Triumphrat

iov9 · 10-31-2009, 08:20 PM

My usual commute is 112 miles round-trip, but for the last couple of weeks I've been housesitting about 15 minutes away from work in LA. At the end of the first week, I went to start it and nothing, battery was dead. Got it towed to a friend's shop. He charged mine overnight and I borrowed his battery. Everything was good to go. A week later, same thing. This time I just got a jump start and was able to ride it back home.

I was so upset because I thought I need a new battery. I found the cause of the battery drain after talking to a guy at a motorcycle shop and then did some research online. I thought I'd share it with you guys. Since I'm a newbie, I never would have known this would be a problem, but this is totally what happened to me riding for 15 minutes at a time in LA's surface street rush-hour traffic.

How do you ride the unit?
Short trips may not replenish the charge taken from the battery during normal engine starting. Frequent short distance riding may eventually discharge the battery. Short distance riders will also benefit from a battery trickle charger.

Do you mostly engage in prolonged in-town, low-speed operation?
If so, this type of operation, (consisting of low engine RPM, frequent brake light use, and frequent cooling fan cycles,) can also discharge the battery. Alternating gears (to raise engine RPM) will help. Remember to always turn the engine off using the ignition key. Leaving the lights on with the engine off is also a big "no-no."

Do you ride with the high beam headlights on?
Though it is recommended during the day for safety, high beam usage accompanied with the in-town riding mode described above, will change the discharge rate of your battery. Don't discontinue usage of your high beam, just be prepared for possible accelerated battery discharge by keeping the right tools around to serve your needs.

Pokeyjoe · 10-31-2009, 09:05 PM

My commute is three (3) miles one way. Way less than fifteen minutes. I rarely get it over 6K RPMs. My battery is charging fine.

Drainfade · 10-31-2009, 11:28 PM

An easy solution to the problem is just keep your revs over 4K and it'll stay charged. You can also install a voltmeter and see if you're charging or not and adjust your RPM's accordingly.

Diego · 11-01-2009, 01:55 AM

Good points, iov9, most of which have been mentioned in previous battery related threads here. But the other guys are also correct. A couple of good 15 minute rides a day should be enough to keep the battery from going flat every week. Might be a good idea to have that charging system checked out.

(Also bear in mind that each time a battery gets too low, sulfation takes place that gradually reduces the amount of charge it can take. That will shorten its lifespan.)

Neanderthal · 11-01-2009, 01:58 AM

Mine goes on a battery tender jr if it's going to sit more than 3 days without a ride. Keeping a trickle charger plugged into any battery has been proven to prolong battery life (fights sulfation).

CGameProgrammer · 11-01-2009, 04:19 AM

In LA, a 15-minute commute is one mile.

Diego · 11-01-2009, 12:22 PM

Terminology alert: don't leave your motorcycle battery hooked to an ordinary trickle charger!

Those push a continuous current through the battery, regardless of its state of charge, and that will dry out the cells prematurely. The Battery Tender Jr and similar products are "smart" battery minders that sense the state of charge and cut off current when no further charging is needed.

Dickie2679 · 11-03-2009, 10:14 AM

I would think there is another fault, battery maybe not holding charge? I know it's not the same, but I started a car that had a flat battery (boost pack) and it took 70amps at idle, I'm sure the st would put out enough to keep the battery happy at any speed