Someone tried to steal my bike :(

Flamzypants · Nova Slayer Joined: 06 Jul 2011 Karma :

Hey guys,

Some arsehole tried to gouge the keyhole for the bike and was unsuccessful, the key still goes in and turns happily it just looks nasty >_> But when I went to start it up it appears the battery is flat, the starter won't work, it just makes a loud ticking noise and the horn won't blow.

I've never done any work on the bike before but is this likely to be a result of someone trying to break into the bike to start it or could it just be it's been sitting there for a while (Couple months now) not being used? I've been starting it reguarly but not riding. I can't see that any wires have been cut, and when I tried I felt like it almost started, and the horn went for half a second and died out so it felt like it was just flat.

I'm going to nip to the local shop tomorrow and ask for some advice but I thought I should ask on here if anyone has had any experience with bike thieving techniques!

Thanks guys!
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CBT - 30/06/11. RIP Sinnis Stealth 18/07/11. Theory passed! CBR125R 16/08/12. Mod 1 Booked.

Nexus Icon · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Karma :

The battery has probably died from being left and it is probably the only thing that stopped your bike being nicked. Thumbs Up

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Flamzypants · Nova Slayer Joined: 06 Jul 2011 Karma :

Maybe I should count my blessings! Is a battery easy to replace? Or can it be recharged somehow?
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CBT - 30/06/11. RIP Sinnis Stealth 18/07/11. Theory passed! CBR125R 16/08/12. Mod 1 Booked.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

CBR125?

If so, piece of cake, remove seat, job jobbed.

Leaving a bike and just starting it up will kill the battery... just remove it next time and give it a charge from the mains using a cheapy charger, pop it on once every few weeks.

Dave M · Scooby Slapper Joined: 03 May 2013 Karma :

Flamzypants · Nova Slayer Joined: 06 Jul 2011 Karma :

Thanks guys, I'll go take the seat off and hopefully it won't look too daunting =)

Cheers.
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CBT - 30/06/11. RIP Sinnis Stealth 18/07/11. Theory passed! CBR125R 16/08/12. Mod 1 Booked.

cb1rocket · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jan 2010 Karma :

And don't just start it now and then, best way to kiss the engine to hell...! Stat it when you actually get back on the bike and ride it.

If your going to do a long term storage, drain the fuel and keep battery charged indoors
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Cruiser420 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 24 Jun 2013 Karma :

Battery's dead, like said above easily replaced and yeah may of saved your bike from being nicked Laughing

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

Looks like you are not too far from me, if you need a hand I can come help you change battery.

I would say that as it has some life still in it then a decent charge would probably rescue it.

If in the unlikely chance your battery is a YTX9-BS I have a brand new unused one here you can have for £25
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Definitely try charging it - I'd say pretty likely it will be ok if it was at least making a ticking sound!

skatefreak · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Karma :

Starting the engine uses more power from the battery than the charging circuit will return if only left idling for a few minutes on 125's.
You ideally need to ride the bike for a couple of miles, on some bikes even a hand full of short journeys will kill the battery (ask me how I know :p ).
Chances are if its been left in a low state of charge for a fair while then you may be able to recharge it to a point that it will start the bike but will have lost much of its capacity.
The only way to really know for sure is the correct testing (load tester etc) but to be honest I would suggest putting it on a trickle charge (low current) for a day and see how it goes.
Worst that can happen is the battery still wont start the bike or will labour and then you are back to the prognosis of a new battery...

-Jvr

Ps, for the horn to not even make a noise means the battery is pretty discharged unless some of the wiring has been damaged...

Flamzypants · Nova Slayer Joined: 06 Jul 2011 Karma :

Fingers crossed whoever tried to nab it didn't fiddle with wires, though it looks fine to my untrained eye. The local shop put it on their charger and tested it for me, poor thing was dead, new one arrives Monday.

Thanks for all the help and advice guys, really appreciate it.
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CBT - 30/06/11. RIP Sinnis Stealth 18/07/11. Theory passed! CBR125R 16/08/12. Mod 1 Booked.

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Flamzypants · Nova Slayer Joined: 06 Jul 2011 Karma :

Thanks again for all the help guys.

New battery was sold to me at £22, the guy quoted £45 when he ordered it but apparently they went down by quite a bit, luck is changing xD Fitted it and it worked first time, I shall be a mechanic yet.

Cheers dudes.
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CBT - 30/06/11. RIP Sinnis Stealth 18/07/11. Theory passed! CBR125R 16/08/12. Mod 1 Booked.

mysterious_rider · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Sep 2010 Karma :

This thread is fail (mechanics side of things).

Chances are battery just needed a charge. Bump starting it would have sorted it and let the engine run for a bit.

If one of those silly bikes that can't bump then trickle charge the battery. Don't bin the old battery, just in case.
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