How low can it go? Battery Discharging

[0ni]

On Tuesday night I was working 6-12 in the city centre. So as per usual take the bike up, park, lock it up and go into work. Finish unfufilling and thankless job, exit only to discover that my bike has a park light mode.

I have recently taken to putting my steering lock on since someone moved my bike causing me at a later date to borrow their wing mirror for vanity reasons. Never can have too many mirrors. The park light on the GSXR is only one switch around from the steering lock or so I discovered.

Now come out to bike notice my brake light is on.. Hmmm. Unlock the bike, press my alarm key. Nothing. Stick the key in the ignition and turn to on. Nothing.

Ok Im not in any rush to go anywhere so I begin to push the bike up John Street (parked on george square, pushing bike up a fuck off hill nearby). Random drunk guy informs me he has missed his train and would I like a hand. Never said no.

Get the bike to the top of John Street, drunk guy is sick everywhere I offer to pay for a taxi home and he refuses saying try bump starting it down the hill, if it doesnt work we will push it back up again.

It starts. Interesting things to note, my speedo and rev counter weren't working, whereas headlight and horn were working albeit at a seemingly reduced brightness. The bike dies at the lights about a mile through the centre and I manage to just get it bumped on the flat now the engine has warmed up. I get her onto the motorway and thrash it.

However back into paisley and the speed comes down, very jerky at low speeds as if it is cutting out. Still no Revs or Speed.

Bike dies on my doorstep.

Now the bike now fully charged is fine, starts easily etc.

Question 1: Would it be safe to assume the battery was almost completely flat?

Question 2: If my lights were working why wasn't the speedo or tacho?

oni
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[THCi]

Do they work now?
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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[theshmoo]

Right your bike will run the engine with out a battery your other systems need power light/and all other electrics. check water levels on the battery then re charge over night if the battery smells like eggs after charging its fcuked. Most bike shop/service centers will check your battery for free and so will halfords. if your battery is holding its charge then the problem lies with the bike.

i hope this makes sence mate.

a quick test you can do is start the bike then disconect the battery the bike should keep running this proves that the charging system is working.
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CBR 1100 blackbird.

[theshmoo]

Question 2: If my lights were working why wasn't the speedo or tacho?

are the operated electrically or mechanically

if its electrically your bike might have enough power from the charging system to run you light and engine some do for safety if you want a hand im off tomorrow mate.
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CBR 1100 blackbird.

[0ni]

The bike is fine now, full charge with my optimate. The battery was flat was just wondering why the lights worked but the speedo/tacho didn't.

It also never seemed to make a difference riding around, never got a charge into it. First flat battery I have had though, so presumably the charging system does work.
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.