how far on a battery?

[rubyhorse2]

ok here's a good one for you..

regulator went pop yesterday and tried to fry my battery. new ones ordered, but wont arrive for a few days.

2 questions...

1. can i disconnect regulator and connect battery to optimate to fully charge?

2. how far do you think i can get on the battery as need to get her to the garage tomorrow?

bikes a superduke if it matters. she starts fine and everything seemed ok so no damage done. she needs some work done and i cant risk rescheduling as go away on the 18th june, so need to get her to garage tomorrow.

[brains_t]

[Beehive Bedlam]

Here's a good one for you how far is the garage?

[stinkwheel]

Depends on a few things.

Are the lights on all the time? Lights use lots of power. Ignition systems don't (as a rule) fuel injectors probably use a bit more.

Every bit of electronic fuckwittery fitted will use more power. Does it have ABS?

Using the starter will devour power it. Can you bump start it instead?

I'd imagine a more modern bike with an ECU and suchlike would have a tantrum at a much higher voltage than an old points ignition bike. I've ridden a Jawa 350 nearly 450 miles on a single battery charge (and they take a small battery).

I'd imagine you could probably pull a few fuses to maximise range. Things like the lighting circuit and such.
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[RhynoCZ]

It does depend on the battery and the draw of the system. I did, with no charging (full battery, 1 start of the engine) about 25 miles, with the lights on, on a CB-1 (small battery + the lights were always on, no switch) Then, I swapped the battery for my mate's battery and push started him with my drained battery in his motorcycle. Got home, changed the burned stator.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

If fuel injected I suspect the fuel pump is the biggest current draw.

I have ridden a fair distance on a carbed 125 2 stroke with a dead regulator / rectifier. Headlight is probably 60W, so say 100W with the other lights. About 8 amps. Even on a 125 with a 9ah battery that will power the lights for over an hour.

All the best

Katy
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[Polarbear]

Modern bikes don't like low voltages so as people have said, don't expect to get too far.
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[Pete.]

Yes you can disconnect the regulator. If you have a fully charged battery I would expect to get at least 30mins riding from it with the lights off. I rode my xj1100 from Beaconsfield to Kent around the M25 though that was a carbed bike with no pump, and it used to manage it on a single charge with the lights on. If the motorway was backed up it would start popping a bit toward the end if I used the indicators and brakes.
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132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Itchy]

Near about 10 years ago my reg rec on the NTV died at Babyam's New Years barbie. I left at 2am.

It lasted just under 30 minutes before dying about 200metres away from my home at the time.

I did however turn off the lights and the bike had carbs and it had been bump started. Though it was a twin spark. IIRC it did have a fuel pump that I'd by passed ages ago.
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[G]

As above; I've expect fuel pump to be biggest issue.

If you have access to a car battery, you could always bodge it on the pillion seat and wire it into that.

If you had a multimeter, you could test the draw as it was being revved etc.

[Wonko The Sane]

my reg-rec went on the ZZR, I lasted a month before replacing it, had to bump start it a couple of times towards the end and it would sometimes struggle to start - was running with the lights on and, it seems, was still charging when running at high revs just not at tick over and stop start riding - not great for commuting!

Mechanic said it was a good advert for motobat.
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[rubyhorse2]

cheers all, garage is only about 10 mins away so i'm guessing i'll be ok from what you have all said.

removed the regulator last night and i'll take the light fuses out.

its fully charged now on the optimate, just wonder what damage has already been done. sod it, as long as it gets me there.

[G]

Bit late now and sure it'll be fine, but if it was overcharging you could always plug it in again if the voltage starts to drop too low, then unplug as the voltage gets up.

[rubyhorse2]

it got there, all good.