Minor (hopefully) battery issue

[Malcvtr]

06 1200GS, done 1650 miles. All has been well until the last couple of weeks. The bike goes through its pre-ride checks OK. Then just after I start the engine, the red warning triangle illuminates and the battery symbol appears in the display. Both then go out after a couple of seconds.

I've charged the battery on an Optimate III for well over 24 hours and the Optimate reports all's well.

Do you reckon I've got a dud battery or do they all do that...

Thanks for any advice

 

[The Burpster]

Sounds a bit odd to me!

Mine dont dooo dat.... sounds like you ought to get it checked to me!

Blob.

 

[goodinr]

Battery Volage

If its an ABS model it may be wise to get it checked ASAP in view of the warnings about low battery voltage and servos not functioning.

 

[Malcvtr]

Thanks lads. I think I'll get it checked out then. Thankfully, it's not an ABS model.

 

[Bydand]

I've got an ABS model, its plugged into an Optimate III when not used and I get the same warnings for a second or so after I start the bike up. Its a 54 model which I've had from new with 10K up and I've never had any battery issues with the bike.

As its being doing this for as long as I can remember I hadn't thought it a problem.........I'll wait and see how many folks post before I get too worried!

 

[pikeydave]

It makes sense though if you think about it. Your battery is in a state of discharge. You've just spun over a bloody great engine with a half horsepower starter motor! Once you've running and the alternator starts to supply 14v (and the battery has v.quickly recovered) warning light goes out. My HP2 does it every time and that is a bike that struggles to start due to an even smaller battery trying to turn an engine over.

 

[Malcvtr]

Yeah, I take the point. Thanks. I guess the only thing that bugs me slightly now is the fact that they don't all do it... so why not

 

[Dave C]

mine does that...... had 1 complete battery failure due to too many short trips, but optimated overnight and now no problems.
Just completed a 8 days alps trip with no problems.
Dont worry, just ride it

 

[Wizard]

Yeah, I take the point. Thanks. I guess the only thing that bugs me slightly now is the fact that they don't all do it... so why not

Down to varying tolerances on the electronics. This isn't ment to be literal but:
Most bikes gubbins will have a mixture of over and under spec components that all average out.
Some bikes will have a majority of over spec components that'll need the battery to be well low before they'll show a low voltage warning.
Some bikes will have a majority of under spec components that'll show low battery voltage if it dips at all.

Add to that the tolerances of the motor for draw and battery for supply, and anything's possible.

If it goes out again immediately, as the lads say, I really wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Malcvtr]

Thanks Dave and Wizard.

I e-mailed my dealer and had this response today:

"I`ve just checked this against a new GS and if your only talking the red triangle & battery light coming on for a couple of seconds it is normal so nothing to worry about unless they come on when riding or the engine is difficult to start."

Good to know there was never a problem

Malc

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Red warning light

Mine is almost two years old, ridden almost every day, never any battery problem BUT the red warning triangle has ALWAYS come on for a second or two as I go off after the normal checking sequence.

 

[Capsize]

Mine's always done it too.

I figured it was because I usually let the bike go through the checks then just press the starter with no throttle. Bike starts at tickover revs only.

Slight twist of juice and the lights go out every time.

Caps.......

 

[Trip]

I've got two and they both do that. I thought they all did. No battery problems, starts first time every time.

Trip

 

[blackbird]

mine has done that from day one & now has covered 5000 miles

 

[GARFIELD]

Sorry to say but my one year old does that, the battery waring light comes on for a couple of seconds. Hopefully this will get resolved on my 6k service in a couple of weeks.

Neil

 

[Dave T]

It makes sense though if you think about it. Your battery is in a state of discharge. You've just spun over a bloody great engine with a half horsepower starter motor! Once you've running and the alternator starts to supply 14v (and the battery has v.quickly recovered) warning light goes out. My HP2 does it every time and that is a bike that struggles to start due to an even smaller battery trying to turn an engine over.

Thats exactly as SSB explained it to me when I picked up my bike a fortnight ago. I was told that as long as the bike turns over without a struggle, and the light goes off within a couple of seconds of the engine firing up, then all is well. Mine does it every time and I don't give it a second thought.

Dave T.

 

[wilbjr21]

Sorry to say but my one year old does that, the battery waring light comes on for a couple of seconds. Hopefully this will get resolved on my 6k service in a couple of weeks.

What is there to resolve? - it's perfectly normal behaviour.