Triumphrat

scrannel · 10-26-2007

So, I take my Speedy for a spin last night. Coming back, stop for gas. Screw up and forget about the Ralph Nader kick-stand lock out and kill the bike twice. No BFD, see my mistake... but now battery is too low to start bike. Battery is 1 month old, and had just come off the battery tender. Hey, no BFD... service station has locked garage for night, no jumpers.

Call my Triple A which says, no they don't jump start motorcycle because motorcycles have either 6 volt or 9 volt batteries. Say, What? I explain I have 12 volt like every single m/c on planet earth made after at least 1970... it's their policy. They don't give a **** about reality. BUT if I want to upgrade my coverage to include m/cycles and RVs ($20 + please, Visa or Mastercard only...) then they will send a flat bed to carry my bike the eight miles to my house. So, I have no choice... upgrade, THEN get a call back that since my bike is a 12 volt the service driver will jump me... By this time a tow truck comes in dragging a VW, he jumps my incredibly rare 12volt bike and I go.

From this two lessons, Triple A is a bunch of rip-off muther****ers, and B, the battery in the Speedy is WAY TOO ****ING SMALL!

TriplGrl · 10-26-2007

yes...triple AAA sucks for bikes...at least in Nor Cal. That is why I have (free) roadside service through my insurance company...21st Century. Have only had to use their services once but they seemed very moto friendly.

wheelspeed · 10-26-2007

I guess no hills around either?

welshrob · 10-26-2007

You shouldn`t 'jump' start efi bikes unless you know what you`re doing. You need leads with built in surge protectors otherwise you`ll fry the ECU. Push starting them doesn`t work either, if the battery is too flat because the ecu needs power to set all the throttle bodies to start mode and the fuel pump won`t pump fuel.

Speed3 · 10-26-2007

Hills won't help if your battery is toast. In the old days the magneto wou;d spark up when spinning. If you have AAA you gotta request a flatbed with tiedowns, because a tow truck will trash your bike. Next step is to get an AGM battery from Battery Stuff.com and keep the tender on.

scrannel · 10-26-2007

The tow truck had a portable with surges, and no, rolling won't work, etc., but the battery is a real weak link on that machine IMHO. There's one that's slightly larger made for a BMW and I'm going to MAKE IT FIT! But what I found MOST interesting was the written policy that states motorcycles are all 6 or 9 volt systems. You know, I rode a Royal Enfield manufactured in India in the '70s and it was 12 volt. I love my Speedy and have had the elec system scoped, and it still behaves like a friggin' Lucas Electric bike from the '50s.

wheelspeed · 10-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshrob

You shouldn`t 'jump' start efi bikes unless you know what you`re doing. You need leads with built in surge protectors otherwise you`ll fry the ECU. Push starting them doesn`t work either, if the battery is too flat because the ecu needs power to set all the throttle bodies to start mode and the fuel pump won`t pump fuel.

Whoops! Sorry, I guess I better remember that for when I get a FI bike one day.

Dang, I made it through an entire summer one year with a dead battery by always parking up a hill on a '84 VT500. I guess those days are over.

BigRedandRiding · 10-27-2007

My battery died two Fridays ago in the meat packing district in the city (New York City, that is), the first cold night of the year around here. I called MOTOW about 10pm and they had a guy to my bike in 45 minutes. Also, he specifically knew about bikes (unlike AAA), had the thing jump-started in 5 minutes, I gave him a quick signature and I was on my way home - no worries. The only thing it cost me was a tip for the guy.

You can apply for MOTOW service through AMA (American Motorcycle Association). I never expected to need it - but was glad I had it. I give 'em 5 out of 5 stars.

p.s. I also have AAA - but only for my car.

NinjaRAT · 10-27-2007

I too have Motow, for bikes and cages. Haven't yet had to use them, but I figured its cheap insurance for the one day, down the line.

silvoor · 10-27-2007

Uh, for what a battery costs wouldn't it be worth buying a new one when you notice it's not cranking as fast as it was when it was new?

Maybe I just live high on the hog.