Duff battery ???

[Dan79]

thought I'd take the Magna out today for a new year's day run, but it wouldn't start.

First warning sign was dim lights on instrument panel. Starter button resulted in starter solenoid clicking weakly and turning engine over once, subsequent presses on starter result in nothing not even a click from solenoid. I assumed battery has discharged, removed it, and plugged it into charger. Green light on charger came on before i even had a chance to walk away, and on applying multimeter I got a reading of 13.3 V.

Put battery back on bike. Turned key, instrument lights initially nice and bright. Pressed starter, solenoid clicks weakly, turns engine over once, dies pathetically, lights go dim. Try horn, weak. Look at tail light and headlights, all weak. Phone friend for suggestions. Attach multimeter to battery with electrics switched off, reading 10 V or thereabouts, turn key, voltage down to about 8 V, press starter, voltage down to about 5 V. Earth lead is clean and intact with no sign of corrosion or of being loose at either end.

I haven't changed the battery in the time I've owned the bike since 2006, so battery is at least six years old; is it safe to assume the battery is the cause of the problem in failing to hold a charge and needs replacing ?

Cheers
(and happy new year ! )
____________________
Previous bikes - 1984 Honda VF500 (FII) Interceptor and 1990 Yamaha RXS100
Current bikes - 1984 Honda VF500 (V30) Magna

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I too suspect your battery is no longer holding it's charge. Although you may as well try giving it a full 24hr trickle charge and see if it recovers it's mojo when you next press the starter.
Have a look at the electrolyte levels before charging.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[uberkron]

its fooked mate. The bottoms of the plates have fallen off.
____________________
i ride a zip 50 2smoke. It overtakes a hundred times a day.

[covent.gardens]

As it's off the bike already and you've got a charger I'd just charge it and hook a 12v bulb up directly to it, if it goes dim quickly you know 100% its the battery not the bike. Certainly sounds like the battery and its due for renewal anyway.