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Battery issues with multiple start/stops

4.2K views 12 replies 9 participants last post by  weljo2001  
#1 ·
I've noticed that if I start the bike up and ride for a short time and stop it again, the bike has trouble starting up again next time. This weekend, I ended up doing this twice (stopped down the road, came home and shut down, then had to move the bike cause someone was parked in), the next morning, the battery couldn't get the bike going. I had to jump it. If I run the bike for some time, it's fine the next time it starts.

I'm assuming that starting the bike is just taking a lot of power from the battery, and it's not getting enough time to recharge. Is this a normal issue, or is there something wrong with my batter/charging system?

It's an 09 Versys, bought new in July, ~900 miles.
 
#3 ·
It sounds like the battery to me and not really the charging system. If the battery has been allowed to go almost completely dead at some time, they never seem to hold a good charge after that.

If it was the charging system, I would think it would have a hard time running & illuminating the lights as it would just drain the battery & die. It's possible it could be only charging a little, but that would be unusal.

I would give it a long ride or enough to where you are comfortable it's fully charged, then ride it back home. Turn it off, start it, turn it off again in a couple of seconds, then repeat. After about the 3rd or 4th time, if the battery is almost dead, it sounds like the battery.

A good battery should be able to start it 3-4 times in a minute without dieing.


That's just been my experience with my other bike when the two batteries started getting week.

As ScottyNeal said, if you bought it new in July, it should still be under warranty with the dealer.

Good luck and let us know what the end result is.

David
 
#6 ·
Not hard at all to kill a battery. Have a few electrical accessories, and leave something on. Some of this stuff can kill a battery quick.

Once it is hurt once, it doesn't take much.
 
#8 ·
If you don't have a charger at least get a volt meter. After you take that ride don't restart it, put the meter on it and see what the voltage is. If it's over 12.6 to 12.7 or so it's fully charged. If it sits overnight measure again, if it's much less it's not holding a charge and will discharge itself. A bad cell will do that to a battery. If it drops under 12.4 or so over a week that also tells you its not holding a charge.

You can also put a meter on the posts with the motor running and you should see between14 and 15v, that will tell you the charging system is ok.

As mentioned, if the bike sat with a discharged battery at any time from factory to dealer floor, it can easily ruin the battery. If it's under warranty take it in to be tested and if found bad they will replace it. They can load test it and check the voltage. 12v batteries are easy to tell their charge state by the measured voltage in a given condition. Just after a charge session they will peak at over 13v but drop back to their full charge of 12.6 to 12.7 after a couple of hours. If they continue to drop they are defective.

IMHO a trickle charger without a charge sensor and auto-shut off will over charge a battery which is as bad as leaving them discharged.

Trust me, I have a doctorate in battery technology, having dealt with boats and RV's, RC's and electronics, for more than 30 years. :D

Here's a voltage vs charge state for 12v batteries:

12.65V 100%
12.45V 75%
12.24V 50%
12.06V 25%
11.89V or less Discharged

In real world use anything under 12V is worthless as a power source as the battery is virtually dead.

If you search you can also find self-discharge rates by battery type and temperature. Below 40 degrees the self discharge rate is practically nill. Over 80 it's much, much higher. Some battery technologies are more resistant to self discharge, like optima's and such. Most of those fancy batteries require different charging voltages and rates than standard lead-acid batteries like we have in our bikes.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the help, guys. I'm gonna call the shop today and see if I can get it in for a quick check. I'm leaving Saturday morning for a camping trip, so hopefully they can get it in before that. Worst case scenario, I'll take jumper cables with me.

The bike doesn't sit long in between rides now, but like I said, it's an '09, and I just got it in July, so I'm sure it sat before I bought it. I do have a trickle charger that I use over the winter.
 
#10 ·
When someone says to put it on a trickle-charger, be SURE it's a 'float charger' that only charges when the battery's down a bit. WallyWorld sells Schumaker ones ($23 or so) while Harbor Freight has 'em for less than $10 (haven't tried a H-F one, myself.).
 
#11 ·
Sounds like the battery.

Agree a float charger will keep the voltage up full at 12.6V when stowed or not in use for a while.

List of chargers in the V service manual (page 512)
Optimate III (Optimate 4 is out)
Yuasa 1.5 Amp Automatic Charger
Battery Mate 150-9

Get a digital voltmeter after this. It's cheap insurance to see any electrical problems coming.
 
#13 ·