125 yamaha virago battery problems

[glosoli]

Evening all,

My bike has recently been struggling to start. During the day, it can take me about five attempts to get the bike started with the ignition, and during the night, when I try and use the ignition, the bike sounds dead and flat, the lights are fairly dim and the horn sounds very dodgy.

So it behaves differently depending what time of the day it is. This is surely a battery problem, right? I only charged this battery a couple of weeks ago. So is a replacement battery required? And if so, where could I get one?

Sorry for the stupid questions - i'm a total newbie when it comes to mechanics.

[Paddy Blake]

Turn off the lights,start the bike and turn on the lights.
Lights take power away from the starter.

Paddy.

[stinkwheel]

When it's running, rev the engine up while you look at the lights. As it revs up from tickover, the lights should get brighter.

If this happens, it indicates in a rough and ready manner that the charging system is functioning.

This being the case, the battery is a logical suspect, especially if it has been in there for a while. Check the electrolyte level, top up if necessary, wipe the top of it clean and give it another charge. If it is still not holding a charge properly, get a new one. A battery for a 125 wont be expensive.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.