alarm on the bike and the keys was removed when I parked her up last Sunday (so there was nothing draining the battery) but the clock just shows 0.00 (again this was working fine last Sunday) there is no re-assuring clicking etc as you turn on the ignition (although there is a very very faint flicker from the neutral light) and the fuel indicator is lifeless.

I did have problems starting the bike about 2 months ago, and bought an Optimate which cured it. These days I normally connect the Optimate after every trip, but typically I didn't do it last Sunday. Nothing has been changed on the bike apart from having a Stebel Magnum horn fitted 3 weeks ago.

I have connected the Optimate for about 30 mins now, which shows a weak battery, but at least now there is a noise (like an asthmatic wet fart) and the fuel indicator works.

So I'm sat at home wreaking of Ewan McGregor aftershave (Fathers Day present from the wife and kids) and feck all to do apart from some ironing and work stuff.

Is it common for a battery to die so suddenly?

 

[Wanderer]

Could you have turned the key to park instead of steering lock last weekend, thereby leaving the headlight on all week?

 

[Taff]

Could you have turned the key to park instead of steering lock last weekend, thereby leaving the headlight on all week?

Good question, but I've never turned the key to "Park" since I've had it.

 

[Dragon Master]

Never thought I'd start a thread in this section, as I own one of those super-reliable 2005 1150s. Well it was super reliable till this morning.

Wheeled her out of the shed, Got kitted up for my Fathers Day blast around West Wales and ..... nothing. I suspect the battery is flat, but I find it strange that it is totally lifeless today, but we took it out for a 300 mile blat over 2 days just last weekend and it was fine then.

There is no alarm on the bike and the keys was removed when I parked her up last Sunday (so there was nothing draining the battery) but the clock just shows 0.00 (again this was working fine last Sunday) there is no re-assuring clicking etc as you turn on the ignition (although there is a very very faint flicker from the neutral light) and the fuel indicator is lifeless.

I did have problems starting the bike about 2 months ago, and bought an Optimate which cured it. These days I normally connect the Optimate after every trip, but typically I didn't do it last Sunday. Nothing has been changed on the bike apart from having a Stebel Magnum horn fitted 3 weeks ago.

I have connected the Optimate for about 30 mins now, which shows a weak battery, but at least now there is a noise (like an asthmatic wet fart) and the fuel indicator works.

So I'm sat at home wreaking of Ewan McGregor aftershave (Fathers Day present from the wife and kids) and feck all to do apart from some ironing and work stuff.

Is it common for a battery to die so suddenly?

Hi Taff,

Just thoughts here, I'm not the world's best when it comes to batteries; but it sounds as though your optimate might haver been masking a problem with the battery, or maybe with the charging on the bike? If you had problems a couple of months back, the optimate might have been working as a 'life support' machine for it.

Do you ride with lights on? Did you have any problems starting while you were out on the run last weekend? From my experiences a bike, once fired up, will run quite happily on the alternator (though lights on can cause problems), so a knackered battery might well not be noticed until a week or so after it was last run. And poor charging from the bike would mean the battery is being drained while you ride.

As I say just my thoughts, somebody more knowledgeable/qualified will probably be along...

Dave.

P.S. Happy smelly Father's day...

 

[Wanderer]

Good question, but I've never turned the key to "Park" since I've had it.

Neither had I until I made the mistake of doing so a few weeks ago.

Just a small thought, that's all.

 

[Taff]

Do you ride with lights on? Did you have any problems starting while you were out on the run last weekend?

Is the Pope a Catholic? I did have a set of BTBR lights fitted a year ago and use the running lights (not the full beam) nearly every ride. Night rides are now a complete joy once you have a set of these fitted, but the bike hasn't been out in the dark for months.

Neither had I until I made the mistake of doing so a few weeks ago. Just a small thought, that's all.

It was a good question and I honestly wasn't have a dig. If it sounded as if I was I apologise.

Oooooh. Hang on, there are signs of life. After an hour on the Optimate, the Neutral light is stronger and there is now a clicking and whirring noise from the petrol pump.

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Have you remembered to "do" the 3 monthly electrolyte level check on the battery ???
If you don't you get a flat battery very suddenly, just like you have.
Do Not Ask Me How I Know

I always have a Bottle of distilled water available now

 

[John Armstrong]

Looks like there's going to be a run on 1150 size batteries: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149684

Welcome to the "fcuking battery" club

 

[Steptoe]

I've come to the conclusion that always leaving an optimate type battery charger connected to a bike causes the battery to become addicted to the charge, and unable to function normally unless given this life preserving charge whenever the bike isn't being used.

I can leave standard bmw battery for months without any charge and never have it go flat. Same with all my vehicles

 

[motobiker]

In my experience batteries don't 'suddenly die' - you normally get lots of warning.. in my case the abs fails to set properly.

Sounds to me like you've either got a short... on all those wizz bang lights... or left something 'on' and drained the battery...

leave the optimate plugged in till it goes green.. or tells you its definitely faulty.

It'll be fine i'm sure.

To be honest it's a good idea to use the optimate - if you're using a lot of 'extras' on the bike - I dont leave it plugged into the optimate permanently. just give my bike a bit of a boost every week. (particularly in winter)

 

[Dragon Master]

I've come to the conclusion that always leaving an optimate type battery charger connected to a bike causes the battery to become addicted to the charge, and unable to function normally unless given this life preserving charge whenever the bike isn't being used.

Cheers Steptoe, I've thought along those lines myself occasionally; nice to know I'm in good company...

Dave.

 

[wreck diver]

Cheers Steptoe, I've thought along those lines myself occasionally; nice to know I'm in good company...

Dave.

I think there is some truth in that,there is no substitute for a good run to keep the battery healthy.
Batterys do just suddenly die without warning,some batterys will just die after 3 years with out warning.Usually the day after the warranty runs out!

 

[Rob Farmer]

Don't forget you haven't got a lead acid battery. A standard Optimate will not charge it properly and may well not be able to get it charging at all.

 

[D6]

I've come to the conclusion that always leaving an optimate type battery charger connected to a bike causes the battery to become addicted to the charge, and unable to function normally unless given this life preserving charge whenever the bike isn't being used.

I can leave standard bmw battery for months without any charge and never have it go flat. Same with all my vehicles

too right, wouldnt touch one with a barge pole,overpriced, overhyped crap. especially on a sealed or gel battery,
go for a run or connect a light to it every 3 months for an hour, then charge it

 

[Uinneag]

I always have a Bottle of distilled water available now

Now theres something I never thought I'd hear

 

[John Armstrong]

Now theres something I never thought I'd hear

What water do you put in your whisky then?

Eau de tap de Skye

 

[Uinneag]

What water do you put in your whisky then?

Eau de tap de Skye

Ye won't get any better than from the spring that supplies the Castle Oonyack non of your chlorine and flouride pish here my boy

 

[Taff]

Have you remembered to "do" the 3 monthly electrolyte level check on the battery ???

No, I admit I haven't but it's just had its 12,000 mile service 3 weeks ago, so assume it was done then.

In my experience batteries don't 'suddenly die' - you normally get lots of warning.... Sounds to me like you've either got a short... on all those wizz bang lights.

Hang on, you may be onto something. Before last weekends run to North Wales, I noticed that the BTBR lights weren't working, even though the cockpit indicator showed that they were ie I was getting the little green cockpit light. I only noticed it, when I got off the bike with the extra lights "on" to check the individual bulbs, but noticed that none of them were working. I assumed that something had become loose when the Stebel was being fitted, and as I wasn't due any night riding, it wasn't an urgent issue. I checked all the fuses at the time, but they were all fine and the bikes normal lights were working ok.

I think ... there is no substitute for a good run to keep the battery healthy. Batterys do just suddenly die without warning..

Fair point, but it's just had a good 2 day run 6 days ago. We must have stopped about 10 times during the two days and it started on the first attempt every time.

After about 6 hours on the Optimate, the cockpit lights are now strong, the fuel gauge is working, there is the normal fuel pump noise and the ABS light goes through the motions, but when I try to start the engine there is a "machine gun" noise but the engine won't turn.

 

[cookie]

In my experience batteries don't 'suddenly die' - you normally get lots of warning.. in my case the abs fails to set properly.

but he did get a warning. he needed to put it on an optimate 2 months ago.

that is not normal, it's a sure sign something's fecked and the owner's in denial.

 

[davegs]

No, I admit I haven't but it's just had its 12,000 mile service 3 weeks ago, so assume it was done then.

Hang on, you may be onto something. Before last weekends run to North Wales, I noticed that the BTBR lights weren't working, even though the cockpit indicator showed that they were ie I was getting the little green cockpit light. I only noticed it, when I got off the bike with the extra lights "on" to check the individual bulbs, but noticed that none of them were working. I assumed that something had become loose when the Stebel was being fitted, and as I wasn't due any night riding, it wasn't an urgent issue. I checked all the fuses at the time, but they were all fine and the bikes normal lights were working ok.

Fair point, but it's just had a good 2 day run 6 days ago. We must have stopped about 10 times during the two days and it started on the first attempt every time.

After about 6 hours on the Optimate, the cockpit lights are now strong, the fuel gauge is working, there is the normal fuel pump noise and the ABS light goes through the motions, but when I try to start the engine there is a "machine gun" noise but the engine won't turn.

Battery's had it.