Flat battery every month :(

[natefz6]

So now that the weather is getting colder my bike starts to play up a bit more. It just does not like to start in the cold. It is a Gs500 and I seem to have to take the battery out to charge it every month.

Last year I brought a new battery its a YUASA and I was told that they were meant to be good. How long do they last? Could it be something else causing the battery to die? I have checked oil levels, always start out of gear and give it full choke. I only get around 3 chances to turn it over before the battery is dead, so if I am unlucky like this morning then it will not catch and I end up on the train .


Does this just sound normal? Do I whine too much?

Help!

Thanks
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Finglonga]

Why didn't you bump start it?

Get a test meter and check it is being charged with the engine running. But if the bike isn't used much it will lose charge. Are you sure it is the right capacity battery for your bike?

Yuasa batteries are the Vauxhall Corsa of the bike world, everyone thinks they are good until they try something else. I would never go back to the lead acid batteries again. Gel is a bare minimum but prefer AGM because they don't lose charge and have very good cranking power.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Kickstart]

Hi

A Yuasa battery should last way more than a year. However if you have let it go dead then (as with any lead / acid battery) you will have damaged it.

Seems odd that you need to charge it "every month". I would expect a knackered battery to need charging far more often than that, same if the charging system was faulty.

It does take a bit of time to replace the charge used when starting the bike, so possible you could be causing issues if you are doing lots of short journies, especially with lights on / heated grips / anything else that takes a load of power.

All the best

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

[iooi]

I think a little more imformation about your bike usage will help.

Like....

How often do you ride it, how far is each trip, do you run with lights on all the time and which ones, do you have estra eletrical bits connected, such as heated grips. Does the bike have a alarm, where is it stored.

With the bike running meter the battery, what is it reading.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[smegballs]

Try new plugs and gap them correctly. My GS400 was being a right gay when it came to cold starts. Would crank fine but not fire, yet would burst into life as soon as the clutch was dumped on a bump start.

My GS400 has one mess of a charging system.... I hooked it up to an ammeter and was charging at a healthy 8 amps at about 4k. Then after a while it started only charging at 1 or 2 amps at idle and actually drawing current when the revs were raised... Some really wierd shit....

[hmmmnz]

do ya self a favour and get a gel battery,
you can get them at a reasonable price if you look about,

check all your charging system, and make sure that your alternator is charging on all 3 phases,

have fun
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[natefz6]

Thanks for all the help!

I use the bike at least 6 days a week journey time is about 25 - 40 mins to work depending on if I drop the other half off. I have a alarm and the headlights cant be turned off so are on all of the time.

The bump start I have always had a problem with. 1 the immobiliser comes on after 30 seconds and 2 I am weak and for some reason it is hard to push the bike in gear even with the clutch in.

Spark plugs sound interesting idea although computers are my thing not bikes so I might just see if I need new ones and get them fitted at a garage.

I do have a a multimeter so could check the voltages at different revs. I have had a very fast unsuccessful goggle for what amp/volts I should be looking for but I am sure one of you chaps could give me a better idea.

Thanks again
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[iooi]

Should have 12V with engine off and around 14V with it running.

So you are doing around 20 miles a day then.

If your bike is stored in a safe place at each end i might be tempted to dump the alarm, as i bet thats the main reason for the flat battery.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Pete.]

Bike becomes difficult and un-co-operative once a month?

It's obviously a female. Buy it some chocolates.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[hmmmnz]

its because you just ride her when ever you want with no though on what she wants., you are just treating her like an object!!!
she needs some love
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches