Bloody thing won’t start. Again.

[Santa-2512]

I do 7 miles each way 5 days a week , anything from 20 mins to 45 mins depending on time & traffic

bike never sees a charger from one year to the next.

Its just sat for 6 months without turning over, and still starts the bike,

That said its taking 4 turns before it starts . might be time to install the Odyssy battery that been sitting in the shed for the last 2 years

 

[SBD]

If the bike is used mainly for commuting, and the ride only takes 10 minutes, I will suggest that OP gets a battery charger.

Even a car may struggle with such a drive in the long run, even though the car has the advantage of a much larger battery.

The thing is, modern bikes are equipped with small capacity batteries, for space and weight savings. And as long as the battery is kept in good condition, this will work just fine.

But we have to realize that there is a catch with small batteries. A small battery will absorb less power/min than a larger battery.
This is due to the fact that the vehicle charging system is based on a constant voltage from the alternator.

Spending money on a different battery may perhaps help for a while. But I think it's better to invest in a quality charger that will charge through the AUX outlet. Topping the bike once a week will probably be enough. Thus, positioning the charger close to where the bike is parked, plugging it in once a week is not a big deal...

It’s not a big deal to use the charger I have, it’s a boost/float charger for a boat, and more than adequate - but frankly it’s not good enough for a premium product to have an inadequate battery, and for the excuse to be “oh, you have to put it on charge”, or “it’s the datatag tracker, they all do that”.

Space and weight savings - and penny pinching, I think.

Yes, the ride is short, and yes it’s winter so not using the bike much at weekends, and yes, the heated grips are on, but the car doesn’t struggle, despite having heated seats, heated front & rear windows, twice as many headlights and generally much higher electrical loads, and that gets used for similar short journeys maybe twice a week most weeks - though rather more this week due to the weather.

I just think it’s poor show. Then again, we probably wouldn’t be discussing it if the mechanic had made sure the battery connections were properly tightened…

Thanks all for the thoughts & advice. I’ll report further in due course.

 

[GSMarky]

100% the tracker will drain the battery if the bike's battery is not left on an Optimate or similar over time. maybe for a few days you're OK and maybe if your battery is not as good as it can be the phenomena worsens.

I had a flat battery once when I had the tracker fitted and didn't have it on the Optimate for maybe 1 1/2 - 2 weeks & the battery was flat enough not to turn the motor. Bin the tracker, charge the battery and leave it for 4 weeks and it's fine!

If you feel there is a benefit in the tracker for you personally then simply you must keep on top of your battery maintenance and battery itself.

 

[zoltan]

I do 7 miles each way 5 days a week , anything from 20 mins to 45 mins depending on time & traffic

bike never sees a charger from one year to the next.

Its just sat for 6 months without turning over, and still starts the bike,

I don’t have a battery charger never had one. After 4 LC GS bikes since 2013 never had a battery issue. None of the bikes had an alarm or tracker.
Bike is garaged for the winter.

 

[Santa-2512]

The hand book clearly states that the average length of the battery to maintain all functions when the bike is not running is 7-10 days

after this time the alarm is disabled to prevent damage to the battery.

 

[Santa-2512]

The hand book clearly states that the average length of the battery to maintain all functions when the bike is not running is 7-10 days

after this time the alarm is disabled to prevent damage to the battery.

Just noticed in a later copy of the handbook

Std battery is 12v 14AH lightweight battery is 12V 10AH !

 

[Wag]

Check out this link, very interesting comment on thread by Gearlord
https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/r1250gs-starting-problem.1418465/page-2

 

[SBD]

Post #29 of that thread is interesting, as despite a reported 14.4V when riding, they took my engine out last year “to replace the alternator”, in so doing, they bolloxed the clutch, so it had to go back again, indeed, I think it has done almost as many miles on a truck as I have riding it…. Judging by the visible gasket goo, they certainly had the thing to bits.

Joking aside, once the clutch was repaired (it would not disengage, misassembled, apparently) the bike has been pretty much faultless until I started this thread, including being left, not plugged in to a charger, for nearly four weeks last April/May when I had a heart attack, and a couple of two week holidays, so I simply don’t believe a correctly-functioning tracker will critically discharge a reasonably charged battery that is not knackered.

That said, of course it will, given long enough. But a long weekend, or even a week?

So, I’ll see if it starts tomorrow…

 

[The Other PaulG]

The hand book clearly states that the average length of the battery to maintain all functions when the bike is not running is 7-10 days

That doesn't seem like long, does it?

 

[Mr Bean]

The hand book clearly states that the average length of the battery to maintain all functions when the bike is not running is 7-10 days

I couldn't see that quoted - only required when not used for more than 4 weeks was all I could find.

 

[SBD]

Well, it started fine this morning.

And this evening.

 

[GSMarky]

so I simply don’t believe a correctly-functioning tracker will critically discharge a reasonably charged battery that is not knackered.

The POS tracker will most definitely empty the very best of batteries over a time. Maybe that time is dependent upon just how good or bad your battery is, but leave the tracker connected (just like any constant electrical drain) & your battery will be so depleted your lovely now fully sorted GS will not fire up eventually!

 

[GSMarky]

Well, it started fine this morning.

And this evening.

Good news, but shouldn't really be a surprise sadly!

 

[Mr Bean]

The POS tracker will most definitely empty the very best of batteries over a time. Maybe that time is dependent upon just how good or bad your battery is, but leave the tracker connected (just like any constant electrical drain) & your battery will be so depleted your lovely now fully sorted GS will not fire up eventually!

The small internal battery in the Bike Trac tracker lasts for at least 2 months (or it does on mine) without receiving a charge from the bike - is the OE fit tracker that much worse when it comes to power consumption?

 

[GSMarky]

The small internal battery in the Bike Trac tracker lasts for at least 2 months (or it does on mine) without receiving a charge from the bike - is the OE fit tracker that much worse when it comes to power consumption?

..but does it actually not receive a charge to keep it topped up? I dunno & maybe the tracker works if the supply source is cut still? Either way the bike battery drains with the tracker in my experience & removing the tracker removed the problem.

 

[Mr Bean]

..but does it actually not receive a charge to keep it topped up? I dunno & maybe the tracker works if the supply source is cut still? Either way the bike battery drains with the tracker in my experience & removing the tracker removed the problem.

I was knocked off my previous bike (written off) and to keep the cost of the claim down, I salvaged what I could from the bike, and the tracker was duly removed.

Two months later, with a replacement bike purchased, I checked the tracker was still working and it was still transmitting, albeit with a low battery warning.

Apparently, when fitted the Bike Trac only tops up the internal battery with the ignition off after the internal battery drops by around 15% and this can take over two weeks.

I'm a happy customer and have no hesitation recommending a Bike Trac.

 

[SBD]

Well, it’s running fine, but this morning, the bloody emergency call has now started playing up AGAIN.

This takes me back to autumn 16 months ago before all the battery / alternator issues kicked off.

Does anyone know of an easy way to reset the E-Call? I really do not want to have to take an afternoon off work to hack over to Tunbridge Wells.

Thx

 

[littleade]

I had the emergency call on my last GS and it was forever flashing a warning up on the TFT when it lost the mobile signal which was every time I went to Wales, it also meant the software updates take longer too so that got left off the last order. When the OE tracker was fitted my optimate was regularly charging the battery up (I leave it connected when not in use). Since I binned that too and disconnected it my Optimate normally charges up when it's first connected and rarely have I seen it charging after that so make of that what you will!

 

[GSMarky]

Well, it’s running fine, but this morning, the bloody emergency call has now started playing up AGAIN.

This takes me back to autumn 16 months ago before all the battery / alternator issues kicked off.

Does anyone know of an easy way to reset the E-Call? I really do not want to have to take an afternoon off work to hack over to Tunbridge Wells.

Thx

If you didn't have bad luck with this bike, you'd have no luck it seems!

Thought the SOS was reliant on signal as said ..

 

[JRT]

My ‘17 gsa developed a battery failure due to parasitic draw. I went through numerous batteries trying to pinpoint the issue.

In the end I disconnected the tracker. Not a single issue since.