Strange battery problem

[Gromit]

I bought a DRZ400 for messing around on and fitted a DEP S7 full exhaust for it this morning.

When it was fitted I turned the ignition on to start the bike and it all came on normally.
I pressed the start button and there was a click and then everything went off.

I have gone through how I fitted the exhaust and I can't see that I have caught any wires?

I had a look at the battery and with a multi meter on the battery it reads 12.2v but with the ignition on it reads zero?

I tried to bump start it in the road and it started and ran fine? Except the dash didn't come on.
If you put the parking lights on they come on but dim.

Could the battery have just gone off like that? I have never known a battery do that.
I can't see it being a dead short because the battery would show some value other than zero?
It could be a bad earth but again the battery still wouldn't show zero?

The next thing I'm going to try is to put jumper cables from a big battery so I can see what that does.

Any thoughts?

 

[JJH]

Check battery connections and any other place ie: earth lead and starter leads JJH

 

[doyle]

The exhaust must be the problem ,to save any further difficulties take it off and post it up to me.Thereafter you can relax knowing your bike will start first time off the button.

 

[Gromit]

Just put the charger on it and turned the ignition on and it came on as it should? It flickered a bit but I assume that is because it on the charger?

Looks like a new battery then.

 

[Greg Masters]

Check the charging voltage. The stators on DR-Zs are known to fail from time to time.

Greg

 

[Hustler]

Just put the charger on it and turned the ignition on and it came on as it should? It flickered a bit but I assume that is because it on the charger?

Looks like a new battery then.

My guess is the exhaust is a coincidence and my bet is also on a new battery.
As it happens my DRZ went for an MOT a couple of weeks ago, rode up, passed MOT, went to ride away, and battery was as flat as a flat thing.
So I've had a new battery as well, perhaps it's contagious.

 

[gwigglesworth]

Sounds like you battery is failing under load.. time for a new one... it could even be that one cell has broken somehow.. my GS did that took me ages to find the issue

 

[Gromit]

Fitted a new battery this morning and all is well.
I have never known a battery to go off like that though?

 

[Greg Masters]

Fitted a new battery this morning and all is well.
I have never known a battery to go off like that though?

Check the charging voltage. The stators on DR-Zs are known to fail from time to time.

Greg