Yamaha R1

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

After two weeks my new toy has refused to start.

When you press the starter button there is a loud buzzing from the relay but the starter motor doesn't turn. It made a half hearted gesture of turning the first couple of times but now it just buzzes from the relay.

Is indicative of battery replacement or something else please Sad

carvell · Scuttler Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :

Sounds exactly like a dead battery to me.

Try turning on the lights, are they dim?

You could either try and jump start it from another battery / bike, or run up and down the road a few times and bump start it to charge the battery!

If it just died on its own without you leaving parking lights or whatever on, then I suspect it needs a new one.
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Yamaha TDM 850

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

Thanks for the reply, the lights seem OK but everything goes dim when you press the button.

carvell · Scuttler Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :

Yeah - dead battery.
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Yamaha TDM 850

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

Thank you.

If I can get a new battery at Bykebitz in Yateley Hampshire tomorrow I might get to Boxhill tomorrow evening.

William

Dr Nick · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Could be a dead battery, but I would wonder why it has suddenly died.

Has the bike got an alarm (they will eat batteries)? Have you used the bike for lots of short journies?

Bump starting a fuel injected bike is difficult because you need to get the engine turning over quickly enough to generate enough electrical power to get the fuel pump working and power the injectors.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

My R1 is a 98 so it has carbs.

It also has an alarm and yes I often do short journeys but the last time I used the bike was twelve hours earlier and I did about 40 miles with the headlights on.

The bike's previous owner obviously didn't use it much (2700 miles in 5 years) . I am not sure if a battery would appreciate lack of use although he owned (and suggested I buy) an optimate charger if I was going to not use the bike much.

I think I am stuck with trying a new battery. If it happens again in the near future with a new one I will have to book the bike in somewhere to get it checked out professionally.

Showing my ignorance can you safely jumpstart a bike from a car?

Thanks.

William

Claud 14.7 to 1 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 May 2004 Karma :

Id get a good motorbike charger and charge the battery up fully. it may recover.

my batt went completely down about 5 times and i managed to recover it and its ok now.

You will always need that charger (optimate or other wise) anyway, so it will be more of an investment than a one off.
it will be particularly useful if you have an alarm, as it will keep it topped up.

Ive jumped my bike from a car a handful of times from the car and its been ok. Some may argue. and this was on a "smaller bike" ; cbr400

Just dont be holding your starter down for long periods of time, not more that say 4,5 seconds. Could burn out starter motor(on mine anyway).

RooRoo · Anal Intruder Joined: 04 May 2004 Karma :

Maybe you just left thelights on overnight..

carvell · Scuttler Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :

Bear in mind that batteries can just die.

Our car battery just went dead one morning for no apparent reason, was fine the night before. Tried to charge it and it wouldn't charge - the thing just died, put a new one in, all is fine.
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Yamaha TDM 850

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Batteries do not last for ever, and 5 years is not a bad life for one The battery on my 1200 Bandit lasted 5.5 years from new. When it failed it went very suddenly.

I have often jump started bikes from cars. Never had a problem yet.

I think I would be tempted to charge the battery up again and then see how it goes, but probably expect a new battery.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

Thanks,

Because the only bike shop my way open on Sunday apparently sold their entire stock of Five R1 batteries yesterday I purchased an optimate charger.

I wanted one anyway so it is not a waste of money even if I did have to buy a battery.

Anway the charger did the business and the battery passed its final test.

So the bike is fine at the mo but time will tell.

Thanks to everyone for all the help and advice given.

William

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

Well, I had to buy another battery today.

About an hour later I got a text message from my mate who lets me keep my bike in his garage.

Basically, he tells me that my alarm has been going off intermittently all night!

So maybe this has been the problem all along (£115 later!).

Woe is me - Maybe my Veto plus is up the creek and draining the battery.

I can't seem to disarm it permanently - it rearms itself after 20 seconds.

The only way seems to be putting it into "Service Mode" but that means leaving the ignition switched on.

I am pissed off at the mo and keeping my fingers crossed that it mends itself.

William

TiN · Pocket Tin Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Karma :

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

Thanks Tin,

My instructions (original) do not mention

(4) Turning off the ignition after pressing and holding down the circle.

I assumed it would automatically rearm itself if I turned off the ignition like it does under normal use.

I will give it a try.

I guess it makes sense as you wouldn't often want the ignition on for servicing the bike!

William