Battery Issues

[sinedtomuch]

I installed my heated grips a few weeks ago (not without its issues) ended up going directly onto the battery as I didn't know which wire to choose to splice into for the relay option. Its an 04 R6 if anyone knows the wire.

Anyway onto the problem, i've came downstairs full bike gear numerous times and come to a flat battery. I have not left the grips on once this I am sure of. I charged the battery, refited it, and again flat within a few days. So I put a multimeter across it, 12.25V engine not on, idle ~12V and at 5k revs 14.2Vs ish. I'm unsure why the idle is lower than the engine being off but the under load is over 14 and I'm happy with that.

So I have come to conclusion that either there is a draw and its making my battery flat overnight or the battery is dead and just not holding a charge.

And the third unlikely cause, the battery terminals do seem a bit dirty and probably need a clean with caustic, I also do not know how old the battery is, it is a 11 year old bike and may never been replaced in that time.

[sinedtomuch]

Those times where it has been flat, it has bump started sucessfully first time and fires to life.

[monkeybiker]

How old is the battery? Has the bike been unused for a few weeks?

The battery may have been on the way out before you fit the heated grips and now you have them fitted it's just showing up the problem.

[Aff]

So this has only happened after fitting the grips?

If yes, then unplug them and see if it happens over the next few days.

If it doesn't just wire them in properly with a relay.

If it does, you probably have a dead battery.
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Current Bikes:Honda 929RR Fireblade, Honda CD200 Benly (Project), Stomp Z2 140
Electric Bike Project

[sinedtomuch]

It was unused for a few weeks, and it is fitted with a yamaha immoboliser which flashes red every second, I know this probably uses nothing but worth a mention.

This seemed to only happen after the grips were installed, or its just a timely coincidence. I do not know the age of the battery but the condition of it shows it is quite old and it at least needs a clean.

I would go with the relay option however I dont fancy playing wire piñata.

[mentalboy]

Does sound rather like the battery is dead. Take battery out of bike, charge up and leave for a day or two (if you can make do without using the bike!).

If you have no external draw and the battery is not holding charge then you know it's FUBAR. (You could do this quicker with a load test but method above involves minimal effort!)
Not knowing the age of the battery doesn't help you much but you can consider yourself lucky if you can stretch the average bike battery for three years.

It may just be that your battery was close to giving up when you fitted the grips and the extra direct drawdown has finished it off.

Edit: Immobilisers are a pain in the butt for killing batteries unless you have a good maintenance regime/ use the bike regularly
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Make mine a Corona.

[sinedtomuch]

I bumped it this morning as it was flat, and gave it a 50 min ride on the motorway to work. So if its flat by 16.30 its got to be a draw or a bad battery. Unless someone has another insight that I've overlooked?

[Nemo]

With the multimeter (and ignition off) plug the red lead into the 10A fused hole on the meter, then set the dial to amps, I usually have it on 10.

Disconnect the negative lead of the battery and put the multimeter between the battery terminal and the negative lead.

There should be a draw of less than an amp, if there is more, you have something draining the battery.
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Previously owned: Kawasaki KH125, Suzuki GP125, Suzuki GX 125, Honda CB125 TDC '83, Honda ntv 600, Kawasaki ER5, Kawasaki ZZR600, Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille
Now own: Ducati 848 evo

[iooi]

[sinedtomuch]

[pdg]

[pdg]

[sinedtomuch]

How would you crimp terminal it? Do you get three way bullet connectors or something?

[sinedtomuch]

The good news is bike started first time after work and first this morning. Perhaps I've not been using it for long enough journeys whilst having the grips on?

In other news, whats the best way to splice the cable in for the heated grips relay. I've got tons of crimp terminals, a crimp tool, sadly no soldering iron thats back in glasgow.

[monkeybiker]

I think you need a new battery. I bet if you left it a few days it wouldn't start.

[sinedtomuch]

Battery issues getting put the bottom of the pile.

Whilst riding home last night I think my clutch started slipping. Every gear at around 5-6k rpm the bike will get a sudden rev increase and jerk forward. Riding below this rev range is fine. I've noticed that my clutch lever feels a lot closer to my grip than normally is. Perhaps its just the cable overstretched or needing lubed/adjusted?

[sinedtomuch]

bump

[monkeybiker]

Does sound like the clutch is slipping. How many miles on the bike?

If you do change the clutch then do the clutch springs as well.

[sinedtomuch]

17,000, i'll change everything but the basket probably, this assuming if lubing and adjusting the cable doesn't fix.

its worth noting the lever isn't returning to the previous position and is getting stuck, this for sure means it needs lubed.

Will do this today after work

[pdg]

[sinedtomuch]

Will be sorting out the clutch before relays/battery issues atm

[monkeybiker]

[sinedtomuch]

Yeah i'll examine this one first, don't like replacing parts that are fine you'd never stop spending money if anything went wrong.

I know they are dirt cheap but hey its 3 pints down the pub!

[mentalboy]

[sinedtomuch]

Lubed and adjusted the clutch. All good now

Onto the relay situation haha.

Plus note battery still good