Does this sound like a duff battery?

[ian6760]

Rode 200 miles down to London on Tuesday night and the bike didn't miss a beat. The bike has been under used in the last 12 months and the clocks reset every now and then when startling it.

Anyway,this morning started great then after 20 mins riding in stop start traffic the light neutral light starting flickering when it was out of gear, then cough cough splutter and the engine stopped.

Hit the starter button and the starter went ta ta ta ta ta ta and wouldn't turn the engine. Got a jump start and rode another 20 mins to work no issue.

Tonight it fired up no problem, 20 - 30 mins into stop start traffic it happened again.

Now back at the hotel and not sure if it's the battery. Can probably find a battery locally, but I don't want to buy a battery and have the bike conk out en route back home on Friday.

Cheers. Ian.
PS. It's a 2000 single spark and I have no tools apart from the standard kit under the seat.

I love coming to London!

 

[Greg Masters]

Check the battery earth (both ends) and the positive battery connection. If they are OK, I'd put a new battery in.

 

[ian6760]

Battery connection were tightened prior the first jumpstart this morning and I'll check the + on the starter tomorrow before firing it up.

Cheers. Ian

 

[Greg Masters]

Battery connection were tightened prior the first jumpstart this morning and I'll check the + on the starter tomorrow before firing it up.

Cheers. Ian

What about the other end of the earth cable? Not just tightness, but its electrical connection too.

 

[ian6760]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that stashed away under the battery box and bolted to the gearbox?

The last time I'd try to get to that I ran out of technical capability / scared when the throttle cables seemed stop the removal of the battery holder.

 

[Greg Masters]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that stashed away under the battery box and bolted to the gearbox?

The last time I'd try to get to that I ran out of technical capability / scared when the throttle cables seemed stop the removal of the battery holder.

Your chance to learn and improve your skills ......

 

[JJH]

If it is still misbehaving try a jump lead from negative side of battery to a good Earth on engine. See if that improves starting. JJH

 

[ian6760]

Your chance to learn and improve your skills ......

LOL. Too true.

 

[ian6760]

If it is still misbehaving try a jump lead from negative side of battery to a good Earth on engine. See if that improves starting. JJH

Very good point Sir. I wish I'd thought of that whilst waiting for a jump start tonight. I've got a set of leads with me so I could try that tomorrow if it all goes wrong again.

Madly enough, I stood at the side of the road (A312 out of Greenfield to Hayes) and a lady on her own stopped and offered help. Several copper passed and seemed to look away, and I even got laughed at by a guy in a van who moved bikes for a living.

 

[kpj]

Had the same this morning, just fitted a replacement battery. time clock set to zero when starting, only just started. It was a tad colder this morning in frosty south wales

Carried out a voltage drop test in the garage when I got in this morning. battery was on its way out.

 

[RichardDunn]

Had the same last week.....rode Penrith to Leyland, no problem....conked when at the garage, they said maybe coils...came back, no problem, started doing it regularly now...so gonna fit new battery...any suggestions of make of battery that might be better than the original?
went to the garage to have rear brake sensor fitted, then to be told bloody ABS pump it knackered....happy days...don't you just love the aggro!!!

 

[warmshed]

Had the same last week.....rode Penrith to Leyland, no problem....conked when at the garage, they said maybe coils...came back, no problem, started doing it regularly now...so gonna fit new battery...any suggestions of make of battery that might be better than the original?
went to the garage to have rear brake sensor fitted, then to be told bloody ABS pump it knackered....happy days...don't you just love the aggro!!!

Try Motobatt get at a good price on ebay.Sealed AGM technology, give better reserve on cranking amps than normal liquid acid or gel batteries and have a slower self discharge.

 

[ahutcheon]

How long was the original battery on there? If it's 14 years I'd suggest you might want to replace like with like. I got nearly 10 years out of the original, replaced with a Motobatt because the OEM unit was a crazy price here in NZ. I've been happy with the Motobatt for nearly two years, time will tell if it does a decade.

 

[ian6760]

I forgot to update this thread, as suspected it was the battery and after changing it all is good.

 

[Bigyin]

My 1150 lives in the front garden and always used to eat batteries, even Gucci gel ones, as it is used on a short every day commute on country roads al year round so not enough to keep charging the battery when the temps drop ............... finally fitted a trickle charger and the latest battery has lasted 2 years so far instead of the usual 12 months with no clock resets etc