Battery Problems, Un-tethered ground.

[CR41GK19]

I'm having trouble finding an answer to my question on google, my skills not being what I thought!

I'd like to know just what the dangers of riding a bike while the ground that connects to the engine block is loose/disconnected are?

(It's no longer loose, I found a new bolt and have the wire bolted down tight again)
But I was riding it around for over an hour like this before I noticed.

Also would using the bike like that cause the battery to drain much faster than normal, as today after trying to start my bike after being parked outside in the wind and rain all day it took several minutes and a lot of choke and kick starting to get it going. I did try the electric start but after a couple times the battery no longer has the juice to even power the electric starter motor anymore and it just makes some pathetic dying sound.

I'm hoping to diagnose a drain problem because recently the last month or so my battery has been dying after a week of use and I've already got a new battery in the bike so before I go looking at the alternator or the stator, I want to rule out a loose ground as a problem.

I have the new battery on charge again but don't fancy waiting a week to see if the problem just goes away without me learning the cause.

Any help would be appreciated, also this is my first post here, be gentle with me please

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends on the bike, and where the earth wire goes.

If it is the only wire to the battery negative terminal then probably all sorts of odd issues. Randomly no electrical power and no charging. If unlucky possibly frying the regulator / rectifier.

On the other hand if it is just an earth to the frame on a bike with a solidly mounted engine (ie, not rubber mounted) then a bit of insurance and a fair chance of no great issues.

All the best

Katy
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[jaffa90]

Have you a multimeter ?
This will check all for problems without random spending.
Also your bike should be covered from rain with wind.